Shot by freelancer Richard Lam, and licensed by Getty (with the version you are seeing courtesy of the Vancouver Sun), the photo was taken amidst police lines, flailing mannequin appendages, and the always predictable cars on fire. Lam has some great thoughts on the moment in the above link, which are summed up nicely in this quote.

I was trying not to get my ass kicked

There has been some controversy today that the subjects were staging the shot, and some people claim the girl was injured (which perhaps brings the level of romanticism so high the rest of us never have a chance), but either way no one can argue how absolutely powerful of an image this is. Wouldn’t be surprised to see it picking up some awards for photograph of the year.

For more from Lam and his thoughts on if they posed: The Atlantic Wire

Share/Save

A spectacular story by David Amsden about his awkward High School years, and how Jay McInerney is to thank for all the more-awkward moments that involved the opposite sex:

Excerpt:

By late spring, however, the one thing I had gleaned for certain about the girl was that she liked to read—an unfortunate discovery.
…
Regardless, I did the only thing that made sense; I adopted a completely false personality, approached the girl as she was waiting for her bus on the last day of school, and asked what she was up to over the summer.

“Cause there’s, like, this used bookstore I love,” I lied.

http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2011/01/03/story-of-my-life/

via @donetodeath/@parisreview

If you haven’t read Story of my Life and enjoyed Bright Lights, Big City (or any of the other 80′s “Literary Brat Pack”—McInerney, Ellis, Janowitz, and Lindquist) you should start today, who knows what it will bring to your life.

Share/Save

We got a big dose this year of how the fine art community has been affected by what sells with “Exit Through The Gift Shop”. Add to that the flow of art dealers being appointed curators that started with Jeffrey Deitch and MOCA, and we see the community finely embracing the idea that “great” art is only great because someone wants it on their wall. Commercialism was always in fine art, no one ever wanted to admit it. You want proof? Every single one of “The Masters” made a very nice living painting commissioned pieces. They weren’t the ultimate “artisans” creating only from passion and for their own release. They created for purpose, for money, as a job.

It’s an interesting debate when you move the same discussion over to music. People who write music to be commercially successful rarely seem to be commercially successful, and if they admit such things would be labeled “sell-outs’. Musicians are somehow supposed to be “artists” who only make music to express their emotions. It’s one of the most popular defenses towards why people think they should be able to steal music.

Art however, IS commercial. Art has always BEEN commercial, and that is what has made it brilliant and gorgeous and life-affecting. Yes, life-affecting, exactly the same way a brilliant marketing campaign can be.

So how do we start accepting that music made for a specific commercially marketable purpose is okay? How do we even know it can turn out palatable? Easy. Cudi, Rostam (Vampire Weekend), and Bethany (Best Coast) went out and proved it can. “All Summer” only happened because of Converse.

Converse challenged these artists to make something that would make Converse seem cool across 3 fan-bases, and these artists gladly did so, and did so with so much dedication and focus that they turned it into one of the best Summer songs ever written. They could have half-assed the job, they could have taken some crappy throw away ideas and done just enough, but they did their job as creators with excellence and wound up adding even more buzz to their already peaking levels. Is Converse selling more shoes for footing the bill? I hope so, because it means more potentially spectacular marketing driven music.

Good for Converse. Good for music. Well done.

Share/Save

Share/Save

Albums of the year, everyone has their end all album of the year, everyone has some suspect mentions, my list has both. In case you don’t actually know me, my musical taste is bi-polar at best. There is nothing more addictive to me than a perfectly crafted pop hook, and nothing more beautiful than a simple line sung by a raspy imperfect voice backed by an acoustic guitar.

I went with 30 albums, and there were plenty of albums that don’t make this cut, however the ones that do are ones that held a place in my year, that I listened to over and over again, or connected with me on some level, or was the soundtrack to me writing run on sentences. I gave an order for 1-10, but the rest all equally move from 11 to 30 on any given minute. These collections of songs are obviously the ones I was the most connected to this year, so for 1-10 I will include a few thoughts on the album and it will spill into non-sense at any given moment.

1. Manchester Orchestra – Mean Everything To Nothing
Their debut album was one of those records that made me love music and love working in the music industry (I was at TMG when I first heard it, and there were some talks and meetings in those days). Somehow I didn’t have any built up expectations for this record, and when I heard it I had not one disagreement with the direction the band went. Some could argue it’s a different record than their debut, some could nitpick the evolution, but when a bands evolution is natural and “right” the album just seems right (for the opposite of this feeling, see Brand New’s “Daisy”). I think this album played for 24 days straight on repeat. I’m not even kidding.

2. fun. – Aim & Ignite
I hated this album with such passion at first. I hated this album probably as much as Nate hated “Cause A Scene” when he wrote this album. I hated it because he hated that, and then one day, over-stressed and freaking out about life, someone amazing said to me “Be Calm” and so I let it play, and “heard” this record for the first time.

3. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
This was the soundtrack to me driving the 101 to the 110 this year. I don’t know why, or how, but it was always on. Phoenix finally made the record that catapulted them out of the immensely talented (and saturated) french pop rock scene and into the mainstream.

4. Where The Wild Things Are OST
Legendary children’s book that was a huge park of my life being made into a movie, penned by my favourite author, directed by a spectacular visionary artist, could this get any more hyped personally? And then Karen O went and put the perfect sounds with the most beautiful images I saw this year. I’m sure this soundtrack/score will lose out to something horrible (such as that Avatar song) in all the awards, but it was one of the best soundtracks in years.

5. Say Anything – Say Anything
After an underwhelming double album, how could you really expect much from Max Bemis? You knew the uniquely catchy songs were still in him, you knew he was still insane, you knew he was still jaded, but somehow that double album created an ocean to saturate his genius. This album was precise, exact, and exactly what was needed. Heck, he even only needed 30 words or less for some of these scene pop gems.

6. Andy Shauf – Darker Days
I’ve heard Andy Shauf compared to Elliott Smith in something I read. I’m not sure if that’s accurate, yet I totally get what they meant. His songs invoke this feeling I haven’t had for years, this feeling as you are listening that everything is exactly where it should be in this musical landscape and that your connected to the artist and his words in the most simple and honest way. The last time I felt that way was with… Elliott Smith.

7. Third Eye Blind – Ursa Major
The EP got my hopes up, the single hooked me, and “Bonfire” and “Summer Town” solidified this record as one of their best. It would be impossible for me to rank 3eb’s albums, but I feel like this one stands up well against the others, shows their familiar characteristics along with enough freshness to be just what I needed out of them. I also saw the band live for the first time this year on a cliff in Malibu, I had previously promised I would never see them live (because of all the rumours that they are horrible live), needless to say it might have been the setting, but I found their live performance breathtaking.

8. Discovery – LP
It was hard to keep Discovery in my mind all year, I’ll admit. The beginning of 2009 was filled with Discovery, though, it’s the kind of record to put on while you are getting ready to head out for a great night of bad decisions. It gets the blood running with it’s electro fused sounds, is cool enough and unknown enough to surprise your hip friends, and tops it all off with polished pop vocals and harmonies that put a smile on your face. I’m not sure how to explain the mischievous mood you wind up in after listening to this record, but I’m extremely glad for it.

9. Freelance Whales – Weathervanes
I went to see this band live with my friend Rob, who admitted he wasn’t really into the band, but thought that the perfect girl would like this band. Let me tell you, he is absolutely correct, the perfect girl LOVES this band. This album is quite honestly perfect folk pop, it’s also acceptable to love even if you’re a guy.

10. The XX- XX
One of the most complete albums of all time. It’s almost the “Frankenstein’s Monster” of my musical tastes.

11. thru 30, in alphabetical order.
All Time Low – Nothing Personal
The Avett Brothers – I And Love And You
Boys Like Girls – Love Drunk
Cartel – Cycles
Cassino – Kingprince
Fashawn – Boy Meets World
The Fray – The Fray
Hockey – Mind Chaos
Jamie T – Kings & Queens
Jay Z – The Blueprint 3
Kevin Devine – Brother’s Blood
Lights – The Listening
Matt & Kim – Grand
John Mayer – Battle Studies
Mayer Hawthorne – A Strange Arrangement
Mike Dunn & The Kings Of New England – Sundowner
Monsters Of Folk – Monsters Of Folk
Muse – The Resistance
Sherwood – Qu
The Swell Season – Strict Joy

Share/Save

Singles usually stand out from an album in a way in which a truly spectacular single (or two) can carry a mediocre album and make it good, or in some cases can make a great album seem mediocre by not living up to the best song. Either way there really can only be one pure ranking and that’s the single of this album of singles. See what I did there?

1. Jay-Z – Empire State Of Mind

In No Particular Order:
The Fray – You Found Me
Weezer – I Want You To
The Avett Brothers – I And Love And You
Lily Allen – The Fear
All Time Low – Weightless
Miley Cyrus – Party In The U.S.A
Good Girls Go Bad – Cobra Starship Feat. Leighton Meister
La Roux – Bulletproof
Black Eyed Peas – I Gotta Feeling
Matt & Kim – Daylight

Share/Save

Share/Save

Sherwood – Qu – iTunes
I’ve know the Sherwood guys for years, dating back to working on their first full length when they were on Sidecho. They write some ridiculously catchy songs with gorgeous harmonies (and even some gang vocals), and they are even better people than they are musicians.

The Summer Set – Love Like This – iTunes
The Summer Set was on The Militia Group for the release of their EP, and the potential of the band was immediately noticed. I’ve had the song Chelsea off “Love Like This” stuck in my head for like months, and finally I can try to get myself sick of it by listening to it on repeat all day. This album shows a realization of all that potential they showed on the EP, and gives you a promise for a pretty strong career in this whole thing.

What? You don’t like Summer? Or Pop music? Okay, I’ve got some wonderfully Americana feeling, fall enjoying, music for you also.
Andy Zipf – Our Voice Is A Weapon – iTunes
Another wonderfully simple, beautifully layered batch of songs from an artist on P is for Panda. Who knew Panda’s liked Americana so much? One of the best people in the world runs this label, so I think you can do your part to support good people/music by dropping 3 bucks on this.

Share/Save

Some of the things you can actually go out and see right now (that at some point only lived on my computer) are MySpace layouts for Boys Like Girls and My Favorite Highway. Both these bands are amazing, and BLG have a new record out, that I’m sure you’ve heard a few songs on your radio from. MFH has a new video out, which you can see on said MySpace.

I’ve also been working on quite a few logos, print work and layouts that aren’t quite out in the public eye yet, and MySpace layouts for Andrew W.K. and The Bleach Works should be up next week. Recently I launched a website design I did for a film called The Road Less Traveled, it’s a pretty interesting concept and gives a whole new view of a part of the world we don’t all get to see.

I’d also like to bring back what may have been a feature of my blog and recommend some things, mainly because I think everyone could stand to hear some good music:
fun. – Aim & Ignite – This band has one of The Format guys in it, along with a cast of other talented musicians who all played in a few other bands and came together to create fun. I happen to think The Format’s debut was one of the most perfect complete albums ever, so at first I HATED fun., then I let it play and found that I couldn’t stop. I had to apologize to a couple good friends for ever trying to say that this record isn’t absolutely phenomenal, and even the songs I hated I now love. Lesson learned.

Third Eye Blind – Ursa Major – I never expected to be this addicted to a new 3eb record. Sure their catalogue is one that is constantly playing in my life, but did anyone really expect this resurgence? I wanted to feel this way about this record, for months now, but I knew I wouldn’t, yet here I am. I think my favourite track has to be Summer Town, it just gives you that feeling where you want to be inside, is full of classic 3eb lines, techniques, phrasing, etc that just make it the classic non-single 3eb fave. The pseudo ending is spectacular as well. If you have somehow missed everyone talking about 3eb again, you need to drive a few laps around town playing this album.

Ryan Adams – The other day I realised I haven’t listened to Ryan Adams in months, and then I proceeded to listen to it for 3 days straight. Perhaps it got me back to being a little too jaded, but I think it was exactly what my days needed. Next month will be filled with lots of Elliott Smith as well.

Hope everyone out there who still checks in on this nonsense of a website is well, I’d name you by name, but that would just get awkward.

Share/Save

If you are just hearing about me moving from this, maybe you are saying “I can’t believe he didn’t tell me, what a bad friend”, well let’s face it… you aren’t a very good friend either. I’m kidding, I probably didn’t tell you because I’m absolutely slammed with work right now, the week you are moving is a great week to be the busiest of the year, trust me. So as of Sunday, I’ll be residing in LaLa Land, someplace underneath this gorgeous view.

To every one of my Long Beach friends and foes, I will miss being your neighbor; To all the fellow Angelians, excited to be amongst the concrete jungle.

If you need my new address to send housewarming gifts, shoot me an email.

Share/Save

Mashable has a great post on their IE6 death wish, some of the intricacies of why IE6 is horrible, why developers need to start denying pages to load in it, and what the future holds for anyone using a real browser.

Mashable

Both Digg and YouTube have announced that they’re cutting back on IE6 support. Facebook already gives you suggestions for better browsers if you try to log in with IE6. You won’t be able to Digg articles or browse YouTube via IE6 in the near future.

If you are using IE6, please stop, use IE8 if you must or try Safari or Firefox out, you might be surprised at how the internet has changed these past 10 years. If you work in IT, make it a priority to upgrade your companies browsers, far more designers will respect you.

Share/Save

I am not a huge fan of the NAACP. I understand why it was created, I understand all the good it has done, but in todays world I have seen them too quick to call anything racist and not really helping to advance anything. I recently saw an interview that got me excited about the NAACP again. Their President, one Benjamin Jealous (hello, awesome name), is multi racial, grew up on two coasts, was a Rhodes Scholar, his Grandfather was born a slave and died a Senator, and he is the youngest ever President of the NAACP.

So what did I like so much about this guy? What made me feel like he truly wants to better this world? For one, his multiple uses of the words ‘for everyone”. The lack of the NAACP getting behind other minorities and even majorities has always been my main criticism of it. A group like this was founded at a time where the need to focus on equality for “blacks” was the strongest, but this group could have evolved as they won battles towards civil rights for “blacks” and taken up more causes for all the other minorities. The NAACP is the iconic civil rights organization in this country, sure they don’t need to expand and change, but I feel like so much potential is wasted focusing mainly on only one “colour” of person.

Additionally Benjamin Jealous just seems real, I know this is naive on my part, but I feel like this guy gets “it”. It may be all political positioning, but this man is not just talking about all the injustices in the world, instead speaking on what more we can do to get the world where he hoped it would be. He is looking towards the future, while understanding his organizations past, and even acknowledges that the time has come for them to shift and adapt. It’s a refreshing stance to see.

I will not go as far to say that in todays world there is no discrimination towards minorities left, but I will also point out that there are people of all colour being discriminated against in this nation. I would love to see the NAACP formally become the National Association for the Advancement of People, and finally fulfill their potential to be fighting every civil rights injustice and helping making all of us better people in the process. Perhaps Mr. Jealous may be the one to begin that evolution.

Check out the first few minutes of the interview:

Share/Save

Here is Ken Block showing some impressive maneuvers over at the Port of Los Angeles.

Share/Save

I said I’m quiet about racism, that’s kind of a lie, I’m super against racism being made an excuse for everything. I think it perpetuates racism to always be playing that “card” and I think the NAACP is not actually “advancing” anything and is only focused on one colour. For examples of things I think are stupid cases of racism being inserted into a topic just to gain publicity, read how I felt about the Duke LAX case.

Back on track, so this article listed this racism connection:

Globe Campus

He had heard his white classmate throw an angry racial slur in his direction after an argument during a gym class game of speedball, and now the student was shoving him backward, refusing to retract the smear.

The white student swung first, hitting the 15-year-old with a punch to the mouth.

The 15-year-old heard his father’s voice running through his head: Fight only as a last resort, only in self-defence, only if given no choice, and only with the left hand.

His swing was short and compact, a left-handed dart that hit the white student square on the nose.

The nose broke under his fist, igniting a sequence of events – from arrest to suspension to possible expulsion – that has left the Asian student and his family wondering whether they are welcome in this small, rural and mostly white community north of Toronto, one that has been touched by anti-Asian attacks in the past.

Sounds horrible right? Not only did this kid do the right thing by finally sticking up for himself after probably months of torment, but he’s the only one being punished for a fight where both kids threw punches. Pretty tragic case, and I have this kids back, good for him for breaking this jerk’s nose.

So what was that racial slur?

Globe Campus

He said the boy called him a “fucking Chinese,” a comment he instantly knew was far from a joke.

Far from a joke? Yes. Hateful and mean spirited? Yes. Racist? I’m not sure. Granted I’m no form of asian, so I don’t know how offensive it really might feel to be called from the wrong country/region. I have one Korean friend who I bet has a great opinion on this, so maybe I’ll get that soon, but I do have some thoughts on this alleged racism.

First of all, were talking about essentially attacking this kid’s nationality. Yes that still falls under the broad scope of racism, but really what was racist here? Is anytime a nationality, ethnicity or race (yours or otherwise) attached to an insult racism? Is it the fact he was called an incorrect nationality that makes this racism? I don’t think so, but I’ll cover that in a bit. Would this kid have felt just as insulted if he had been called “fucking Korean”? I’m not sure of the answer to that last one, but if so then I have to disagree with this being racism.

Korean versus Chinese, again I’m an U.S. American with northern European decent, so maybe I can’t ever “get this”. However, I know Korea is right next to China, I know the people are probably, technically very much alike, perhaps even the same ethnicity. I know the Korean language (although origins debated) does have ties to the ancient Chinese languages (as does Japanese). We are talking about the differences of two nations that have more modern similarities than the U.S. and Mexico. I just don’t think calling someone an incorrect nationality that borders one’s actual nationality, while insulting them has to be a racist comment.

