Television

I'm loving Flight of the Conchords on HBO. An acoustic guitar duo from New Zealand and their manager have adventures in New York best told through goofy and extremely well crafted songs. This show works because the guys are charming with an understated demeanor, great comedic timing, and the right amount of cheesy goodness it takes to deliver songs intermittently in a modern television show. They fully embrace the awkwardness of presenting sincere songs while reminding us that sincere songs about life can be quite good.

Whisky Tango Foxtrot???!!!

Christians gave me pie this weekend. Jmk was out fixing the turning-stuff near-the-engine belt on the waldo (Volvo waggon) and found a family of West Virginians stranded on our side street complete with acoustic guitar playing young man, family camper trailer with attached boat, three generations of men named bill, other children and a mother and grandmother armed with little digital cameras. They spent the night right here in the art ghetto waiting for an axle thingie. The grandfather told stories about flying around on leave hooking up with stewardesses coming through Chicago last in the 50s. He and two stewardesses were flying around having a good time and his money ran out, and one of them said, don't worry, continue your vacation, I'll pay. He was too much a gentleman to oblige, too christian I also remember him saying. Months later he found himself back studying in a room of men in whatever field he had chosen, all 20 years his senior, really driving home how young he was at the the time and hes thinking, well, basically, what was I thinking??? I enjoyed this story, and that they referred to the obligatory front stoop sitting as "visiting", oh, and the pie, glorious pie (pumpkin).

SIde Project

I am calling it "table top photography", but everyone knows its a disgusting little habit, possibly a step away from dressing ones dogs in costumes and forcing acquaintances to join in cooing compliments with a straight face. How can I ever expect to be taken seriously? I have excuses, something about mindless activity freeing the mind, something about the need to catalogue these odd items for a time when I will not be able to hold on to them. An artist is more easily accepted for heroin use or heavy drinking, I am absolutely certain of this fact. Here are examples of the beginning stages, test photos, while I am building little sets and buying Re-ment and whatever else, these are pretty much practice.

An account of someone who talked to Spaulding Grey after his accident.

Theres a blogging convention for women here in Chicago this year at Navy Peer. It costs 200 bucks so I won't be going. They did have the good taste to reserve a block of rooms at the W and a hostel. Looks like tons of forums if anyone is interested.

Found on Slashdot.com

A guy accused of video taping the police while he was stopped for a traffic violation is being brought up on felony wire tapping charges. Assuming the guy did not mouth off, it was in plain site and he turned it off when asked, like the article reports, the oh shit, that could be me alarm bells are going off in my head. I assume more and more people are also hearing theses alarms, but certainly the if you aren't doing anytihng wrong, you don't have anything to worry about camps is still holding steady.

Anime Openings

They are just openings, try them, they can't hurt you, I promise. They are cute, and the music is better than you think.

Boogiepop Phantom
FLCL (ending)
Chromartie High
Gunslinger Girl
Cowboy Bebop
Paranoia Agent
Serial Experiments Lain

Watch the video on http://www.hawaiichair.com/
I have been watching the "Pretty intense japanese lesson" videos on youtube.

The Sci Fi channel is showing anime on Mondays, kicking it off yesterday with a Ghost in the shell movie. The series, called ani-monday, does not show up on the search option on their site, and isn't listed on tivo by series name like G4's monkey spanking anime thing was, but it exists, believe me. I realize it started Yesterday, but, if you are getting your information here, you are in big trouble, sorry.

Photo by me
Steam punk at its finest!

Inside out stuffed bears.

I have dicovered that Street Magazine is the best fashion/style magazine for me, just photos of people stopped on the street wearing interesting clothing.
Of course the online photos are just small enough to make you want the magazine, but also feel like you have seen it. Its not like I have completely given up on FRUiTs, but I with he would just offer on the site larger photos that can't be coppied for five bucks a month subscription. I like this jewelry, I suppose its sort of Anthropologie shop. Tattoos like this are not my thing, but this necklace is a cute idea. My favorite local jewler is [WIRED]. The work of hers I have seen in person is far better than that on the site. She has in the past shown some very sleek, modern and powerful pieces.

Ad agency interiors.