Was the supposedly “racist” kid ignorant? Hateful? Stupid for not knowing the difference between Korea and China? Probably yes on all accounts, but I didn’t read anything in that story that made it seem like he even knew he wasn’t calling him by his correct nationality, let alone making a comment to oppress based on that nationality. He was just a kid, a dumb kid, wanting to be mean and call the other kid a “fucking ANYTHING” and he got his nose broken for it.

The only things I can sort of (and by sort of I mean, not at all) relate to this is growing up “white” in America. I had to always check that “white” box, had no other identity, yet no one ever seemed to mind. Yeah, yeah, rough life I had, but I’m not “white” thank you, and I know I’m the majority here but it is a little insensitive to call me that. Is it a tolerance thing because I’ve been “white” for years? Is me being called white offensive? Should it be? Was it once? Could it be? Is it okay because someone “white” was the one who decided on describing us that way? All those things above are pretty much a ridiculous statement, even though I really should be able to express my ethnicity and family origins (Welsh-Irish, amongst other things) just as much as any non-white person.

Here is the only thing that can really hit close to home for me; Would I be offended if someone called me Scottish, or even a “fucking Scot”? Absolutely not, I’d just correct them, and then take up the battle of why this person just called me “fucking ANYTHING”.

I must say I’m really glad that these people at this school are speaking up about this incident, I just wish they were speaking up because a kid who fought back was expelled while the bully lives on, not because of some link to “racism”. I think it sort of cheapens what this is really about. It does seem like there are other real issues with racism towards asiatic people in this region, and I think they should address it and surely this will help those issues as well, but let’s allow kids to stand up for themselves and not be punished.

Just to lighten the mood as I finish up this way too long post, I’ll leave you with my favourite quote of the article.

The Korean Boy’s Father

“Personally, for my kid, I should move. But as a Canadian I cannot move.”

Who knew that Canada didn’t allow you to move? Ha. J, slash, K, Canada.

I’m really curious to hear what others think about this topic, and this is one of those things where I wish my blog actually got larger readership than it does, but I think this will stir a few minds a bit.

Share/Save

I know this will not be received well by many.

I’m not trying to say the guy isn’t a talented musician or songwriter, he surely is, and he surely captured a generation with his political stance and his unique mindset, but how did he wind up that way for multiple generations? To me, Dylan is the guy who wrote 4 songs that have a lasting power, the guy whose son wrote an entire album I like better than any of his fathers, the guy who has made continued his career by being the guy the “cool” people like “because he’s Dylan”.

How is this guys career so much more notable than a guy like Tom Petty or James Taylor?

Now let’s clear up a couple of facts here, it’s well known that I like “hits”. I don’t mean Top 40 songs necessarily, I mean songs with an epic hook, songs that as you walk down the street you curse having them stuck in your head (but give it another spin the second you can), HITS. Secondly, I was born in the seventies, raised in the eighties, and am living in the zeroes, Dylan hasn’t had a hit since I’ve been alive.

So why is Dylan so revered? Elvis has the same sort of fanatics, different in lots of ways, but still same kind of experience. Elvis sold records, had hit songs, was in films and was one of the first real celebrities of modern times. So Dylan is the anti-Elvis maybe? Out of the lime-light, political and all about the music and the art? Eh, I don’t think so, it might be his angle, and maybe part of why he appeals to people, but I don’t buy it, he needs to do something, not just not do something. It seems lately he does more of the not doing something, while still just writing/recording away.

Dylan was truly relevent when he wrote “The Times They Are a-Changin’” and it captured an entire aspect of the population who found a voice and mouth for all the things running through their head, but four decades later is he still? I recently “tweeted” in reply about Dylan, that Valens had 4 truly great songs on one record in an 8 month career, doing so not to compare the two, but to bring up this nugget: Is Dylan renowned because he’s simply alive and still cranking out records?

People love to play the card that Dylan isn’t Top 40, or that Top 40 hits don’t make a song or an artist “great”, and it’s all true. We all have those artists who will make 10 albums and never get radio play. I happen to love Sigur Ros and surely they will never be Top 40, but I’ll buy every record ever. Maybe that’s the key to it all, and that Dylan just clicks with some people and doesn’t with me. Maybe, but I have this vague feeling that to many, especially in my generation, liking Dylan is a lot like reading Kerouac; It’s a statement move towards the non-today, the counter culture, aimed at being a part of a generation you missed or trying to stand apart from your current one. Such as with any counter culture movement, it winds up as trendy and actually the majority, and perhaps that’s what I see today.

The truly interesting part of what I mention above is that Dylan wasn’t non-Top 40, he actually formed his career off hit songs, and at various points decided he didn’t want his records promoted certain ways or proper singles released by his label amongst other things, but his career was not consistently that. It was kind of a lot like Radiohead’s “release the music straight to the fans” move, where a band that already built up to a very successful level goes about a shift to be more “artistic”, strictly about the music, and through all of it bucking the system/process that created them. Dylan after being a mainstay “rock” act who was revered for his political and social commentary which brought him to a certain level, went country and stopped talking politics, and then even went Christian (and I have theories about all the hipster Christians I know who love Dylan too, don’t get me started).

I don’t understand how this guy managed to keep such a stable fan base through all of those changes, through very few (if any) recent songs a majority of the population can even name, to put out an album, that in the year 2009, charts at number one.

The only thing I can even come close to an explanation with is that Dylan is still there doing it. Elvis is dead, The Beatles broke up, Zeppelin disbanded, Michael Jackson went pedo, Garth Brooks retired, every other voice of a generation and/or successful career artist has either died or become too controversial or alienated themselves some other way. Dylan got less controversial, stayed alive, and over time had more and more people spreading the Dylan gospel, giving them no reason to dislike them and it being “counter”, then “different”, then “forgotten”, and at many times throughout those popular to like him. It really is quite a remarkable and impressive career.

All that to say, I’m still just waiting for someone to explain what makes Dylan so great. I’m ready for it to hit me, I’m ready to be wowed, I’m willing to listen to a record or three (but no more) with open ears and have my life changed… because after all… so many of you have been telling me, for years, that is who this man is.

P.S. I realise someone is going to tell me that just the fact he has been able to affect so many people over such a long period of time is the simple answer to the question I ask in this title, but that still doesn’t make me want to listen to him… go deeper.

Share/Save

I’m not sure if Aillaud is considered as a post-structuralist, but to me I see that in his work and his inspirations for it. I’m not sure his motivations were purely post-structuralist, as I think he wasn’t so much rejecting structuralism as he was tired of the systematic approach that was architecture post war. I see much of the same motivations, ideas, and form that lead us into the LA/Santa Monica school and architects like Frank Gehry.

You can see some more photos of the Tours and some other Emile Aillaud designed buildings in this Flickr pool.

Share/Save

All that being said, that logo can be found on something rather awesome. A(n) USB drive bracelet. What? Yeah. Okay. See for yourself. Brilliant idea TRL team.

The Record Life has their EP out now on iTunes, if you like what you hear.

Share/Save

Apple. Think Different Campaign. (Apple/TBWA Chiat Day)

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

I know I need to stop and remember these words more often, and keep pursuing my life as a person “uncomfortable with the status quo”*. To all those people in my life who fit into everything described above, thank you.

*This statement is one of those things like, 3 people will get. Sorry, but they will probably laugh pretty hard, and I can’t rob them of that just so that this would make more sense to you.

Share/Save

Take it all in:

Share/Save

So I’ve been busy, again. I got my tax extension turned in on time, so I’m doing better than some people, but it’s just an extension, so I’m doing worse than most. If you don’t appreciate the greatness of Twitter, and/or realise I don’t really say anything about what’s going on there anyway, and want to know what’s going on, this is your Huckleberry (I’mmm yuh Huhklebehhy).

I wrapped up a few MySpace re-designs for some great bands: My Favorite Highway (record was released yesterday, and you should own it), Green River Ordinance (FFO: The Fray, etc), The Urgency, and Young Love. I got up the website for a ska band from Boston called Westbound Train up, I’m not really into ska, and if you aren’t either realise these guys have much more of an old R&B sound to them. I also finally finished up the layout for a band I used to do a lot of work with called Parker Theory. I’ll get the cover up somewhere, sometime soon. I was also working a lot of sleepless nights on a secret logo project that I can’t really discuss yet, and don’t really know the outcome of, so you may never hear about it, but hey at least me writing this makes me appear “mysterious” right?

Other non-design things I have been up to include: Building an HD antenna with Kyle so we are one step closer to canceling cable, Finally fixing my Mail so that my Junk Mail will stay on the server (tip: don’t put periods in your account name), Got out to see the Ducks knock off the Sharks and fully reinvigorate my love for NHL playoff hockey, Bought more vinyl (still no turntable), and successfully got an external HD once deemed dead, back in the world of the living.

I’m off to get back into the work, nice seeing you again.

Share/Save

It’s all very ironic to me when I see a band bringing these concerns. I understand why, I understand that even the supposed rebels making rock music feel threatened that people create successful songs and even sell out a room doing something “easier” than they do. Artists are supposed to be the ones pushing envelopes, artists are supposed to welcome change and innovation; so why are so many upset that people are finding new ways to make music that people like? In the end it’s all relative, sure you may not like a band like 3oh3! (not the band listed in the blog, but I see a lot of this type of response geared towards them from artists and fans), but people think they created (that’s the key word) a pretty catchy and fun couple of tunes. It doesn’t matter how, or the tools used, none of that crap actually makes any artist “cooler” than another (but some sure think it does).

It’s about creation, creating something, being far more unique than the boring old ways of a guitar and amp. Let me announce something, not everyone can program a hit song in a computer, just as not everyone can play the guitar like Hendrix. Sure, a lot of people try both, but a lot of people fail. The ones trying and failing doing it using a guitar are no more (or less) important than the ones trying and failing at programming a song in a computer. They are expressing themselves, they are creating, they are pushing boundaries. Maybe they are creating for commercial success you say? So what, so are plenty of bands.

What I really wonder, I wonder if these were the same things happening: when photography was invented, when they took classical instruments and created jazz, bluegrass, etc, when moving pictures were invented, when a broken amplifier accidentally invented the now standard distortion. You get it right? It’s innovation, and sometimes Rock N’ Roll seems a little old and dated with their mentality about the auditory realm.

Not all music is for everyone, but criticizing ANYONE trying, especially if the critic is a fellow creator, is a bit hypocritical (and can come off as jealousy). Just say it’s not for you and let the masses decide their final place in the scheme of things.

Share/Save

Here is a lovely little example of the jewels this man is capable of cranking out, the entire post can be read here:

Bob Lefsetz

Love is a risk. If you’re not willing to get your heart broken, you’d better not play.

Then there are the heartbreakers, possessing some advantage the rest of us don’t, beauty or bucks, who flit from boy to boy or girl to girl, like a celebrity.

Then there are the self-conscious, who have to gin up their gumption to even speak with a member of the opposite sex.

If you want insight into the truth of this world, you’d be better off studying the imperfect, whose lives don’t follow a constant upward trajectory, their seemingly insignificant victories may seem minor to you, but they’re the tent poles of their lives.

Share/Save

So Gene spoke, and it was like a commercial, and this guy Lefsetz didn’t like it. Bob Lefsetz is this guy who writes this letter (it’s a blog, let’s be honest) on the music industry. Somehow the entire industry thinks the guy is genius, but I don’t get it. He constantly thinks he has the solutions to save the music industry, criticizes others who actually act and try to do something different, and as far as I can find has never actually done anything to help save the industry. All that said, his RSS feed (which sucks by the way; who makes RSS feeds that you can only read 2 lines of? People who won’t be saving any industry, that’s who) is subscribed to and once in a while (when I find those 2 lines interesting enough) I read a full post.

You can go find the post on Gene if you want, but what you should do is give Gene your visit and see it and his answers over at Simmons Records website. They are amazing and great, and entertaining… everything we should be getting, and Gene wants to give us. My favourite exchange, because it’s absolutely more valid than 90% of the things Lefsetz says is as follows:

Bob Lefsetz

Just because you’re a big musical act, that doesn’t mean you’re a decent executive, that you can run a record company.

Gene Simmons

SAYS WHO. YOU? AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MAKE THESE ASSESSMENTS. WHAT’S YOUR QUALIFICATION, IN FACT, FOR SAYING ANYTHING…

I’d like to remind people who run the music industry of a few things that Gene seems to also feel; Just because you have been around the old music industry, doesn’t mean you can be succesful in the new music industry. Just because you ran a label or run a label or had success with an artist, doesn’t mean you will ever be successful again. Just because something worked once, doesn’t mean it is the pattern.

Artists should have people who believe in them as much as Gene believes in himself (and surely any band/artist he gets behind), and should also have people who are as brutally honest as Gene is and don’t give people ridiculous manipulative sells every time they have a conversation.

Gene Simmons is kind of refreshing.

Share/Save

For those of you who don’t know, I’m out on tour with William Tell and Jimmy Robbins. I have to tell you guys Jimmy is one of the best new things in my life, and William is one of the best old. We are a pretty great band of travelers.

So we started out in Boston, Cambridge proper for 2 days (including a great stop at Drink), and then Greyhound’d down to NYC. We crashed in Williamsburg the first night, then mid-town at the Pod Hotel (bunkbeds, with Eames patterned bedspreads). The show in NYC was at the Highline, and it had a great turnout. From there we went to Hoboken, NJ. Now let me tell you, I have said a lot of bad things about NJ, and quite a few about Hoboken (I mean it does start with Hobo, and Eli Manning lives there), but I take it all back. After 2 days I’m a fan. It’s a great town where you can still grab a slice at random hours of the night, but escapes the complete craziness over the river.

Sometime after that we finally got a car, drove to Baltimore, stalked the “Ace Of Cakes” place, and wandered Fell’s Point. I wound up buying hat’s and old screens (screen printing screens), and we even cheered for the Buffalo Sabers (I can’t really explain). The next day I headed to the airport for a flight to Newark and then Orange County, only to be greeted by a delayed flight which would have made me miss my connection. So then I was on a Delta flight to Atlanta, then Orange County. Yeah, so then a ground stop in Atlanta kept me at BWI another 2 hours (I had already waited 3). Did iI mention I was flying back for my Father’s wedding the next day?

So I was a bit concerned I would be stuck forever in Maryland or Georgia, but eventually I made it back to California. The wedding was great, very musical oriented, and out in the Angeles National Forest. That evening I got on a plane for here, JFK. I promptly passed out, and that flight is now known as the Best Redeye Ever. Soon I will be heading to North Carolina to meet up with William and Jimmy, who played Philly and Raleigh while I was gone.

If you want to be involved in my insane travels, I will soon be in Charlotte, Wilmington, Delray Beach (Ft. Lauderdale), Orlando and Tampa. If you have ways to get me and 2 others into Disneyworld for free, you are especially encouraged to reach out. I really recommend you come out to a show if you are around one of these cities, it’s a great chance to see wonderful music in it’s barest form performed at levels the likes you may never see. At least stop by and familiarize yourself with William Tell and Jimmy Robbins. I’ll see you all soon.

Share/Save

So I have been ridiculously busy in the last few weeks, and there are good reasons for that. I have a ton of work, and I will be over on the East Coast for a couple weeks. Why? Why not! I will be headed out to such cities as Boston, New York, Hoboken, New York, Baltimore, Los Angeles, Charlotte, Wilmington, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, and Orlando. It’s quite a journey, and I will be on the road with my good friend William Tell and Jimmy Robbins. They will be playing perfect pop music, and I will be helping them in a multitude of ways, while still carrying on my normal load of design fun (though the past few weeks have made it so it will be a little lighter).

If you are on the lesser coast, and we are friends, we need to hang out. I’m really bad at calling people or writing them in advance, so just track me down and let’s get a drink. If you are one of my wonderful clients, fear not, I will have all the regular normal operations up and running, and you shouldn’t notice a thing.

See you soon. Miss your face.

Share/Save

I ordered the Deluxe Edition of “Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust”, I got my download, I even got my physical, and then months went by. You sent me emails to let me know the LP was going out soon. I sent you an email to let you know my shipping info had changed, and if you could amend it, you replied that my order had been amended (I still have the email). I still am waiting, I still am wondering if I will ever get it, I still am a little bit annoyed that I have to be typing this.

Please contact me and let’s get this sorted out. I will invade Iceland if need be (mostly because it’s absolutely gorgeous, but if it helps this cause too, bonus).

Thank you.

Share/Save

Currently the Associated Press is upset that an image that they hold the rights to was the basis for Shep’s illustration. They want license fees, and profit, and credit, and probably one of his children. The issue is actually pretty interesting in terms of copyright law. However frankly this case has no legs, and I’m surprised the AP is this hard up for cash (though no one in the newspaper world is exactly thriving).

The AP owns the image, they don’t own the moment in time the image was taken.

Fairey started with their image, and then he applied his now famous illustrative style. He didn’t simply threshold the thing in Photoshop, he didn’t auto-trace something in Illustrator. His work is no different than someone painting the image in a cubsim styling. Copyright simply doesn’t protect deviations in such things. Someone at AP has to know such things. If anyone should be able to claim rights to deviations based on photographs, it should be the person in the imagery. Kind of funny how they get no share of the AP’s licensing fees.

Anyway, that is my take on this whole thing, and I really hope Shep doesn’t back down or make a settlement. He deserves to stand alone as the source of such iconic imagery, and he is just the right person to stick it to the old media.

Also if I may rant…
I find it hilarious how the old media has talked about him as this “L.A. street artist”, like he is some ruffian who slums through streets stealing bread and spreading wheat paste wherever he goes. Do they not understand the guy went to THE premiere design school in America (RISD), do they not understand the guy owns his own clothing line, do they not understand the guy’s first studio he formed is responsible for such things as the Mt. Dew logo and the Mozilla logo, do they not understand his current studio is responsible for the “Walk The Line” poster and the cover art for The Smashing Pumpkins comeback album? This is no “street artist”, this is one of our generations most heralded graphic designers, this guy will be included along names like Bass, Lubalin, Rand, Glaser, Carson and Sagmeister.

Share/Save

THE 20.5:

1. I get Deja Vu… a lot. Usually about feeling like I’m getting Deja Vu. (If you follow me on Twitter, you now have Deja Vu!)
2. The best Death Cab For Cutie album is “The Photo Album” end of discussion, this fact also known as “Lindsay lies”.
3. My first concert ever was The Beach Boys, 4th of July, 1984, National Mall, District of Columbia.
4. The only computer I have ever had in my home (from a child on) has been made by Apple.
5. I recently hung up artwork on the walls of my place after living here 4 years.
6. I have had this strange quest to be “mysterious” for years (less is more, right?), the best response was from the girl I was dating (at the onset of said quest) which was… laughter.
7. My wallet is bigger than yours.
8. Some people have magazine subscriptions, I have a Quarterly subscription, a DVD subscription, and a book clup subscription. I heart MCSWNYS.
9. I have a long standing addiction to WB/CW shows I should have no part loving. It started with “The Creek”, and has included “Smallville”, “Veronica Mars”, and “Gossip Girl”.
10. There isn’t much that is better than a fresh loaf of Boudin’s sourdough bread.
11. I played Lacrosse and Ice Hockey in High School, in San Diego, CA. I was a New Englander at heart I guess.
12. Speaking of New England: I have always had a fascination with JFK, I love the Red Sox, I hate the Patriots, I love Boston.
13. I unabashedly love pop music, of all types, that other people try to pretend isn’t pure hits.
14. As a kid (11-15ish), I couldn’t fall asleep to anything but the radio. Not a CD even. I had to hear a talking voice at some point or else my mind would spin into a labyrinth of thoughts on life and death.
15. I firmly believe I could save entire companies if they would just consult me on everything they do.
16. I tend to get infatuated with girls from far away cities, okay infatuated might be putting it lightly.
17. I’m horrible at filing, but quite organised.
18. I should mention, I use the Queen’s English whenever possible.
19. Almost all of my family teach, at one point I was going to fall in line as well, but wound up a designer. Lately I have the desire to be the jaded professor at Art School who: tells everyone their projects are horrible, everyone hates but realises years later was vital to their succes (i.e. Winter Sorbeck).
20. I’m great at buying old cameras, I’m horrible at buying new film.
20 1/2. I hate committing to making plans, except… (How else am I supposed to make a half fact?)

Share/Save

I have spent all morning listening to them, and demanding others do the same.

Jack’s Broken Heart (true story, i never realised the Fight Club reference until 2 months ago) was an amazing 4 piece. Their EP “Against Forgetting” was amazing, go buy it on iTunes. I saw this band play a ton, with Jimmy Eat World, Counterfeit, et al, and it was great. They won the 2001 San Diego Music Award for best Alternative, beating out The Album Leaf, Black Heart Procession and Tristeza (I told you SD had a developing scene at the time). I later had the privilege of becoming friends with their drummer David, who is now in a band called The Little Ones (with ex-Sunday’s Best) that you should also check out.

Dewey Defeats Truman is a band that I came to know about through my own lame attempts at rock stardom. I was in a band, I will never mention more than it’s mere existence, because it was horrible. So anyway I was over at the Guitar Center (old one over on El Cajon Blvd.) one day, doing something, or buying something, and had this random conversation with this guy who was the singer for DDT. He was a pretty interesting guy and super nice, so I went over to Music Trader and picked up whatever I could find. That was “B-Sides, Rarities, and Out-Takes” and it was a great pick up. I don’t think I have the physical disc of this anymore, but somehow it has managed to stay on my computer all those years. I don’t think you can find this album, but they released an EP later that is still up on Amazon.

Enjoy.

Share/Save

Or go catch them on tour with some band nobody has ever heard of… Fall Out Boy.

Speaking of bands you should listen to, MySpace, me name dropping friends of mine in NYC, and what I’m listening to right now: Another wonderful friend Frank got me hooked on this band More Amor. Their track “Young Hollywood” will be stuck in my head for 3 weeks, at the least. I recommend buying the album off iTunes, because I did, and it would do you some good to be more like me.

Share/Save

Here is a brilliant interactive look at how the Zip Code system works.

Share/Save

The man has musical performers on his show and doesn’t hold up the CD, he holds up vinyl. Gorgeous, circles of black, grooves of uncompressed, vinyl.
And it’s not just once in a while

It’s always.

It must be show policy. I wonder if a band is allowed to play if they can’t get the vinyl there? I wonder if he loves Squeeze’s “Singles” on vinyl as much as I do. Scotch & Squeeze, that’s all you need.

In related news, will someone sell me a record player. I’m sick of losing bids on ebay.

Share/Save

Most of my clients are actually some of the greatest people ever, so I’m pretty fortunate in this one. However, I have in the past encountered these people, and I suppose someone had to take over their design work when I moved on, so this is for you, whomever you are.

And those clients.

Credit

In general I think this is something most people should be familiar with, designers are used more and more, and I think it’s still one of the largest growing professions. Chances are you may hire a designer, and chances are, you may not be familiar with the status quo. People really don’t understand what it’s like to be making a living designing, they think it’s some novelty, like you must do something real for a living and thus they can treat the whole relationship as a hobby. Some of the ways I have seen clients treat designers is just mind boggling and wouldn’t fly in any other industry. In reality all these things are just good business, why some people choose bad business, that one is still a mystery to me.

P.S. I read somewhere recently how overused of a literary device the one line paragraph was, so of course I made it my goal to use it more. Hence, you will be seeing it a lot. Will this be the end of my run on sentences, could be, but probably not, I mean why would I want to do that when I could just combine the two for even more amazing played out incorrectness?

Share/Save

That there is the cover of The Guardian’s G2 section that ran earlier in the week. One of my favourite people on earth David Carson did the design, and inside is a multitude of other designers takes on POTUS Obama’s speeches. Nice little feature for the design geek and/or political dork.

Share/Save

I have a great hope in this country, and in this President, as we; continue to do the hard things, constantly be asked to do the impossible, be the example for the diverse world we live in, and do all these things with grace and humility. I am incredibly proud to be able to call this country my home.

Share/Save

60-something degrees.

My head felt like it was 80-something. Now I’m no scientist, but I think this could be something. So I deduced I had a fever. I refused to medicate myself, and choose to push through. I’m starting to realise this has been going on the past week, and has been what has cut into my productivity lately. I should have realised mid day exhaustion wasn’t normal, but I kind of enjoyed the naps.

So anyway, like a good friend of mine said:

Barney Stinson

“You see, whenever I start feeling sick, I just stop being sick and be AWESOME instead. True story.”

So this little nugget of Awesome comes in handy on days like today.

And yes, I realise Barney is a character, but if you met my friends you would know some fiction is clearly taking a cue from my reality.

Share/Save

Anyway Taylor Momsen who plays Jenny (who regularly steals scenes and is pretty much a lock for her own spin off, duh), was recently caught running from the Paparazzi. I know it’s a viral ad for NIke, but that doesn’t make it any less awesome.

Okay, I’m gonna go back to work and try to pretend I just didn’t gush on my Blog about Gossip Girl.

Share/Save

My good friend Brandon Chamberlain works with an artist named Jeremy Larson who makes some pretty spectacular music himself, and will be sitting in with MuteMath on the keys tonight as they play Leno. If their other late night performances were a sign, this will be another can’t miss.

Share/Save

Nice to see Yahoo! pushing it’s reach and offering up an amazingly useful webapp for free. Well done Y!.

Share/Save

Sidenote: I once told a girl who I was dating, or had dated, or was going to date (I’m really not sure the time period in it all) that I was working on being mysterious, she laughed at me. She was right.

So if you are up to be a part of something that may require a few minutes of your time now and again, possibly a postage stamp, and will make 2009 better (or at the least more interesting) shoot me an email (you should have it) and include your postal address.

Share/Save

1. Queen Latifah.
2. The whole, “high five the people as you go to the mic” thing.
3. Kid Rock over Coldplay.
4. The constant “Obama won the election” references. Like the actors did anything.
5. Ellen over Letterman.
6. Robin Williams.
7. Two And A Half Men.
8. Everything else, except The Dark Knight.

Share/Save

So anyway, in May I returned a 5 month old email to John and he only waited 6 months to reply to me. Way to out do me, John. I’m really horrible at getting back to those kind of emails, because I feel like I can’t just fire off 3 sentences like I can with family and friends I see all the time, so I hold no ill will. John let me know about a project he had recently compelted after teaching himself how to screenprint. The concept was a series of art prints that represent each state as a plate of food. I think it came out pretty spectacular, of course it will be 6 months until I let John know that, but for now check out his work. The United Plates.

Share/Save

I enjoyed a lovely holiday back “home” (Long Beach is home to me, but San Diego gets jealous when I say that) in San Diego, five-ish full days of family, friends and homemade cookies. My last few weeks of work had been slammed full of work (thanks all), and the time away was a great recharge. New Years was approaching and instead of being lame and doing nothing, we threw a last minute party. The flyer was probably the best part, but we had a pretty epic time all the same. I invented a new drink that night, and drank far too much of it, leaving me a little hurting New Years Day down in the OC. I hate people who say “the OC”, slash myself. Watched some football, played some poker, drank to cure the hangover and had some of the best chili ever made, then we ended the night with “Frost Nixon”:, great film.

The holidays, as they are known, were great, and I am endlessly thankful to have the amazing people in my life that I do. I don’t say it enough, but I appreciate you all.

Somehow in the middle of all that craziness above the Chargers made the playoffs, so this past weekend I trekked back down (stopping in HB to play some football myself) for what was one of the best games I have ever seen. I was so fortunate to see that game in person, what a start to the New Year. Sunday I went and saw “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” with my Mother, I was a little nervous of how this would be adapted. I had heard some things that essentially made it sound like “The Notebook” and “Forrest Gump” were starring in a “Brad Pitt is rebuilding the ninth ward” infomercial, then I saw it and cried like a little old man baby. They nailed the potential this story has, and Pitt once again impresses. Everyone should see this and love it, but then again I do love “The Notebook”.

In the middle of all those things I also made a server switch (still MT, just a new version of the DV along with PHP5, finally), put up a few new websites (splash pages) for various friends and a few of my various projects and hung up a ton of art around the place.

I hope everyone else enjoyed some time with friends and family (or locked up avoiding them), whatever you needed the past weeks, and is looking forward to where 2009 can take us.

Oh, did you hear?
Yes we did.

Share/Save

Best Songs of 2008
1. Third Eye Blind – Red Star
2. Mike Dunn And The Kings Of New England – The Edge Of America*
3. The Jealous Sound – Got Friends
4. The Summer Set – …In Color
5. Coldplay – Prospekt’s March

My only real commentary on this is that people should put out more EP’s. Start an EP label, something.

*This may have not come out in 2008, I may not care about silly facts like that.

Share/Save

Best Songs of 2008
1. Augustana – Sweet And Low
2. Gavin Rossdale – Love Remains The Same
3. Mates Of State – The Re-Arranger
4. My Favorite Highway – Getaway Car
5. Jack’s Mannequin – The Resolution
6. Estelle (ft. Kanye West) – American Boy
7. Katy Perry – Hot N’ Cold
8. Kanye West – Heartless
9. Coldplay – Viva La Vida
10. All-American Rejects – Another Heart Calls

Running Commentary (with no care in the world for grammar) follows:
I still stand by the statement I made after my second listen of “Sweet And Low”, which was something along the lines of it being the best song the band has ever written, and for those of you that know me know how Augustana’s “Boston” affects me, so that is really saying something. Gavin Rossdale renewed my faith in him in one single, single. You probably haven’t heard the My Favorite Highway song, but you should, it should be huge if that album ever gets a proper push. I’m not sure how many times this year I was standing in a booth at a club singing “American Boy”, but it was a lot. The late pushes this year were made by Kanye’s second single, and a song that probably won’t be a single by AAR, but it’s gorgeous.

Share/Save

Best Albums of 2008
1. Coldplay – Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends
2. The New Frontiers – Mending
3. Katy Perry – One Of The Boys
4. My Favorite Highway – How To Call A Bluff
5. Augustana – Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt
6. Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreak
7. Denison Witmer – Carry The Weight
8. Girl Talk – Feed The Animals
9. Death Cab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs
10. We The Kings – We The Kings

I know my list is full of lame pop albums, I know it’s not as cool as your list with Vampire Weekend, Kings of Leon and Bon Iver. I realise my lameness in full, it’s who I am, I love pop music. All those great indie bands write some brilliant songs, but rarely do I ever find myself with a hook stuck in the head that can only be cured by singing along to hits like I do these artists listed above. Forgive me, all the indie hits blend together into an un-craved mass of great music that lies un-played in my iTunes.

Share/Save

The stats this year are in, and I had an incredibly lucky year. I am in 4 Fantasy Football leagues. In the two leagues that have divisions I won both, finished first in one division-less league and second in the other. I didn’t really do as well as that sounds though, most of those were last minute runs to win the divisions the last week of the regular season.

Somehow I managed to make it to the Championship in all 4 games, which is pretty much unheard of, this is a game of 90% luck. So it’s off to the finals I go, where I will probably be losing 2/4 or something (hey, it’s no naked man).

Surely in a few weeks I will be suffering fantasy withdrawals, but I think I have an idea for a Super Fantasy 2009 league that incorporates players from every sport in the year. Who is in?

Share/Save

Today one of Brad’s site is featured as Communication Arts Webpicks. It’s the site he worked on for Wind-Up Records, I’ve gushed about this site ever since it went live, and I think it’s the first time in ages that a website has really struck me as perfectly executed and innovative. It’s what the web should be.

Anyway, everyone should go check it out if you haven’t yet.

Share/Save

Two Pacific Northwest film makers decided to start experiencing the life their cat lives. It’s becoming an ongoing project tht has garnered a bunch of press, and more importantly has returned some absolutely gorgeous photographs.

You can check out the Flickr of the Cat Cam here.

Sadly I may have to contend that anyone with a camera really is a photographer.

Share/Save

The other day Kyle and I were sitting around talking about our distaste for NASCAR and distaste for the Detroit bailout. Let’s face it, the only people to blame for the Big Three failing are the people in charge, the people who put them in charge, and the people who allowed them to be in charge with huge salaries while losing money.

A brilliant idea then hit. What if NASCAR (which is called “stock car racing”) actually started using stock cars. We have all these cars sitting around not being sold, and yet these companies are spending millions to run “stock” cars around ovals. Throw a few out there fresh from the factory, show us how safe they really are, show us the true performance, show us what you want to sell.

NASCAR would gain 2 more fans, and Detroit could write off the 3-4 cars they crash (per team) every week at the track.

“Dude, we just saved Detroit”

Share/Save

PLEASE NOTE: We are not looking for a college student or hobbyist or a social networker who stays up all night and surfs the Internet with their friends and designs graphics out of their bedroom for t-shirts. ONLY PROFESSIONALS SHOULD APPLY.

Now I’m not simply being defensive because I’m writing this from the same room as my bed (though this side of the room is clearly business only), but that whole combination of words is just so out of touch with reality. I know some of the most talented designers around, and almost every one of them designs graphics for t-shirts out of their bedroom, surfs the internet with friends and stays up all night. Artists tend to not exactly live the 9-5 office lifestyle, and you would think anyone wanting a truly talented designer would realise that.

Good luck with your production artist, nameless medical company.

Share/Save

Here is the wrap-up:
I was sick for a good solid 2 weeks, most of it came from breathing pure ash from some of the lovely fires in Southern California, I finally recovered the week of Thanksgiving, but was way behind on work (thank you to everyone whose project was delayed, your grace is wonderful).

I got back on the ball and wrapped a ton of stuff up the past 2 weeks, including a 3 day trek to San Diego to see family/friends whom I love, and a 2 day trek to AZ to ride along with Tell as he played ASU. It was all great, and we officially decided AZ may be the best food state ever. Think about it, they get the west coast (In-N-Out, Del Taco, etc) and the Middle America (Waffle House, Chick-Fil-A, Sonic) along with other random things from states far off. Put a White Castle out there and my vote is in.

I just wrapped up William Tell’s MySpace the other day, if you haven’t been by lately he has quite a few new songs up that you should listen to. This little project was a fun nightmare. Lots of work overwriting MySpace and figuring out stupid little one line code issues, but it’s only the first time that this will kill me.

Also not too long back I finally got up a semblance of a website for Department Three. I have been promising this for years, and now finally some of my recent work is up to view at the studios site.

I’m working on a ton of other things, filing away files, getting caught up on emails, do if you are wondering why I haven’t replied to something, be patient. In the works are a few websites, some branding work, and a few more MySpace re-designs.

In other news, my friends at Hozell are having a warehouse sale this weekend. It’s today and tomorrow, and it also includes WeSC another great brand I’m a huge fan of. Info is on the MySpace linked there (because they didn’t want to put it on their MySpace?), and i’ll be there in a few minutes. If you are in LA/OC you should head down and hang.

Share/Save

You see, in what many are claiming to be the cliffs of calamity in Detroit, their CEO’s all flew private jets over to D.C. for these meetings. I sure want my tax dollars going towards that. I know a lot of peoples jobs in Michigan, and a lot of other states that are home to suppliers, are at stake here, and I want this to turn out well for all those hard working people. However, this is not the case of this economy causing a dangerous situation for Detroit, but this economy presenting an easy escape from years of screwing up.

Gary Ackerman (D – Queens)

“Couldn’t you all have downgraded to first class? Or jet-pooled? It would have at least sent the message that you do get it.”

For years I have had issues with the U.S. auto manufacturers. They pay their CEO’s ridiculous amounts for constant failures, they took years and years to adopt green vehicles, they were blind to the fact that Toyota was doing innovative things and balancing their product offerings. These companies should all fire their entire management and hire a few Harvard Business graduates that can think in modern times. I know, I use that plan for everything, but why do people think that the leaders of companies who have come up in the old way and fail will succeed somewhere else? When will there be discrimination laws about companies having to interview 2 candidates under 40?

The current CEO’s also turned down a gesture of good will that was brought up to them. When asked if they would take a symbolic $1 salary, much like Lee Iaccoca did years ago to help revive Chrysler, Ford and GM’s CEO’s said no. GM’s Wagoner took home 14 million last year; Ford’s Mulally grabbed a cool 22 million. For the record, Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli said he would take the $1 a year salary, but it was reported in 2007 that his salary would be $1 a year and then incentive based, so he is (and kinda isn’t) doing his part. Nardelli also is probably still living nice off that 201 million severance he got from Home Depot.

The U.S. “Big Three” in the past 3 years combined for 67 billion in losses, and it’s just the economy, right? I’m gonna spell this out for any Fortune 500 board members than might accidentally happen across my blog. No one, and I mean no one, is worth 15 million dollars a year. I don’t care who they are, or what they are doing, it CAN NOT be considerably more than the level of work you would get out of a person being paid 2 million. Give your CEO’s profit sharing all you want, I have no issues with that, but no base salary deserves to be that high.

You want to save these companies? Here is how. If you are a stockholder, write in your unhappiness with the board and CEO, the two public companies ARE accountable to all you millions of shareholders who have been fleeced in your stock value and owe it to you to stop spending money they don’t have. Cerberus should be able to figure out this thing for their own and save Chrysler, or sell it off in pieces to one of the Japanese auto makers. That is the other reality, Toyota or Honda can jump in the game and purchase on of these failing companies, though we may all be better off in a world without the original “Big Three”.

Share/Save

Because of such celebratory events I am bringing you free music. From two different places.

Firstly, a lot of my time has been spent working on a few projects for William Tell, and part of that pile is up on the internet today. Right here, if you sign up you get a free song, and lot’s more to come. It’s a new marketing device that we have dubbed, “bribery”. The song is called “Gone Gone Gone” and it has some great Paul Simon moments in it.

Secondly, a lot of the rest of my time is spent talking to the one and only Chad Pearson. He has a record label, and they give you free music. He is currently living in a red state, but let’s look past that for a moment. FREE MUSIC! Okay, so yeah, his label sampler is now up for free on Amazon MP3. It features some great artists whom I truly love, and is just the right kind of mood for Fall days (Not that I know what Fall is like). A little more mature sound blasting from your windows, a little more proof you are cooler than people think.

So enjoy the music, and the new President, and if I could give away this for free I would.

Share/Save

That’s right, 7-11 did their own polls, and they predict a huge sweep for Obama. The greatest part of this map is how they just leave out a bunch of states no one cares about. Ha. If he actually won that large of the popular vote, he could beat out the all time record of the popular vote, held by… you guessed it… Warren G. Harding. I must add for truthiness, that there are ZERO 7-11′s to be found in Arizona, I tried one summer, drove into like 7 towns, it’s Circle K’s only.

Share/Save

E.E. Cummings

“The only man, woman or child who wrote a simple declarative sentence with seven grammatical errors is dead.”

Anyway, relate Harding to whomever you feel applicable right now, but since I randomly wound up on this tangent, I wanted to tell you why Harding really sucked. The President before Harding? Woodrow Wilson. The President after Harding? Calvin Coolidge. The one after that? Herbert Hoover. Harding broke up the only chance we ever had for a four President run with double letter initials. Why couldn’t he have been named Harry Harding?

Share/Save

It’s hard to really write out my formula for Obama, I don’t necessarily think it’s about his stance on this small issue or that small issue, I think it’s more powerful than that. Some people like to call basing decisions on feeling or emotion and not the issues ignorant, but I am not voting issues. I’m voting for the person that has changed this country already, just through their campaign, I’m voting for the guy whose platform is “Hope”, is “Change”.

Anyway, on the internets I found this great article explaining the Obama “effect” on another personal level. This echoes so many thoughts that I have I had to share it. It may not make sense to everyone to vote for someone “on a hunch”, but I think it’s just about as good as basing it off propaganda and lies.

Share/Save

Share/Save

If you loved The Jealous Sound’s other 2 releases, you need this. If you loved Knapsack, you need this. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, start here, you need this. This may be the last we hear of them, or it may not.

Share/Save

For those of you not in the know:

Google Gears

Gears is an open source project that enables more powerful web applications, by adding new features to your web browser:

Go get you some, right here.

Share/Save

After my moment of jubilation, and my pestering Tell about his Obama 08 BlackBerry application (or lack there of), came the most perfect reply ever.

Tell

“I hear John McCain is coming out with one for a NEXTEL.”

Share/Save

To wrap up my thoughts on the baseball season, I thought we would go to Ralph Nader for a comment.

Ralph Nader, after he’d been told by Washington Post editors that the lack of coverage of his presidential campaign was because he had no chance of winning:

“Then why are you covering the Nationals?”

Best thing ever, thank you Ralph, thank you Nationals for losing 3 more games than the Padres.

Share/Save

Earlier today on the news I was watching a local report on WaMu and a reporter was getting the “word on the street” from the customers. Multiple customers had no idea WaMu failed yesterday, one even decided not to go in and deposit a cheque in his account. Pretty surprising how uninformed someone can be about what is happening in the country right now, and even more shocking that they don’t know their financial protections.

The greatest moment of this piece came when the reporter had talked to one customer who had gone into the branch last week and met with the Manager. He demanded to know “what was going on with all of this and what he should know”. The Manager replied with the following, “Everything is fine, don’t believe all that stuff that is out there, WaMu is as solid as a rock”.

Rocks do sink to the bottom.

Share/Save

Computerworld

Several digital images that Microsoft Corp. has posted on its Web site to trumpet its new “I’m a PC” advertising campaign were actually created on Macs, according to the files’ originating-software stamp.

Four of the images that Microsoft made available on its PressPass site today display the designation “Adobe Photoshop C3 Macintosh” when their file properties are examined. The images appear to be frames from the television ads that Microsoft will launch later today.

This one just makes me giggle over and over and over.

Share/Save

They let me out no problem, didn’t say a word to me, didn’t get my statement, didn’t tell me anything when I went to meet Kyle (who was not allowed in, and was told it would be an hour or so). So we went to grab some food, Alondra Wings, and it was delicious. Coca Cola with crunch ice makes you forget your street is on complete lock down. We headed back, a little over an hour later, walked up to an officer, and were informed that it “could be 10 hours”, “he can’t do anything”, and “the street is blocked of”. This guy was a genius, and a classic case of an officer of the law, who is paid to protect and serve the public (and paid by my tax dollars) treating the public with no respect at all. I asked if we could talk to his Sergeant, he made no effort to find out and told us “he was too busy”, and “all the officers on the scene were too busy doing their jobs to talk to”.

The intel we already had on the scene was that a body was found, and that it was possibly a baby in the alley. A tragic event completely, but we also thought it wasn’t too ridiculous for us to be allowed back into our house. So we set off to find a way in. We tried a chimney climb up to the roof, using a light next to the building, it was unsuccessful so we set off on foot so scope the perimeter. We hit the west perimeter first, Kyle had established a repertoire with these guys already and we tried to get a gauge on how long it would be that we would not be allowed in. These wonderful officers told us we should head to the south perimeter, as that was closer to the command center. Yes, there is a command center a few hundred feet from me right now. Choppers too, roaring overhead as I type.

At the south perimeter we found a uniformed officer and I flipped on the charm, the same charm I refused to show to attitude filled north perimeter guy, and stated that we “understood they have to investigate and understand everything, but it’s not that ridiculous that we be allowed into our home”. He told us that he was told simply “no one can come in”, and I pressed on asking if we could just speak to someone else. Well apparently “The Sarge” was fond of us, because once the officer actually got him, he told us we were all good to enter at the north perimeter and that he already called in to let them know we were allowed.

Upon reaching the north perimeter, we were apologized to, and walked in. We aren’t sure when we will be able to leave, but for now we are in.

UPDATE: Here is a news story on the investigation.

Share/Save

Before I start posting videos that make John McCain look silly, understand I LOVE John McCain, he has fought for some amazing things in his life (this country being one of them) and has brought about some great change. I also would have voted for this man 4 or 8 years ago, but now it is too late. I fear he has lost a lot of his edge, I fear he isn’t completely relevant anymore (for a lack of a better word). The world has changed, politics needs to change, I don’t necessarily want someone leading this country towards new relationships with the rest of the world with the experience of an old world and old politics. Sorry.

John McCain speaking on the economy.

“These are very, very difficult times.”
“The fundamentals of our economy are strong”

John, seriously? I threw that first quote in so it wouldn’t look like I was pulling out only the negative from his statement. He also acknowledges these are very difficult times, awesome, he can see the obvious. What everyone misses about this financial crisis is the fundamentals of our economic structure are what are most wrong. Whether we talk about the fundamentals that allow finance sector businesses government aid or golden umbrellas for the CEO’s of failing corporations, the fundamentals are what led us here. For years things went under regulated, Greenspan kept coming out to see his shadow every few months, CEO’s took risk after risk because they have nothing to lose (to read a great article on this topic, head over to my good friend Mark Cuban’s blog) and millions to pocket if they are fired, and our society became speculators who react more to media coverage than to actual trends. Those things combined (leadership of financial sector jobs, regulation of the businesses that drive our economy, the Government control of interest rates and funds, investor confidence and competence) are pretty much the fundamentals of our economy. Any one of those things changes and it affects the economy in huge drastic swoops, all of them change at once and we get to where we are today.

After John McCain’s campaign then put out an ad that said “The economy is in crisis”, Matt Lauer (and all of us) needed an explanation.

John McCain on The Today Show
“Well it’s obviously true that the workers of America are the fundamentals of our economy, and our strength, and our future.”

“There is nothing wrong with the workers of America, I believe they are the fundamentals”

Sure those quotes sound bad out of context, but that last one up there sounds even worse when you hear where Lauer is trying to lead him before he says that. Lauer gives McCain a complete chance to make the statement about “the fundamentals causing the nightmares we are seeing” in the economy, and McCain just clings on to the fact that the workers are the fundamentals.

A lot of people always bring up flip-flopping politicians, and I’m sure McCain is grasping to not look like he flip-flops on his statements. However it also makes him look unintelligent and stubborn, and makes him look like someone who cannot find advisors to keep him up to date on relevant topics. I hated the fact the Kerry flip-flopped so much 4 years ago, but what I hated even more about Kerry was that the person he was as a Presidential Candidate was a dumbed down, manipulated version of the man who stood proudly speaking in protest of the Vietnam War. McCain is starting to look like a shell of his former self as well, John, come out and say you see the things fundamentally wrong with our economy, come out and say you are learning to use a computer, stop being so afraid of a little change, be it of mind, opinion or technology.

Share/Save

The Huffington Post

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan offered a woeful outlook of America’s economic situation on Sunday, saying the crisis with the country’s financial institutions was as dire as he had ever seen in his long career, and predicting that one or more of those institutions would likely collapse in the near future.

“Oh, by far,” Greenspan said, when asked if the situation was the worst he had seen in his career. “There’s no question that this is in the process of outstripping anything I’ve seen and it still is not resolved and still has a way to go and, indeed, it will continue to be a corrosive force until the price of homes in the United States stabilizes. That will induce a series of events around the globe which will stabilize the system.”

Alan Greenspan covered all the topics, except the fact that he is pretty much single handedly responsible for what is happening to our economy currently, but hey that isn’t really important right?

Share/Save

P.S. Go to hell Pacey.

Share/Save

As a bonus to all of you who like good music. A new song, from the genius that is Gasoline Heart. You are all welcome.

Share/Save

This is for you. Holiday Parade presents “Slam Crunk”, the newest in a bunch of white guys remixing through guitars and instruments to bring you a jewel of pop goodness. It’s free to download at PureVolume, so do it.

Share/Save

Share/Save

Share/Save

I bugged just about every person I know who works in design/programming, and I thank you all for your amazing knowledge filled response of “yeah, I dunno, that’s weird”. Seriously, you people really are aces, all kidding aside.

So the blog is back, the google warnings should come down soon, and as a bonus prize I brought…

Twitter Updates Back! Weekly digest, which is what I wanted to begin with. Dollar, dollar bills y’all.
Enjoy.

Share/Save

Just head over to Joel’s blog to see the video.

I have a newsflash “peaceful protestors” of Denver, the moment you left the park (where coincidentally the law enforcement had no issue with you) and started marching down roads made, not for people to march down, but for automobiles to drive down; the moment you started moving at law enforcement; the moment you were yelling aggressively; the moment you were running to find a new street to clog; you were no longer peaceful. You assembled, it was fine, and you could have stayed their with your signs and nonsense, but you chose marching. It’s funny, in California, I’m not allowed to cross a street in a downtown city unless I use a cross walk, but these people believe they should be able to randomly march down the entire street?

I wish people in this country would realise they don’t have the right to “march down the fucking street”. I wish people would not try to spin the fact that they declined to use the approved protest areas that were set up so a city could function while people would still be able to protest. I wish people would not spin the fact that due to their selfish act of marching down a street wherever they wanted with 2000 of their closest friends they are making other peoples lives miserable and delaying them from getting to/from work and going about their lives. I wish people protesting aggressively and yelling at law enforcement would stop acting like they weren’t hoping to be maced.

Protests are so futile, it’s one of the most ridiculous things I have ever seen. Protesting is about the same to me as wearing an American flag pin on your lapel. Up front, you made this big show, and you can talk to your friends about how involved you are in changing politics, but in the end you have done nothing. Get out and do something, call people, write letters, run for office, find us a better option and help get them elected; don’t just wave a sign and act like you are making any sort of impact besides trying to get your so-called movement a little press. The press who feeds off drama and has probably pushed more people towards this sort of thing with it’s choice of what gets covered, and it will get covered for that day, yet protestors think the press will suddenly stop ignoring the issues that they help our government perpetuate in the days that follow. There are so many countless ways better to bring change to the world.

I have seen firsthand for 2 years the kind of recklessness these protests bring with them, and those were formally organised city approved protests through Downtown Los Angeles. On one of these occassions I couldn’t even go into work because the traffic re-routing simply couldn’t get me to my office.

I’m pretty sure at some point people need to use some common sense and realise there are other tax paying citizens who might have issue with their lives being disrupted by a street full of people marching.

Share/Save

I love Heroes, it’s probably my favourite show on television (though HIMYM is pretty even), but this whole thing really is ridiculous. I guess it’s what happens when you can’t use union actors and union directors and union writers and union key grips and union catering.

Go ahead, watch the webisodes of Heroes.

Share/Save

Anyway, the text said…

AT&T & Apple

“An important software update for iPhone 3G has been available on iTunes since this past Monday,” the message reads. “To get it, simply sync your iPhone 3G with iTunes and click the ‘Check for Update’ button.”

I updated on Monday afternoon, and of course I found no change to the performance of my phone. Kind of interesting that they would be so persistent about an update if it wasn’t supposed to be the fix.

Share/Save

It’s an exciting and challenging time, and I will surely be hitting up each and every one of my friends about anyone you might know who could be my next client. It’s tough out here in the design game, but so refreshing to be scrambling over something and having to sling my trade everywhere I go.

Share/Save

I was recently listening to a few older records, and started remembering these amazingly vivid memories about where I was the first time I heard it, or the 3392382th time it spun through my CD player, and felt I would share. I think I may do this regularly, it’s quite fun.

These are the memories invoked by a collection of songs that hold a correlation of a specific trip or location.

The Get Up Kids – Something To Write Home About – Lake Havasu City, AZ

It was a random stop at a Music Trader before a trip to Havasu, and this album soon became the soundtrack of that trip, played over and over and over. TGUK had never terribly captured my ears until this album, and it was an album that was bought against the recommendation of a friend, going with pure instinct. Instinct was right.

No Use For A Name – More Betterness – Grossmont Ctr. Dr, La Mesa, CA

I purchased this the same day as TGUK – STWHA, it was a more obvious choice to me as No Use was a pretty common listen for me. This record was disliked by a lot of NUFAN fans, but it still is my favourite. The direction they took, the downright emo-ness of this record, was absolutely the perfect evolution for my musical tastes. It was poppy, it still had edge, it was smart, yet it was still punk. These were days of CD players in cars, and scratches getting the best of the most played. One day on the way to surf Abs (or maybe it was Subs) the unplayable-ness of this CD at the hands of it’s scratches caused me to fling it into the street. That was a horrible decision, and I regretted it 3 seconds after I had done it.

Share/Save

Share/Save

I realised this was too great not to share with the world, so here it is, minus most of my personal info.

Share/Save

When I was watching the first episode and saw the typography they used I was pretty taken. It does a brilliant job of capturing what the mood of the show is. It’s rough around the edges, but has a certain order to it’s madness. I thought it was great how they created something with a very solid familiarity without going the route of some played out font we have seen too many times.

Then today I was listening to K-Rock NY on my iPhone (through AOL Radio) and I noticed something interesting…

No longer did we have an original and unique font. Now did someone rip off the other someone in this case? Probably not. It’s probably the case of 2 entities finding a font that actually fits their “brand” quite well, it’s just a shame they both come to light in a similar moment. Now you might be thinking, “Aren’t you being a little too harsh on people for using the same font? Don’t people do that all the time?” And you are right, it happens, but it usually is avoided by most designers when it is such a kitschy type font. If I had seen these both without seeing the other, I probably would think both were wonderful choices and original type creations, but I can’t change the facts, and I think the designers working on those projects should have spent a little more time on the font choice/execution.

Anyone else remember a case of a very memorable, kitschy, stock font was used for two brands around the same time? The last one I can think of was the Spiderman/Playstation 3 font, which at least both were Sony properties.

Share/Save

Sounds like all is well out around the epicenter, and there is no damage reported.

Share/Save

Just thought I would fill you all in on some places my photos are appearing lately. Thanks to all the people who let me capture their souls on electronics.

Share/Save

He will be reading from his book “What It Is: What It Is” and Filter Magazine is presenting the events, so it should be quite a wonderful literary event. Check out Flavorpill if you are in LA or NYC for all the event info.

Share/Save

The Register

That dream? To produce a desktop more beautiful to ordinary users than legions of Apple programmers supping on the milk of chief exec Steve Jobs’ alleged brilliance are capable of producing.

Share/Save

Well I decided to go ahead and fill everyone in on what I would be contributing to the show. I take a lot of pictures, it’s a big part of my life. However I’m not one of those people who shows up everywhere with my Canon and looking kind of weird trying to take pictures of everything I see in my life. I miss more good picture opportunities than I take good pictures, but for the first time I will be showing a few of these pictures. 5 images, 30″ x 20″, taken in Boston, MA, Los Angeles, CA and CBGB’s in NYC, NY.

Here they are:

I hope this event is a marvelous success, not for myself, but because the people involved in this, and the other artists contributing are some of the most amazing people I know on this planet. They constantly inspire me, challenge me, and humble me. I am so thrilled to be involved in anything they do.

Share/Save

So how did I wrap up an utterly amazing week? Well, first I went down to San Diego and saw my family and celebrated my birthday early. It was a lovely time, and I got in some seriously needed pool time, because being on a river all week is way different angles of sunlight and the tan takes a serious toll.

Heading back home to Long Beach, I was ready to get back to reality. Well that was all thrown afoot on Sunday when we headed out to a little party that wound up being the biggest thing in LA County on Sunday. There were Lions, Tigers, Monkeys, Waterfalls, Margaritas, Old Friends, Amazing New Friends, Long Walks Back To The Car (Or For The Entrepreneurial Sorts Domino’s Car Rides), and Telling People Our Names Were 80′s Band Names (Which Worked Out Well For Todo). It was an absolute amazing time, and did I mention BI happened to have left his bayou home (and was visiting the place that misses him way too much, or maybe just the people do) and made the whole day that much better.

Thanks to everyone who invited us/threw the party, let us not wait in line, poured us beverages, gave me chips, made us smile, and all the rest involved, especially one graceful pizza delivery driver. I am thankful to have the friends I do, and the ridiculous times we get into. Life is good.

As if that run of days couldn’t get any better, early today I purchased a replica, orange, Chad Johnson jersey for far too ridiculously little. Ocho Cinco, check; Man Ram, up next.

Share/Save

All the prints of my photographs will be 30×20, and I will post the day of the event the pieces that are there, maybe. I’m really excited for everything Chad is doing with Panda, I’m absolutely in love with the musicians he is working with, I’m thrilled to be a part of an art show where my work will be completely showed up by some of the most amazing artists out there today who I am also honoured to call my friends (therefore, such as.

If you are in the Atlanta area, you should make it out to this. I was trying to work out an appearance myself, but I think I will wait until the fall to fully experience the ATL.

Share/Save

Mark Penxa, interviewed by Uni Watch about the “Stealing Signs” project. Mark and I worked together on a few projects back when I was with TMG, when I say worked together, I mean I took brilliance he did, and probably diluted it. However we had great fun, and still have some pretty amazing email conversations about life. Mark was kind enough to sell me some of the early versions of the “Stealing Signs” project, and they are absolutely moving in person.

Another fun thing to know about Mark and I is that I once tried to commission Mark to paint me a kind of 3 colour tribute to one of my ex-girlfriends. His complete panning of me and such a ridiculous idea proved more therapeutic than anything else had and has on said topic. Moral of that story is that Mark rules, nd I am valued to have him as a friend, and that I am a sap who fortunately has friends who don’t let him do utterly foolish things (most of the time).

Share/Save

Share/Save

Do you ever get those messages out of the blue on MySpace or Facebook from an old HS (or earlier, or later) friend, whom you truly have some good memories of, and have once over the past 10 years wondered how they are? Yeah, me too.

Here are how they go:

Catching Up

Subject:
Long Time (Or some other vague title about how you haven’t talked in years)
Body:
Hey _________, wow it’s been like __ years since we have _______. How have you been? Are you still __________________? It’s crazy finding all our old __________ on __________________. Did you hear ________________ is ___________________?

I have been _____________, just _____________ and living in __________________. I am really glad I found you, we HAVE to ___________ soon. You have to catch me all up on _________.

And sometimes in there they slide in some guilt trip, like it’s your fault you forgot to get info about the 10 year reunion, or that it’s your fault you never come see them when you go home.

I get these, all the time, and even though a lot of people would assume I would treat then with attitude I am presenting here, I don’t. I love these messages, well used to, I love these people, well used to. I have noticed a strange pattern, and it goes a little something like this (hit me). I will write back, and I write back a well thought out response that I take a portion out of my day to sit down without distractions and write. A couple paragraphs, not much I know, but I do my best to truly try to re-connect with these people.

Then you know what happens? I never get a reply back. Maybe I don’t prod them enough to warrant one, maybe I don’t ask enough questions about _______ being _________, I really don’t know.

I have always been the kind of person who was accepting that there are certain times in your life where people you are close with are meant to leave, and new ones will soon be around; moments like these remind me why those people had their time in my life years ago.

So in conclusion, thanks, but no thanks. If you really care about me, we probably found a way to connect before the MySpaces, Facebooks and LinkedIns of the world were around. I’ve had the same phone number for 6 years, the same email address for 6 years (though be on the lookout, that is changing) and I’ve lived in Los Angeles County for 4 years, if you wanted to catch up or missed those old times, it isn’t hard to find a way. If you are just gonna message me to feel like you fulfilled a good deed by reconnecting with an old friend, and then just not even have the urge to reply even 3 words to a conversation you started, just read my blog and pretend like we are still friends.

Optional Bonus Activity:
Pretend above “Catching Up” conversation is a mad lib, post your most creative version as a comment, and the winner will get a special gift. Oh, and let’s keep it clean, it’s takes zero creativity to turn that thing sexual, it takes genius to come up with clean humour. Remember, this blog is a class act.

Share/Save

Stop Oil Speculation Now

Our country is facing a possible sharp economic downturn because
of skyrocketing oil and fuel prices, but by pulling together, we can
all do something to help now.

For airlines, ultra-expensive fuel means thousands of lost jobs
and severe reductions in air service to both large and small
communities. To the broader economy, oil prices mean slower activity
and widespread economic pain. This pain can be alleviated, and that
is why we are taking the extraordinary step of writing this joint
letter to our customers.

Since high oil prices are partly a response to normal market
forces, the nation needs to focus on increased energy supplies and
conservation. However, there is another side to this story because
normal market forces are being dangerously amplified by poorly
regulated market speculation.

Twenty years ago, 21 percent of oil contracts were purchased by
speculators who trade oil on paper with no intention of ever taking
delivery. Today, oil speculators purchase 66 percent of all oil
futures contracts, and that reflects just the transactions that are
known. Speculators buy up large amounts of oil and then sell it to
each other again and again. A barrel of oil may trade 20-plus times
before it is delivered and used; the price goes up with each trade
and consumers pick up the final tab. Some market experts estimate
that current prices reflect as much as $30 to $60 per barrel in
unnecessary speculative costs.

Over seventy years ago, Congress established regulations to
control excessive, largely unchecked market speculation and
manipulation. However, over the past two decades, these regulatory
limits have been weakened or removed. We believe that restoring and
enforcing these limits, along with several other modest measures,
will provide more disclosure, transparency and sound market
oversight. Together, these reforms will help cool the over-heated oil
market and permit the economy to prosper.

The nation needs to pull together to reform the oil markets and
solve this growing problem.

We need your help. Get more information and contact Congress by
visiting www.StopOilSpeculationNow.com.

Richard Anderson
CEO
Delta Air Lines, Inc.

Gerard J. Arpey
Chairman, President and CEO
American Airlines, Inc.

Bill Ayer
Chairman, President and CEO
Alaska Airlines, Inc.

Dave Barger
CEO
JetBlue Airways Corporation

Mark B. Dunkerley
President and CEO
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc.

Robert Fornaro
Chairman, President and CEO
AirTran Airways

Timothy E. Hoeksema
Chairman, President and CEO
Midwest Airlines

Lawrence W. Kellner
Chairman and CEO
Continental Airlines, Inc.

Gary Kelly
Chairman and CEO
Southwest Airlines Co.

Douglas Parker
Chairman and CEO
US Airways Group, Inc.

Douglas M. Steenland
President and CEO
Northwest Airlines, Inc.

Glenn F. Tilton
Chairman, President and CEO
United Airlines, Inc.

Do what you can, take a stand; If I rhyme again, I”ll sound like Dylan.

Share/Save

The first is that next week I will be rafting rivers, yes more than one. So if you also will be rafting any of California’s greatest rivers (the Tuolumne and Kings) let me know, and we can battle our way through rapids together. Something like that. Also if you are the kind of person who needs anything from me, you best start bugging me now, though I will be reachable by the tubes of inter (not innertubes, intertubes).

Second is that Hit The Lights album “Skip School, Start Fights” came out yesterday, and it’s a pretty great Summer pop record. You might need it in your life if you like such things.
RIYL: Cartel, The Starting Line, All-American Rejects

Share/Save

Share/Save

Happy Hour, The Summer Gin, Superbad Scrabble, Ice Cream Sandwiches, Honey Wheat Pancakes, Realising Every Better Than Ezra Song Is Trying To Be Another Band, PBR, 21-1 Pool Volleyball Games, Beach Boys, Burgers, Fireworks, Cool Runnings, Betting On Olympic Trials, Falling Asleep On Couches, Gin & Tonics, Breakfast Burritos, Red Sox v. Yankees, Poolside Days, Some Of The Best iPod Playlists Ever, Mai Tai’s, Fajitas, Jacuzzi, More Olympic Trials, Falling Asleep On Couches, Being Horrible At Video Games, Leftovers, F1 Races That Look More Like Rally Racing, Falling Asleep On Couches.

Bryan Adams – Summer Of ’69

“Those were the best days of our lives.”

It’s pretty true, even in ’08.

Share/Save

As you may know, Paul is a writer, not an aspiring writer, a published, reads at cool places you didn’t even know existed, sold at Borders, goes on book tours, working on his second book, writer. Paul asked me to help him with a logo, everyone needs a logo, and I was thrilled to help. He had a pretty solid idea of what he wanted for most of it, so I just cranked out his idea and then Paul and I figured out a few options for the rest, and I think it came out quite lovely. I believe this will be working it’s way to Paul’s website soon, but I think this is the official debut, right here.

Share/Save

A large movement in support of this law came from a Harvard Center study that everyone and their brother quotes as proof that this law will save lives. I decided to steal a pull from Wired, who ran an article about this law, and feel similarly to myself.

Wired

Studies by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis (.pdf) suggest 2,600 people are killed and as many as 330,000 people are injured each year in the United States in cellphone-related driving accidents.

The part I really wish Wired would have brought up is as follows; How many of those 2600 people killed and 330,000 injured were in accidents involving bad drivers, speeding drivers, etc.? People don’t like to think about those sorts of things, they like to try to solve problems by eliminating things coincidentally involved. I’m not saying this is a horrible idea, and that it won’t help people to focus on the road, I’m just saying the real problem is the people who don’t focus on the road, not 1 of multiple things they could do that could distract them.

This is much like the logic that if you don’t allow kids to wear certain clothes, they will behave better and be more focused. People should start looking at the cause, to be able to solve the problem they have with the effect. It’s simple physics.

Things still legal to do in the car; put on makeup, shave, make out, wind your watch, read, type, write, search your iPod for “99 Problems” by Jay-Z, hit and/or yell at your kids, search through papers in the backseat, watch DVD’s, etc., etc.

Share/Save

a href=”http://www.collegehumor.com/videos”>funny videos at CollegeHumor

a

Share/Save

Now that we have all the title possibilities out of the way.

Just the other night Kyle and I were discussing the ridiculousness of the V-neck. It’s pretty much a plague the likes of Von Dutch hats. Sure the V is comfortable, and shows off all that cool chest hair we have worked years to have, but it doesn’t mean it’s applicable for all moments of life. If you think wearing a Deep V out to social events is a good idea, you should probably just take it to new levels and rock a tank top next time you are heading over to Les Deux (Les Deun’t? Hahaha).

The fine folks at Radar apparently listen to our conversations and decided to write an article about the “Deep V”, I have provided the below image and my favourite pull quote to make your life better.

Radar

So, at least for a little while longer, the question isn’t crewneck versus V-neck, it’s V-neck versus aggressive V-neck. Just be careful how low you go. “It’s getting pretty close to being a vest as it is,” Polk points out. “It’s, like, another three inches and that’s a vest, motherfucker.”

“Aggressive V-neck” may be the best description ever, well that is until you look at this image:

Share/Save

Now you might be wondering what this has to do with the homeless. Well, last night I decided to go try this Angus burger and get one for free. You might think I got the wonderful idea to give my free one to a homeless person. Well you are half right, I decided to eat half of each of my 2 burgers, and throw the other half away. I know, I am a horrible, wasteful, American. However, afterward I came up with the brilliant idea to feed the homeless on McDonald’s dime.

Basically I am encouraging you, if you are the type to eat burgers (that are nowhere near as good as the ones we cook over at 333) from fast food places, to print out the coupons, eat the McD’s and find someone hungry to toss a burger to. Think of the effect if every person did this once a week until July 31, literally we would have some very gracious and full homeless people (and on there way to clogged arteries, but different story there).

The best part of this whole concept is that it doesn’t end at July 31, or McDonald’s. We get coupons every day from fast food. If you are gonna eat the death that is fast food, look over the coupons, find the buy one get one free, stop worrying about saving yourself money, buy whatever they are offering 2 for 1, and give the free one to someone who is in a less fortunate position. It’s no pay it forward, but it could make a difference, and it costs you nothing.

Share/Save

This is Remi Gaillard:

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/21/extreme-urban-soccer/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/20/dropbox/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/20/dropbox/#comments Fri, 20 Jun 2008 19:38:58 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=387 I was graciously included on the Dropbox Beta team. Dropbox is a pretty great idea that helps you keep all your files in sync across multiple computers. It has a similiar use to the iDisk function that .Mac users would be familiar with, only it is more focused with keeping the files locally and then mirroring those folders to a server and then push those files to any other computers (as opposed to .Mac where most people have it set up to just connect to the server to get files, though you can select to keep a copy locally).

I have been playing around a bit the last few weeks to see my thoughts on it, and I really have to say it’s absolutely great. If I didn’t already love .Mac (soon to be Me.com/MobileMe), I would definitely be using this service daily. It’s only downfall is the 2GB space, which I am sure once this thing grows (or someone acquires them) will be opened up to 10gb or so. I’m honestly shocked Google hasn’t created something like this years ago, here’s hoping they acquire them, it would be a lovely addition to the Google Apps suite.

Anyway, if you want in on the beta, I have some invites, let me know.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/20/dropbox/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/19/new-world-moral-order/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/19/new-world-moral-order/#comments Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:39:07 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=363

This is a very interesting map, created by Maurice Gomberg in 1941 (published 1942). Interesting the concepts written along with the map. It’s a shame a 3 branched “world police” couldn’t be established to help the betterment of mankind everywhere. Even if it could have, would it have helped?

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/19/new-world-moral-order/feed/ 1 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/18/mayer-may-not/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/18/mayer-may-not/#comments Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:45:58 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=491 Dan Crittenden’s recent twitter post reminded me that I never posted the brilliance that is the following:

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/18/mayer-may-not/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/17/firefox-3/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/17/firefox-3/#comments Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:33:08 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=386 Does anyone understand why the version of Firefox 3 is “2.0.0.14″? Mozilla, if you are calling it Firefox 3, make the version 3.X.X., thank you.

EDIT: Answer, because Mozilla decided to direct me to the Firefox 2 download. Because their servers were probably on fire or something? That was awesome. Step your game up!

So since I am ranting about Firefox 3, you probably either already knew, or just realised, that it officially launched today. So go download it, if you are into helping set stupid download records, or just won’t admit how great Safari is.

I will admit, Mozilla has made some great strides, and I can actually stand to look at Firefox now and not think I was suddenly moved to a PC. It’s now my official, backup, testing browser. I lessthanthree Safari.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/17/firefox-3/feed/ 1 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/16/us-open-wrap-up/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/16/us-open-wrap-up/#comments Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:37:37 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=383 I found it fitting not to publish this until the Open actually concluded, and seeing as Tiger just wrapped it up on the 19th hole today, this is long overdue:

I was able to spend Father’s Day with my very own Father at the U.S. Open. It was a great day of golf, on a gorgeous course. We followed “Lefty” around for a while, and it seemed to do him good as he finished with 68. We hung out at the gorgeous 13 for a few hours and saw some incredible approach shots to a tight pin placement on an elevated green behind 3 bunkers. We almost got hit by Tiger’s drive on 1. We were there on 18 for Tiger’s put that sent the whole thing off to 18 more holes.

Professional golf is one of those things that should be experienced in person to truly grasp the energy, and the U.S. Open is no different. It’s great to watch on television as your favourite golfers walk up the fairway to a roar of the crowd, but the chill you will get from being the roar is even better.

Special thanks to Kyle Davidson for being important; No Special thanks to the sun block that failed me.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/16/us-open-wrap-up/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/14/try-giving-them-some-credit/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/14/try-giving-them-some-credit/#comments Sat, 14 Jun 2008 20:48:00 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=378 Our country is so incredibly lost in how it treats young people. It’s no wonder young people in America feel lost or the need to act out. No one possibly thinks these people are capable of greatness.

What happened to all the faith being in young people? What happened to giving everything to the future generations so that they could better the world far more than we imagined? What happened to teaching good decision making and ethics, as opposed to just giving up and blaming the failures on things like the clothes people wear? Why are scare tactics and propaganda existing in out educational system?

The final straw to me came when I read this. Seriously? I cannot even fathom a situation that I can somehow try to draw a parallel to for this one. It’s just unheard of, it’s just shocking that someone thought this was a good idea, it’s just utterly disrespectful.

MSNBC

On a Monday morning last month, highway patrol officers visited 20 classrooms at El Camino High School to announce some horrible news: Several students had been killed in car wrecks over the weekend.

… Many who heard the news of the 26 deaths between classes, were left in the dark until the missing students reappeared hours later.

The most tragic part about this whole story is that everyone seems to still think it was a good idea and that it will save lives. Are you kidding me? You people are a joke.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/14/try-giving-them-some-credit/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/10/apb/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/10/apb/#comments Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:15:22 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=373 Anyone who can be in contact with Jessie Poland, please let her know I want to marry her. Mostly because of the words she sings (and probably didn’t even write).

P.S. Jessie Poland is the real name of Charlotte Sometimes.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/10/apb/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/09/why-john-mayer-is-one-of-my-favourite-people-on-earth/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/09/why-john-mayer-is-one-of-my-favourite-people-on-earth/#comments Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:55:16 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=372 Things like this:

JM Takeover Of Gizmodo Liveblog

Hey guys, John Mayer here. Are you guys excited? I’ve just commandeered the computer of my good friend, Jason Chen, who is also very very handsome. That means a lot coming from a guy like me. My other friend, Moby, is also here. Have you guys seen him? He’s really into technology. I love that guy. OK back to Jason.

For those of you not in the know; Jason Chen was liveblogging the Apple WWDC08 Keynote speech Steve Jobs made this morning. Anyone else find it funny that John Mayer (whose tour is presented by Blackberry, and got the “Bold” early) was once again at a Keynote that was entirely about the iPhone? I never had an issue like all the people giving JM flack for entering into a business arrangement with RIM/Blackberry, I am sure Apple was given a chance to and passed, as JM was never a paid endorser of Apple (he just knows what is good for him). However the RIM folk have to be a bit upset that he is still showing up around iPhone announcements.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/09/why-john-mayer-is-one-of-my-favourite-people-on-earth/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/08/wake-up-mr-west/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/08/wake-up-mr-west/#comments Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:31:22 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=371 Last night I had the absolute privilege to see the best musical performance of my life.

I can only describe it as a one man hip hop opera. One man on stage, the band/orchestra in the pit below, and one broken spaceship.

Kanye West just constantly impresses me with each and every thing he does, and it was one of those things in life that I honestly think will stay with me for years and years to come. If you have any way of catching the very few shows left of Glow In the Dark, do it, without any thought, go.

Special thanks to the lovely friends who helped make it an even more wonderful night, and the spectacular people who allowed us to share their suite with us for Mr. West’s performance.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/08/wake-up-mr-west/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/03/a-twist-of-the-update-knob/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/03/a-twist-of-the-update-knob/#comments Wed, 04 Jun 2008 03:03:15 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=361 So I moved my Photography albums over to my .Mac account, and yes this includes my Photography Portfolio. You might be like, “What Photography Portfolio?” And my reply would be, “The one I was cheating on you with.” Anyway, here it is.

I also have an iPhone gallery set up where I will upload pictures straight from the iPhone. I guess that means I will no longer be utilising the Flickr account, but we shall see how that goes and if adding the iPhone gallery RSS to the live section actually works. I’m just not committed to Flickr, Apple and I have far too strong of a relationship for some floozy to come in and pull us apart.

I also, also have a selected gallery of Live Noise. It is, what you thought it was.

Special thanks to; Lindsay Strannigan and Kyle Davidson who each helped me whittle down the Portfolio, and a certain lady friend who used the word “floozy” so much that it is forever attached to her in my mind, for better or worse.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/03/a-twist-of-the-update-knob/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/02/random-recommendations-6208/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/02/random-recommendations-6208/#comments Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:52:06 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=360 Mates of State – Re-arrange Us
Utterly amazing, the best album they have ever written. Chock full of hooks, sugary, angelic, hooks.

Chip Kidd – The Learners
I finally finished this on my trip up North. It’s a powerful book, anyone who went to art school or designs will probably enjoy it, though I think you should read “The Cheese Monkeys” first.

Price Club (Costco)
We like to call it by it’s old name, but regardless, you need more Costco in your life.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/02/random-recommendations-6208/feed/ 1 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/01/in-case-you-were-concerned/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/01/in-case-you-were-concerned/#comments Mon, 02 Jun 2008 00:33:14 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=356 I am in Sacramento, CA, at the airport, wondering why no one uses Bonjour when they are on free open networks.

Let’s examine that. How fun would it be to see 30 people randomly pop up on your Bonjour list in iChat and randomly IM you. Aside from the fact that it could be that creepy dude in the “Foreigner” t-shirt, rather than the adorable girl from the crew team of Western Washington University, I think the whole thing would be amazing. Isn’t the internet supposed to bring us together? Isn’t the future of social networking, networking us when we are being social?

I digress, I think I have lost my mind due to words I have yet to write. They will come, they will flow with the surge of the American River.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/06/01/in-case-you-were-concerned/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/27/the-not-so-prodigal-son-returns/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/27/the-not-so-prodigal-son-returns/#comments Wed, 28 May 2008 06:38:21 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=350 I am home, I flew in this morning, I went to work, I went to a stellar show at the Troubador. We Shot The Moon, William Tell and Everybody Else all put on a rather great show, I only wish I wasn’t the guy leaving before 11 because I haven’t slept a whole lot. I am exhausted, I have never felt so alive.

Boston was amazing, I am fully in love with the concept of spending entire days sitting in the Commons with a book and without a care to the world. On the flight home something interesting happened, I intend to expand on it, a chapter in the book perhaps, but you will have to wait. It’s good, I promise.

While I was on the East Coast I decided I may just buy a boat, put it in a slip in some small New England town, and always have a place there. Maybe a Boatshare? Anyone want in?

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/27/the-not-so-prodigal-son-returns/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/22/all-quiet-on-the-western-front/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/22/all-quiet-on-the-western-front/#comments Fri, 23 May 2008 02:27:52 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=342 See what I did with the title there? That is some sort of writing instrument, I dunno which, but it’s clever, like me. It’s also mysterious and exhausted, also like me.

So the blog has been a little lacking in interesting things lately, that is mostly because my non-blogosphere life has been a little too interesting and/or busy lately. Because of such events, I share with you two things. Two things I was presented with today that grabbed me a little bit, two things that some people may find interesting.

The first is a blog post by a Gypster. Lindsay Strannigan is her Christian name, I don’t know what kind of names Gypsters have, so make one up.

The second is a bulletin one Rory Felton sent out on MySpace. I am not too sure if that link to the bulletin will even work for everyone, nor if Rory wants the world (you know the 5 people who read my blog who are all probably already friends with him on the space anyway) reading his words, but he did put them on MySpace, and it is, at the least, a thought provoking essay.

I’m closing down the blog for the weekend, but you can find me on twitter, I’m sure.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/22/all-quiet-on-the-western-front/feed/ 1 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/19/brand-tags/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/19/brand-tags/#comments Mon, 19 May 2008 23:33:14 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=338 From the world of “Weird things on the internet you aren’t sure what to do with”, comes Brand Tags. It’s an interesting sort of social interaction experiment I guess? Isn’t that what all of these sort of things are supposed to be?

Anyway, it’s pretty fun for killing a few minutes. My personal favourite word association that I personally entered was “45″. I had just been shown the Michael Jordan “Jumpman” logo. If you get that one at all, you are full of tact and wit.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/19/brand-tags/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/17/y2khai/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/17/y2khai/#comments Sun, 18 May 2008 01:37:17 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=329 A number of years ago in college, the fellow members of our secret society were in a computer lab, doing secret society things, when one of us stumbled upon a CD-R with the words “Y2KHAI” written on them. Since we were in a lab full of Apple’s we popped it in one and one of the most amazing auditory moments of all our lives happened right then or there.

We never knew how that CD-R found it’s way to us that day, or why, but we never questioned that it was pure destiny. Y2Khai has since never left my iTunes, and after today it should never leave yours. I think I once even burned a copy for Dan Crittenden’s 21st birthday present, which I am sure was the best gift he ever got.

Recently I decided to see what “Y” was up to, and well it’s the same “sweet asian flow” on a seemingly recently made over website. If you haven’t, then you should. MP3′s can be downloaded at his site. Listen now, thank me later.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/17/y2khai/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/16/boston-i-am-yours/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/16/boston-i-am-yours/#comments Fri, 16 May 2008 23:16:40 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=334 It is official, I will be in the Commonwealth a week from today. You might be like… “Isn’t that kind of a late warning?” Yes, yes it is. I just purchased my tickets yesterday, so I really didn’t feel it was official until then.

I fly in on the redeye Thursday night, and have a quick stop in D.C (better than the layover at PVD Kyle was trying to propose, if you get this, you get this, I will not explain), so technically I can work in another Ben Gibbard reference if you would like. The District will sleep with me for an hour in the airport? I dunno. I am leaving the 27th, early and will be back in California in time for a day of work and a rock show that evening.

If you are in Boston and I know you, I would love to see your face. If you are in Boston and I don’t know you, shouldn’t you have introduced yourself by now? Let’s drink beers while we watch the Sox win, let’s talk Southie all weekend.

UPDATE: If anyone wants to rent out rooms in Long Beach on the dates of May 22-27th and June 4-17th please contact Kyle or myself. Kidding, sort of.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/16/boston-i-am-yours/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/16/i-watched-jericho-too/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/16/i-watched-jericho-too/#comments Fri, 16 May 2008 18:13:58 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=331 I found this old article from Australia about what our Congress really met about behind closed doors 2 months ago.

Offspring Of Criminals

Theorists wrote “Not only did members discuss new surveillance provisions as was the publicly stated reason for the closed door session, they also discussed: The imminent collapse of the U.S. economy to occur by September 2008, the imminent collapse of US federal government finances by February 2009, the possibility of Civil War inside the USA as a result of the collapse and advance round-ups of “insurgent U.S. citizens” likely to move against the government.

Also theorised was the detention of those rounded-up at “REX 84″ camps constructed throughout the USA and the possibility of retaliation against members of Congress for the collapses and the location of “safe facilities” for members of Congress and their families to reside during expected massive civil unrest.

Other answers included “the necessary and unavoidable merger of the United States with Canada” (for its natural resources) and with Mexico (for its cheap labor pool), the issuance of a new currency – THE AMERO – for all three nations as the proposed solution to the coming economic armageddon.

Taking over Canada for the resources, great idea. Taking over Mexico for cheap labour, now wouldn’t that only eliminate the cheap labour by enacting minimum wage and other US labour laws? It’s pretty great to hear imaginations run wild, and talk of all this speculation that was never speculated about in America.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/16/i-watched-jericho-too/feed/ 1 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/15/those-liberal-californians/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/15/those-liberal-californians/#comments Fri, 16 May 2008 01:51:03 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=332 Today the State of California Supreme Court overturned a ban on same sex marriage. While I personally have had a rather vague opinion on homosexuality and even same sex parenting (I simply have beliefs on all sides of this debate), one thing no one can argue these days is that if we offer benefits to people in committed relationships, sexuality has no part in distinguishing who is eligible. It’s a good day in California, and it will be interesting to see how this affects other states and the federal government.

I do think the real issue in this long withstanding debate is more etymology than anything. Any formal acknowledgement of a committed relationship by our government should be called a union. Marriage (though it should probably be matrimony) can be a term used by religious groups to show the spiritual acknowledgement of same relationship. We can take a page from Mexico and have separate civil and spiritual services. I don’t believe most people against same sex marriage truly oppose same sex couples having the same benefits and rights as marriage provides, I think they just get caught up on the word.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/15/those-liberal-californians/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/15/manny-ramirez-is-my-favourite-ballplayer/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/15/manny-ramirez-is-my-favourite-ballplayer/#comments Thu, 15 May 2008 14:24:03 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=330 The reasons why are far too numerous to list. Basically Manny is awesome, the whole Manny being Manny is the most entertaining thing in baseball these days. A few days back Manny was talking about how he could/should win a Gold Glove for how he plays the Monster. He really does play it well, and usually he doesn’t play other outfielders with nearly the same quality.

Last night Manny proved all the critics wrong once again. His play in left field in Baltimore is not something we will see again anytime soon.

Keep in mind, that wasn’t after a play, or after an inning, or after anything at all. That was during the play which continues to Manny rocketing the ball into his cut off man, DPeds, who throws Aubrey Huff out at first base. Manny claims he is simply campaigning for his All Star bid.

Manny Ramirez

“I think that’s how you get your All-Star vote, I’m pretty sure that guy’s going to vote for me. One at a time, that’s how it’s going to happen.”

Later in the game Manny continued his normal antics by calling himself safe seconds after he beat out a single, everyone in the place agreed with him, save the first base umpire. Manny play baseball with the kind of joie de vivre I wish every ballplayer had, it’s amazingly fun to watch a guy love what he does that much.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/15/manny-ramirez-is-my-favourite-ballplayer/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/13/i-am-not-a-library/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/13/i-am-not-a-library/#comments Wed, 14 May 2008 05:22:43 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=212 Yet.

I accrue books at a rate equal to the exports of small countries. Setting aside the time to spend with a book is to many a luxury, I suppose. A moment to focus on words actually printed on white pages bound together without any connection to the internet. I still find myself battling to enjoy this time, this disconnection.

I realised while making a sarcastic remark today, that I am a book snob. I made the comment that I only buy First Edition Hardcover copies, and I was sort of kidding, except I wasn’t at all. I really do. I have a book subscription, a subscription not just to magazines, not just to a quarterly, but to books. And I love it.

Why do I do all this? Why do I revel in this addiction? Simple. I am the type of person who one day does not want to be able so simply utilise bookcases, or even an entire wall of bookshelf, I want to require an entire room full of books. Shelves on every wall, a library, with a reading chair to sit down and read Catcher In The Rye for the 5782th time.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/13/i-am-not-a-library/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/12/all-of-politics-are-a-fad/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/12/all-of-politics-are-a-fad/#comments Tue, 13 May 2008 06:27:41 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=326 Joel posted an interesting take on the shape of Politics in his life, I was going to reply, and I thought I would do so here. You should probably read his post if you want this to make the most sense.

I support Obama, I hope every day for him to be our next President, and when someone asks me why I do so, I reply with the following, “He is different”. Now sure this is a cop out (and to many jumping on the trend), there are much deeper reasons, but it doesn’t need to go deeper than that. Politics has always been skin deep, look at the system. Politics is inherently a system where we vote down party lines, we ignore the actual person, and we assume they will just put their parties agenda into practice entirely. It’s a pretty terrible way to do things, and assuming Obama will do the bidding of the Democratic Party once he is elected is just as naive as only supporting Obama because he will be a change of pace.

I hate giving away my money to support the “immobile lifestyles of those who choose not to contribute to society”. I hate the concept of healthcare for everyone. I think these things are not guaranteed, but privilege. As horrible as it sounds, yes, I think living a life free of dying young to pneumonia is a privilege. Until these treatments and cures don’t cost money, they should be for those who are in a position to afford to pay for them. The solution is not having me pay for other peoples standard of living to go up, the solution is having these treatments and cures affordable for everyone to pay for on their own (not subsidized either). That is where we should be trying to take society, that is how we should be trying to help all of humanity. Yet, I support Obama, a Democrat.

I wish we could be left to allowing the non-profits of the world to pick up those less fortunate, I wish it would work that way, but some of us in the world are far too selfish to extend a hand to someone. I have far greater issue with the tax dollars we spend abroad and overseas than what we spend on our own citizens, at least those in our country have the chance that they will become tax paying, productive members of society, it’s more of an investment. I am all for investing in people, all for investing in developing countries, but lets make sure we have a system where we can at least possibly gain financially from that overseas spending of my tax dollars (such an idea, here). I would realistically be more happy with this country if we were entirely practicing either Isolationism or Imperialism, anything with an “I” really.

I believe in people, I believe that our Government actually has 3 branches that all direct and lead our nation. I don’t believe the current President is to blame for all our troubles, just as I don’t believe the next one will magically right this sinking ship. So why do I think we need Obama? Simple, he is open to new ideas, he doesn’t pretend to have everything figured out, he openly states sometimes that his idea currently may not be the final solution to the issue, he is young and passionate. Sometimes experience is not what we need, sometimes we need a leader, doing things for the right reasons.

Michael Bloomberg makes a dollar a year as Mayor of NYC, he is doing it for the right reasons (I personally believe all high ranking politicians should be willing to take no salary for their “service”, but that’s a different rant). Bloomberg has been a Democrat, a Republican and an Independent, Bloomberg supports Obama’s economic plan, at least aspects of it, and I happen of trust the guys judgement on economics. There are certain people out there who are change agents, it’s a trendy term sure, but it’s the best way I can put this. Certain people simply know how to allow for positive change, not to stand in the way or be more important than the change (something I believe Hillary would do constantly), but to guide, to listen, to react and to have interests above their own personal gain. Hillary Clinton has now “invested” 11 million of her own money into her campaign, do you really think she isn’t doing this for the future “benefits”?

I was a huge proponent of John McCain, I think he is one of these people who have the better good above their own personal gain, I was fully behind him a few years ago… and then he went crazy. He started to make statements based on making his party happy, he latched on to ideas just to get their support, he lost a little of his identity. Sure it was probably necessary, but he lost a lot of respect in my book, he pulled a John Kerry. I did not vote for Kerry, so you know who I voted for, it wasn’t very easy. The real thing that killed Kerry in my eyes was seeing how passionate and ready to lead he was in old film footage from Vietnam. He was absolutely inspiring, then somewhere along the line he became a puppet.

Am I contradicting myself a lot? Probably. Didn’t I just talk about how Obama isn’t set on his decisions and is willing to listen? There is a difference between a puppet, a rational, listening leader and an egomaniac. The two extremes are what we keep having to chose between, and frankly I’m tired of it.

Where am I even going with this? Well, here is the thing. Sometimes the best judgement we can make on a person is the first judgement, it’s instincts. Sometimes I meet people for the first time and get this bad feeling about them, every time it has been accurate. Voting for someone because their movement moves us isn’t wrong. Yes we should be careful not to be misled, yes we should educate ourselves with what we are getting excited about (thankfully Obama has a handy little blueprint on the matter), yes it can be a fine line whether we are being ignorant or just believe in a person… these things have been at issue for Politics since the Roman Empire.

An amazing person said something to me about morality recently. I think it really sums up the approach we should take on politics as well…

Amazing Anonymous Person

Morality… it’s all crap because different things are good and bad to different people.

There is no defined right way, there is no solution that will please everyone. The way to lead this country is to understand that, to be able to have all these different, unique persons trust and to lead in good faith. The kind of person that can prove they can do that, shouldn’t need much more than the first impression and it shouldn’t matter what party they associate themselves with.

We are tired of the typical Democrat, we are tired of the typical Republican, we are tired of typical Politics. People don’t simply like Obama because he is different, people need Obama because he is different.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/12/all-of-politics-are-a-fad/feed/ 3 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/10/what-it-is-is-a-party/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/10/what-it-is-is-a-party/#comments Sat, 10 May 2008 18:34:39 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=324 Tonight in Long Beach will be Paul Maziar’s book release party for his collaboration with Matt Maust, “What It Is: What It Is”. It’s at Open, on Fourth, sometime around 8pm. There will be adult beverages, and probably a lot of people who are cooler than me, and I hope some who are boring.

There will be bands, Paul, other people, stuff and things. See you there, more info here.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/10/what-it-is-is-a-party/feed/ 1 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/08/10-ways-hillary-clinton-can-still-win/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/08/10-ways-hillary-clinton-can-still-win/#comments Thu, 08 May 2008 23:01:50 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=320 .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
(you get it, right?)

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/08/10-ways-hillary-clinton-can-still-win/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/07/twitter-has-taken-over-my-blog/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/07/twitter-has-taken-over-my-blog/#comments Thu, 08 May 2008 01:43:40 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=318 So I have noticed now that I Twitter, and now that I added Twitter Tools to my blog, my daily digest posts of my daily Tweets are taking over my blog. It’s kind of lame actually, to me at least. I really wish I could have Twitter Tools do a weekly digest, so my blog isn’t taken over.

In fact, I think I am gonna start manually combining my daily digests into a weekly one. It’s a bit of work, but I think it will keep the blog cleaner for the long run. Anyone wanna talk me out of this?

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/07/twitter-has-taken-over-my-blog/feed/ 1 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/06/escape/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/06/escape/#comments Wed, 07 May 2008 05:41:01 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=316 I sat down tonight to watch the first episode of the new season of This American Life. TAL is a program about people and their stories, it first aired as a radio program on public radio (which is where the sometimes infamous parrot story originated) and last year was turned into a television show by Showtime. The season premiere was titled “Escape”.

27 year-old Mike Phillips lives with his Mother, and deals with all the same issues a child living under the parents roof go through. Rebellion, Dependency, Disagreements, Control all play a part in Mike’s story. The one factor we never had to go through is Spinal Muscular Atrophy, which has slowed the normal move into Independency to a crawl. SMA keeps Mike confined to a wheelchair, keeps him from communicating normally, keeps him from truly being his own person.

This whole thing sounds incredibly depressing, but it isn’t, at all, it is one hundred percent inspirational, is is hilarious, it is motivating. A few years ago Mike wouldn’t have had much of a future, but technology has advanced faster than the disease can take him, and even though he has numerous near death experiences a year he lives a (sort of) normal life. Just the way Mike speaks of these near death experiences is what truly makes you realise how different his life is. He is so accepting of them, he has thrown in the towel to the fact they are always there. Literally this man could die at any instant and yet he finds the time to enjoy his life, to rebel, to love, to do so many things we don’t.

I said something there about Mike speaking, I should have been more clear, Mike cannot speak. Mike has to click words into a computer (Apple, of course) to communicate with people, the words are then spoken by a computerized voice. The host, Ira Glass, realises how impersonal this whole computer voice is and and asks whom he would like to sound like, if he could pick any person in the world. Mike suggests either Edward Norton or Johnny Depp, “Because they’re both badasses”. A few minutes later, Glass narrates, “Ladies and gentlemen, Johnny Depp”.

This was the point it hit me like a load of bricks, where I realised the breadth of this story. Hearing Johnny “freaking” Depp voice the words of Mike Phillips completely broke me, in the most amazing way. Everything clicked, the whole story was twisted in a way that you needed to see it, that this was the kind of story that needed a character the likes of Depp for you to understand. It’s what This American Life does best, it tells a story you might normally block out or brush off after a few moments, and it tells that it in such a way that it will never leave your mind.

I strongly recommend everyone watch this episode, I know it is replaying on Showtime most of this week, and probably on Showtime OnDemand shortly.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/06/escape/feed/ 1 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/05/be-your-own-apatow/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/05/be-your-own-apatow/#comments Tue, 06 May 2008 06:56:15 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=286 So a while back Cracked had this brilliantly funny satire on making your own Judd Apatow movie. Let’s face it, Apatow rules comedy right now, and while I don’t back every film he does, he knows who some of the best character actors of today are.

In honour of me finally seeing Forgetting Sarah Marshall, you should all go and check out the step-by-step instructions. A pull quote of my favourite of the steps.

How To Make Your Own Judd Apatow Movie

First, get drunk and watch some episodes of that old beloved failed TV series. Become nostalgic, call up one of the lead actors you haven’t seen in a while, and offer him the lead role in your new movie. This has several benefits: you’ve already got their phone number right on you, the shooting process is that much more like your old Frat days, and you know they’ll be grateful for the part. Sometimes they’ll even write the script for you, in which case you can just give them the cocktail napkin and let them go nuts.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/05/be-your-own-apatow/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/02/fenway-time-lapse/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/02/fenway-time-lapse/#comments Fri, 02 May 2008 18:09:13 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=306 Lovely look at the crowd filing in, field being prepared, baseball being played, beer being drank, Manny being Manny, Red Sox winning, gorgeous day/night in Boston, crowd exiting in Time Lapse.

Video by Tom Guilmette.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/02/fenway-time-lapse/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/01/att-hotspots-free-for-iphone/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/01/att-hotspots-free-for-iphone/#comments Thu, 01 May 2008 14:44:00 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=308 AT&T just opened up all their hotspots in the US to iPhone users. B&N, The ‘bucks and more, now free. You might remember a while back they gave free service to anyone who has their internet service, and pledged to open it up to mobile as well. They have finally done that latter. I am anxious to test if this also means wireless customers can enjoy the benefits on their laptop as well, we shall see.

A list of AT&T’s 71,000 hotspots can be found on AT&T’s site, including Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, Airports, and McDonald’s locations.

P.S. T-Mobile is for suckers.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/05/01/att-hotspots-free-for-iphone/feed/ 1 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/30/so-we-can-build-up-our-future/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/30/so-we-can-build-up-our-future/#comments Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:04:35 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=296 I personally do believe, that everyone is familiar with Miss Teen South Carolina already, so we can save that link/video/quote. Anyone that listens to Jim Rome also knows how much he loves to play said audio clip, so it should come as no surprise that I found the following image on Rome’s friend Tom Hoffarth’s blog. It’s absolutely brilliant.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/30/so-we-can-build-up-our-future/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/29/i-dont-know-what-this-is/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/29/i-dont-know-what-this-is/#comments Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:08:25 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=305 However it’s fairly cool. Oh, it is this.

I believe what it does is take people’s Twitter’s from all over and randomly pulls in ones that use certain words in them. I still don’t know “what” Twitter is, but if I ever find out, I might think this is really amazing or something.

This might kill 2 minutes of your day, that you would otherwise spend thinking about some past love, some failed relationship, some bad decision, some moment lost. For that, you should thank me. Speaking of loves lost, the new Augustana is out today and contains a great song titled “I Still Ain’t OVer You”, if the whole me distracting you thing fails, just listen to this song and relish in your non-over-ness of said love.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/29/i-dont-know-what-this-is/feed/ 2 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/28/los-angeles-on-a-monday-night/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/28/los-angeles-on-a-monday-night/#comments Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:53:52 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=303 I usually don’t reserve my blog for things like this, however should anyone in the Los Angeles area be in need of an amazing evening, my good friend William Tell will be playing the Hotel Cafe at 8PM. It will be an amazing time full of pop songs, and people who have way more fun than everyone else. Show up, let’s drink an adult beverage, let’s pretend like we are in high school. That’s pretty much how I have the whole thing planned, all that is missing is you.

Tell just made all his new demos on his MySpace available for download, so you can drive down the 405 singing “Let’s Go To Bed” like the rest of us. Do it.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/28/los-angeles-on-a-monday-night/feed/ 1 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/26/hate-junk-mail/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/26/hate-junk-mail/#comments Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:15:58 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=292 I have long heard stories of people who try to payback junk mail senders by returning the postage paid envelope full of their own propaganda and other random presort mail. I have never seen an idea as utterly amazing as this. Mailing bricks back to credit card companies? It’s amazing, sure it could get expensive if you don’t have a lot of brick, but use what you have, anything will work.

The absolute jewel of this concept is the letter to the bulk mailer for you to insert in your package.

Insert Letter

Dear Bulk Mailer,

Please find attached to your no-postage-necessary envelope, this brick. I figured with all these great junk mails you send me every month, you’d like something in return! I know it costs twenty cents for every ounce I mail to you, so I hope it doesn’t weigh too much more than an ounce.

-Resident or Homeowner

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/26/hate-junk-mail/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/25/triple-header-dual-coast/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/25/triple-header-dual-coast/#comments Sat, 26 Apr 2008 01:30:12 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=298 I use iCal to keep track of my schedule, and I also use it to subscribe to my favourite sport teams schedules. It’s a handy little feature available for almost any team, and having these calendars sync with my iPhone gives me a constant connection to what said teams are up to. I have these calendars not visible in iCal so it doesn’t clutter the daily events, so I rarely notice such jewels as what follows.

Apparently (and according to their subscribe-able calendar) on April 17th, the Boston Red Sox played 3 games… on 2 coasts. I guess that whole 4 season openers in/on; 4 cities, 4 coastlines, 3 countries thing wasn’t enough for them. Usually I think a doubleheader is tough enough, but the BoSox are better than that.

The (currently, though not on April 17) last place Padres could only muster up enough energy to play one game, which they probably lost, because no one on the team is aware that hitting the ball over the outfield fence automatically scores a run.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/25/triple-header-dual-coast/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/24/fob-live-iphone-wallpaper/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/24/fob-live-iphone-wallpaper/#comments Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:34:04 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=287 I had a random moment of FOB fanboy-ism and combined it with my constant Apple fanboy-ism and made a little iPhone wallpaper. I’m a dork, no need to rub it in.

Of course this is obviously based off their new “Live In Phoenix” CD/DVD art, which came out a few weeks back, and is surprisingly better than I thought it would be. Enjoy.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/24/fob-live-iphone-wallpaper/feed/ 1 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/23/twitter-wars/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/23/twitter-wars/#comments Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:49:03 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=285 So I was thinking about my recent adoption of twitter, along with Chad Pearson’s recent adoption of putting peoples names in his iChat status message, and I realised we could create some sort of uniquely annoying war. We could just randomly post untrue silly things about people (as @ them) and just create an amazingly entertaining waste of internet and text messaging.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/23/twitter-wars/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/22/political-piledrivers/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/22/political-piledrivers/#comments Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:41:57 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=284 Last evening, the next President of the United States, the leader of the free world, appeared on WWE’s Monday Night Raw. Yes all of the potential President’s, somehow, were conned into appearing on a wrestling show. Every last one of their campaign managers should be fired.

Next up, the decision on the Democratic nomination, live from Gladiator Arena.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/22/political-piledrivers/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/20/my-soon-to-be-un-popular-opinion-on-the-war/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/20/my-soon-to-be-un-popular-opinion-on-the-war/#comments Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:32:12 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=279 So I was doing some perusing of the internets the other day, reading this article. It’s not really necessary to click the link, the article doesn’t actually say anything interesting, it just rambles endlessly like our government representation (and this sentence), however it did get me thinking about the war and solutions. You should all be forewarned that I am taking a harsh stance in the following words, and they will offend many, but I think we are at that point in this whole ordeal where everything is such a clouded, murky mixture of interests, motives and false pretenses that we just need to have a bold path. It is with that warning that I share my paths to end the war.

1) Get out in 60 days (or as quick as humanly possible without the troops being bottlenecked like the Persians) plan. This plan has actually been discussed, and a lot of people think it’s quitting on Iraq, it is. It’s the swallow our pride plan, it’s the realise this issue goes deeper than what we can force plan, it’s the let them fight it out themselves plan. Let’s face it Iraq maybe shouldn’t be 1 country, it has 3 very diverse groups who are all at various times against us and each other. If we left, they can decide where they want to control, how they want to live with their neighbors, and what relations they want to have with them. If they have a desire for one united Iraq, then they will work towards it; If they desire for their own government that can best represent their ethnic group, then they can go that route. We should have learned by now that forcing people to live together under one rule will only lead to one group trying to have control over the others. This whole idea acknowledges that maybe it’s a terrible idea for them to try to govern together. Of course we lose a lot of money, there will certainly be fighting and dying of these different peoples and we lose our foothold in the Middle East. It’s obvious what we gain, but just in case; we stop the loss of American lives, we stop the drain this war has taken on our tax dollars.

2) The “free” gas plan. I used to always joke around and say that “the American public would be okay with this war if we at least got free gas”. It’s terrible to say, and sadly true. Wars used to be fought for resources and gain. Yes there were some fought for chivalry and freedom, but really they still had underlying motives going beyond that. I know we have motives beyond the freedom of these people, I no longer get how those motives benefit us as a country, therefore at least come up with some gains for all these losses. Gasoline and energy costs are one of the biggest issues facing the United States as a country, and individuals living here, alleviating some of that pressure would benefit our economy and growth immensely. Let’s face it, the Government is essentially the biggest corporation, so it’s time they start balancing this whole thing out. Free gas, however, would be violating the people of Iraq, but a discounted gas would be a pretty fair shake. We essentially get oil discounted to cost plus 15%, the Iraq economy still has some positive benefit from this, and isn’t completely stripped of income. We are allowed this deal only to the point that the discounts equal the amount of tax payer dollars being spent on Iraq. This oil is then sold to the US gasoline syndicate at normal rates and the income offsets the tax dollars being spent. Of course the Iraqi government would get a say on this deal after every 6 months, if they feel the cost of income they are losing outweighs the benefits we provide, they let us know and we leave. This gives the whole situation economic balance, motivation for Iraq to stand on it’s own legs, as well as a means for Iraq to say “Thanks for the help, it’s been enough”. This plan should be utilised in any situation in which we are providing extended relief (beyond 9 months) to other countries.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/20/my-soon-to-be-un-popular-opinion-on-the-war/feed/ 1 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/17/darth-cheney-is-brilliant/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/17/darth-cheney-is-brilliant/#comments Fri, 18 Apr 2008 01:12:52 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=276 Dick Cheney absolutely stole the show at the Radio & TV Correspondents dinner last night. I’m sure he had a brilliant writer working for weeks on this material, but let’s face it the delivery is aces. My personal favourite is around the 3:50 mark, and it just gets better from there. If the last 8 years can be remembered for anything, we can always say we have had the 2 best stand-up comedians in the White House, ever.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/17/darth-cheney-is-brilliant/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/16/one-nation-under-banksy/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/16/one-nation-under-banksy/#comments Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:23:07 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=270 Banksy is back at his usual games across the pond. This time he is taking on the big-brother like CCTV that watches over all of London. The Daily Mail gives you the full story on how he set up scaffolding and tarps to pull this large piece off, all right under the watchful lens of a camera.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/16/one-nation-under-banksy/feed/ 1 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/15/an-open-letter-to-dodger-stadium/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/15/an-open-letter-to-dodger-stadium/#comments Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:48:47 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=273 Dear Dodger Stadium,
You suck. Not because your stadium has 2 escalators in the whole place even though it was built on a hill, not even because you can only enter the stadium exactly where you are sitting, you suck for the fact that I cannot enjoy a game of baseball without almost dying.

I have 2 allegiances in baseball, Padres and Red Sox, and I had already found my way to Dodger Stadium to support the BoSox in their exhibition game, so last Friday we decided to see Peavy v. Penny and support the Pads. Left field bleachers, no Padres hats present, Kyle, Liz and myself. There we were minding our own business, cheering for our team, witnessing countless Padres fans heckled, assaulted with peanuts, popcorn, seeds, soaked with beer, etc. Granted these fans were a little more outspoken, and finally each one at some point had enough and started throwing things back or yelling back, and every one of them was kicked out. What about the 30-40 Dodger fans who started the whole ordeal? Oh, they were fine, no need to stop that kind of behaviour in the stands.

I really was shocked, I had dealt with some obnoxious Dodger fans at moments in the old days of The Murph, I guess I just expected that to be the exception, not the rule. It is definitely the rule. The Dodger organization apparently supports this kind of behaviour and does not care about the fans of opposing teams and their right to enjoy a ballgame. The Dodger organization is a classless lot, which is probably why their fans like them.

We sat in the front of a section, Dodger fans behind us, it started out quite friendly and the guy directly behind me realised we knew baseball and we had some good fun talking a little trash with a known and vocalized respect that it was all in the fun of the game. I love trash talking, it’s encouraged, but at the end of the day, when the game is over, let’s go have a beer and laugh about whichever of our teams sucked the worse, it’s just a game. So this guy had a couple friends with him, they were apparently die hard fans (whom later told me they didn’t even like the Dodgers, and only came because of a free ticket) who refused to let any sort of friendliness exist with Padres fans. They decided the best way to act was to constantly talk trash and heckle while their team was losing.

Soon they realised we didn’t really care about what they had to say, and if they were gonna annoy us they had to step it up, so they did. Next thing you know I have a guy pulling up my hood. Is this 4th grade? Is this really happening? I shrug it off, whatever, we have style and grace they lack. The Padres continue with the monster 4th inning which seems to seriously upset said Dodger fans. Now they have moved on to poking us in the back, now mind you the main offender was already warned to stop causing trouble earlier when he was throwing seeds at people, so I turn around and tell the guy that if he touches me again, I’ll tell security he is back to throwing seeds at people and there happens to be a huge pile right behind me that will dispute his surefire response to not having anymore seeds, of course since it’s 4th grade he pokes me in the back once I turn around.

So then I turn and glare, and this guy thinks it’s a good idea to touch my face, now I know how this stuff works, he wants me to hit him, but I’d rather introduce him to the full face wipe, and then it gets a little heated and out of precaution Kyle restrains me. So I walk over to security, let them know the guys behind us are “poking and touching us the whole game” (yes, definitely the creepiest thing I have said in a while) and that I want them thrown out. So security takes them out, for 10 minutes, and then lets them back in. Wait, what? Yeah, apparently they just needed a time out. Well knowing these guys behaviour and track record you can bet they didn’t just calm down after almost being kicked out. Instead they tried to plot what they would do to us once they got their chance.

The main flaw in trying to plan an attack on people sitting right in front of you, is that they are right in front of you. I heard every word, and was planning my counter attack. My counter attack was brilliant and mostly involved ducking and shoving him down the stairs. I spent the rest of the game waiting for these guys to jump out of their seat and try to hit me, it was a really great way to enjoy a Padres victory. They stayed seated because a couple of LAPD had posted up near our section, joining the security a few feet away from us. I was even more excited for the assault now, knowing I would get to press charges, but eventually the officers decided to walk across to the opposite end of the bleacher, and conveniently the security guard left too.

The chatter of their plans grew more intense, and I kept an eye turned towards the main offender. Kyle and I exchanged some glances that ensured we were on the same page. During one of my looks back, the third rabble-rouser who was very intoxicated decided to show me the knife he had. He pulled it out of his pocket, and gave me a look that wasn’t very welcoming. I’ve never been in a knife fight, and I imagine they aren’t like the ones in Westside Story, I imagine this guy is the sort to let his friends start a commotion and slip in and stab somebody in the middle of it all.

So to make sure we are all up to speed, the Dodger fans behind us, who were only there because of free tickets, who had already been kicked out for their behaviour, but then were allowed back in, who were also allowed in with a knife, were behind us plotting their attack. After 2 outs in the ninth, we left, I turned around to the 2 sober ones and said “guys, it’s only a game”, extended my hand to them and left.

Thanks for the great night of baseball Los Angeles.

Interested in the Dodger Stadium code of conduct? I wonder if anyone who works there has ever read that?

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/15/an-open-letter-to-dodger-stadium/feed/ 1 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/14/twitter/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/14/twitter/#comments Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:57:51 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=268 Okay, I know I should know this, I know I should be using it, and I know I should have been on this train like months ago. Regardless, Chad Pearson has convinced me to give it a go, and I am officially Twitter’ing.

For the record, I still have no idea what this all means.

Edit: I added the Twitter feed to my “live” section, I think… and if you have a Twitter let me know the goods, I’m a 1 at this.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/14/twitter/feed/ 2 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/13/this-is-a-no-blog-weekend/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/13/this-is-a-no-blog-weekend/#comments Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:30:13 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=269 So I’m down in San Diego for the weekend; celebrating my Mother’s birthday (got her an easel, acrylics, watercolours and related supplies), spending time with the niece, moving furniture around, saboteur’ing with some friends. I haven’t been on the internet most of the weekend, and hardly have even seen my computer. So this is me saying, it was a no blog weekend. If you miss me, I miss you.

Coming soon, a blog about why I hate Dodger Stadium and the events that lead up to it. You might think that this blog is a violation of “no blog weekend”, however I wrote this on Monday, just to throw you off.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/13/this-is-a-no-blog-weekend/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/11/oh-the-irony/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/11/oh-the-irony/#comments Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:40:51 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=266 I found this brilliant advertisement on some website for the “Idiot Test”. It’s amazing when people are trying to get across a message on the topic of intelligence and then disobey the established rules of the English language. Is it an idiot test based on the fact no one intelligent would click on it?

I personally believe that U.S. Americans are clicking on the idiot test do so because, uhmmm, some people out there in our nation don’t know it’s “an” and uh, I believe that our, I, grammar like such as uh, South Africa, and uh, the Iraq, everywhere like, such as, and I believe that they should, uhhh, our idiot test over here in the US should help the US, uh, should help South Africa, it should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for us.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/11/oh-the-irony/feed/ 2 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/10/winter-can-live-on-if-only-in-these-trees/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/10/winter-can-live-on-if-only-in-these-trees/#comments Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:28:07 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=257 With Spring fully engulfing the West Coast (heck we may be in Summer by this weekend), I thought a little reflection on Winter would be lovely. I don’t get to experience Winter, but I hear it’s lovely, but then again so is 70 degree weather year round.

Svilen Dimchevski did this brilliant series of photographs of Tangerine rinds after they are peeled off. It’s quite lovely imagery, and makes you want to find the duality in what we perceive as everyday objects.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/10/winter-can-live-on-if-only-in-these-trees/feed/ 1 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/09/run-on-wednesday/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/09/run-on-wednesday/#comments Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:19:04 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=263 Here is what I am doing with my life in complete random run-on sentence form for the people who care about what I am doing with my life.

I go shopping for yogurt and bread buy way too many things decide that I need to go green and buy reusable bags because they will fit more in them and completely forget yogurt, schedule servicing for the Mini, wearing the Persol’s constantly, wandering through art stores, driving laps at the Long Beach airport, watching the Discovery channel all day expanding my knowledge on Egypt, drinking wine on a Tuesday night, keeping secrets, drinking wine on a Monday night, being politically active on the internet, not being shocked when people say they will call and don’t, missing people, dealing with an insane 2 day window graphic installation at work, adding icons to my iPhones home screen, realising I suddenly have a Converse “collection”, cleaning out the freezer, wondering what percentage of people use Q-Tips for the proper use which is not cleaning your ear canals, missing the entire final four save for the last 2 minutes of the championship game and lastly, offending the French.

None of that is in chronological order, so just enjoy it as the pile of letters it is and move on.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/09/run-on-wednesday/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/08/iphone-optimized/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/08/iphone-optimized/#comments Wed, 09 Apr 2008 03:38:45 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=260 A few months back I made the switch to an iPhone optimized admin version of WordPress, so my Mobile posting would be easier. A few weeks back I added an iPhone version (basically just a stylesheet) of this entire blog you are reading. Those of you on iPhone’s already noticed the last one, unfortunately no one but me gets to enjoy the first one. Why did I do these things on a device that gets “The Real Internet”? Simple, because they add function and ease, cut out the fluff and give you what you want when you a look that agrees with the iPhone experience.

A lot of people find iPhone versions of websites to be odd, dividing and others think it’s just the trendy version of a mobile site. I agree that it’s strange the fact that a device with the best (and most compatible) mobile browser available is responsible for a boom in optimising for specific devices, it’s ironic of course. However what a lot of people miss in this whole iPhone optimized craze, is that these versions enable the end user to do more (and spend more time on the site) through increased functionality and cross-tasking with the iPhone OS.

Thus, I bring my list of my favourite iPhone optimised websites (I left out the so-called “webapps” because they aren’t an iPhone version of an existing site):
1. Facebook – This borders between “webapp” and optimised site, but it blows away everything else and was one of the first. I am sure come June this will transform into a Facebook App on the iPhone, but for now, this takes the cake.
2. Google Grand Prix – This started out as a Google employee’s own personal project, and once the people at “The G” saw how brilliantly it ties together all the Google App Suite (Search, GMail, Reader, Calendar, et al) it was quickly green-lit for release.
3. Media Temple – Add email addresses on the go, Reboot the server upon a random crash at 11PM on a Friday night, et al. Probably not things very many of you need in your life, but for me this is a must.
4. Digg – Every few weeks I run into someone who JUST heard about Digg. It’s never ceases to amaze me. For all those who don’t know Digg, you should, and you should also know I’m addicted to it.
5. CBS News – CBS News recently became my favourite source for news, because of this really well done iPhone version. All the news that’s fit to touch.

Honorable Mention:
Trustkill Records – I recently got an email about this from a friend of mine at a label, along with asking my thoughts on it. I summed it up by saying it’s brilliantly well done, but I just don’t feel a record label website has the kind of readership to necessitate an iPhone version. They do a great job tying it into all the iPhone can do (iTMS, YouTube, etc.). Personally, I wouldn’t find myself on this site multiple times on my iPhone, but for those that would, you get quite the experience.

If I were to include websites who have a mobile version, and said mobile version includes an iPhone icon (for saving to your home screen), this list would also include The New York Times, and The LA Times. However these sites are just general mobile versions that look stellar on the iPhone and take advantage of only some of the iPhone technology. My criteria for a full iPhone optimization was basically that links were not just text, but utilize the entire graphical area (yes I’m aware of how little sense this makes to anyone that doesn’t use an iPhone, deal).

Have any to add, think I made bad choices? “Talk to me Goose”.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/08/iphone-optimized/feed/ 4 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/07/lobbyists-obama-wont-take-your-money/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/07/lobbyists-obama-wont-take-your-money/#comments Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:15:27 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=259 Daily Kos has a great post about Barack Obama not taking his money and why it has made him even more “prObama” (I made that up months ago, if it ever catches on, take note). The reason why? He is a lobbyist, albeit not one of the evil, trying to control politicians, lobbyists, but a registered lobbyist all the same, and Obama pledged not to take money from lobbyists. It’s amazing to see a politician do something with such a level of broad sweeping accountability. No deciding which lobbyists are okay, which ones aren’t pro/con certain pieces of their platform, just no lobbyists, none.

A little excerpt for your enjoyment:

Daily Kos

Obama, and his campaign, are committed to bringing about change. They are doing this in both large and small steps. Refusing my money is a small step, but it spoke volumes to me. It showed me Obama means what he says and backs it up with action. It shows me that no detail is to small and that his organization is top notch. It strengthened my commitment to see him elected President.

I guess I just can’t use my money to do it:).

p.s.: As a side note, last year my spouse had set up automatic monthly payments to Hillary (nothing big $10/month) but after switching to Obama, had to battle with the Clinton campaign to cancel the automatic payment. I find it ironic that one campaign won’t take my money, the other won’t give it back!

Things like this remind me why we need someone who doesn’t have the “experience” (read: isn’t corrupt, jaded and biased; isn’t loyal to the old ways, run by big business, only worried about their legacy) to be President. Things like this make me soooo prObama.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/07/lobbyists-obama-wont-take-your-money/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/06/one-more-day/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/06/one-more-day/#comments Sun, 06 Apr 2008 17:03:22 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=258 So a few years back Chauntelle DuPree from Eisley got together at a writing workshop with Zac Hanson and Jon Crosby from VAST to write/record. I’m not really sure the intricacies of it all, but from it came one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. Chauntelle stopped singing for Eisley a while ago (some say citing a lack of confidence), which is an absolute shame when you hear her voice. Last I saw her, she was stage right, playing guitar with no microphone in front of her singing her heart out. Anyway, the song they came out of that moment is called “One More Day”, somehow that recording found it’s way to me shortly thereafter and ever since it has touched me in ways few songs can.

Recently (read: last year, cause I’m apparently not on the VAST mailing list) Jon and VAST recorded “One More Day” for their latest album “April”.

I’m still partial to the “demo” version with Chauntelle singing, but both of them are absolute treasures. I tend to think this song would be the most romantic thing ever, if it weren’t so depressing.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/06/one-more-day/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/03/apple-is-awesome/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/03/apple-is-awesome/#comments Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:51:28 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=253 Recently Microsoft and Universal joint venture MSNBC.com ran an article it probably had to make a few calls about whether or not it should be published. The article basically said that Apple is one of the strongest, hippest brands and that Microsoft is boring and out-dated. Tell you something you didn’t know? I know, it’s kind of obvious, but I really like the journalistic tact (sarcasm) MSNBC showed in deciding to run with something that calls out the hand that writes cheques. Still craving that something you didn’t know? Apparently these same voters feel that the next most” in need of a makeover” brand is…

MSNBC

The nearly 2,000 professionals and students who voted named Apple overwhelming winner. The creator of the iPod and Mac computer triumphed in six categories including most inspiring brand and the one readers cannot live without.

Microsoft, the world’s largest software maker, was also a winner, but it received the dubious honor of the brand most readers wanted to argue with, and the one they most wanted to revamp. Voted into second place in the category was brand USA.

“brand” USA? Yep, the country you live in. Maybe we can put The Steve in charge of that brand too? Did I just say Steve Jobs for President? Yes, and Apple board of director Al Gore can be his VP I suppose… though I’d rather Jonny Ive (however, he is not eligible seeing as he is a Commander of the British Empire).

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/03/apple-is-awesome/feed/ 0 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/02/sweded-tron/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/02/sweded-tron/#comments Thu, 03 Apr 2008 03:20:42 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=256 First I should probably explain what “Swedeing” a movie is for those out there who aren’t familiar with the term. It all comes from Michel Gondry’s film “Be Kind Rewind” which is about a couple guys in a rental store who find themselves with a store full of erased tapes (that they caused). They decide to re-create the films on their own, and rent them out to people like nothing has changed.

Wikipedia

The tapes are described as having come from Sweden as an excuse for higher rental fees and longer wait times.

In light of the theme of swedeing, director Michel Gondry swedes a version of the trailer of the film, starring Gondry himself. On the official website, users can engage in swedeing, which puts their faces on the VHS cover of a movie. The Be Kind Rewind YouTube minisite also encourages filmmakers to swede their own versions of popular movies.

With that out of the way you are all ready to see the most amazing thing ever. Sweded Tron, Sweded-freaking-lightcycle-scene-from-Tron. I should probably admit right now that I love Tron, it’s the best film Jeff Bridges was in that isn’t called “The Big Lebowski”, and I cannot wait for the anniversary release.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/02/sweded-tron/feed/ 1 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/01/sometimes-i-take-pictures/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/01/sometimes-i-take-pictures/#comments Tue, 01 Apr 2008 22:43:44 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=254 A few weeks back I spent a Saturday laughing hysterically, breaking into foyers and pointing my camera at a friend of mine. The goal for the day was some new publicity type shots for William Tell. William finally put a few of them up over at his MySpace (which he revamped) along with a new song (which is great), so now I can share them as well.

Check out the rest over at his MySpace as well as some great pop hits.

Share/Save

]]> http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/04/01/sometimes-i-take-pictures/feed/ 1 http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/03/31/fantasy-baseball-2008/ http://randallpauljenkins.com/2008/03/31/fantasy-baseball-2008/#comments Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:09:16 +0000 R.P. Jenkins, Esq. http://randallpauljenkins.com/?p=252 It’s that