iinamorataa

Doodles - Dreamcatching

2011-07-16T17:37:00.002-04:00

I always thought my monster was made of stone, stubble, and Bulgarian blood, but time has made my mind close doors. And I think now, maybe, I've forgotten to remember the other half of the story. Perhaps the beast was my caregiver, someone I saw fall into sadness, tumble through despair, and grieve the experiences that managed to skip away once I was born.

Maybe I was someone's nightmare too.

I've always felt it. The hate. Those eyes looking at me, looking after me because they were supposed to. But the loss was there too. And so was love-regrets when I wasn't fulfilled, guilt when I was.

There is never anyone to blame but one's own self. For all the anger and fear that has kept my company and wrapped itself around my bones when I was young, my ears as I grew older, and now my courage and pride, somehow my mind still wanders into the realm of disaster and loneliness.

But I am not alone. With me I carry secrets-a man's rage, a woman's sadness, the subsequent, apparent nightmarish explosion that resulted in an unnatural union. Wed not under God, but in the fluorescent lighting of a house of human law, wrought with error and manipulated by mortal emotions.

I cannot think. I cannot feel. But I who I am supposed to be-the scapegoat,the fool, the loving daughter. No matter what. Because I owe my life to those who granted it to me, whether I wanted it or not. Before time, I could've fallen into silence, but instead began consciousness.

I kneel before these damning facts and allow them to tear me apart, lay their blades on my shoulders, their hands on my face, their words on my spirit. I know-thought I will never win, will never be anything but defiled and defeated-it will pass, and bruises will heal.

The world continues moving on, no matter what happens to its individuals. Shade may block my sun, but it will come. It will come.

News - New Warren Ellis and D'Israeli Comic Out Now

2011-07-06T23:36:00.007-04:00

SVK, the newest Warren Ellis and Matt "D'Israeli" Brooker comic, is the story of a disgraced spy who is tasked with recovering a top-secret package lost by a military contractor. Through brilliant storytelling and the creative use of UV ink and a small wallet-sized blacklight, two stories come alive within SVK, expanding the already ground-breaking medium of graphic novels.

From BERG's SVK website:

Comics break the rules of storytelling, invent new ones, and break them again - more often than almost any other medium. This graphic novella is about looking - an investigation into perception, storytelling and optical experimentation that inherits some of the curiosities behind the previous work of BERG.
Litho printed on 115gsm silk paper in tones of black and blue, SVK uses a third ink invisible without the SVK object. The object is a UV light source which unlocks hidden layers woven throughout the comic book. Reading SVK becomes a unique and strange experience as you see the story unfold through the eyes of Thomas Woodwind.

First and foremost SVK is a modern detective story, one that Ellis describes as "Franz Kafka's Bourne Identity."

It's a story about cities, technology and surveillance, mixed with human themes of the power, corruption and lies that lurk in the data-smog of our near-future.

Buy SVK

Doodles - Sin

2011-07-06T18:20:00.002-04:00

sin is defined by those who have been wronged,
i supposed.

Photos - Painted People

2011-07-06T18:04:00.004-04:00

Pictures From the World Bodypainting Festival

(May not be safe for work. Some nudity.)

Banner and photos curtesy of BoingBoing.

Video - Stylish Violinist Plays Along with Super Mario

2011-02-12T15:26:00.001-05:00

Photos - Cat + Human

2011-01-17T12:39:00.001-05:00

News - Ties Between Wheeler Death and Bird Deaths in Arkansas

2011-01-06T04:12:00.005-05:00

A connection between the homicide of John P. Wheeler, presidential aid to both Ronald Reagan and George Bush, and the thousands of dead birds found in Arkansas has brought up interesting theories regarding the United States government and chemical testing.

This article, from The European Union Times (beware, the article is a bit sensationalist and contains much speculation), ties Wheeler's career with chemical/biological weapons testing at an Air Force Base in Arkansas:

"Wheeler’s military career included writing one of the most important manuals on the effectiveness of biological and chemical weapons which led to his being hired in 2009 as a consultant to the Mitre Corporation, whose aviation system development department, the GRU reports, is at the forefront of creating the computer command and control systems used by the US Air Force in their fleet of aerial spraying planes."

These aerial spraying planes, this report continues, are based at the Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas that over the past few months have been involved with ‘test dispersants’ of poisonous gasses in the Afghanistan War Theater using chemical weapons stocks obtained from Iraq and held at the Pine Bluff Arsenal, also located in Arkansas.

Blogs - Steampunk Machine "Barnum's Dream"

2010-12-22T17:06:00.002-05:00

A steampunk aficionado recently put together a blog detailing his handmade projects, which include a Gatling Gun and a model ship. "For many years I have collected odds and ends, motors, gears, oddball junk found at tag sales and dumpster diving from Staples to Colt firearms," he wrote. "I always had in mind that I would build some type of 'artistic' machine. I have dabbled in art, painting, some sculpting but have always wanted to create some large static piece, maybe a Rube Goldberg type machine. Instead, this is where I landed."

The Gatling Gun began as a project in modifying a 5mw (milliwatt) laser pointer to a 50mw laser, which later resulted in the decision to build a steampunk laser that used the pointer as a light source. "The entire piece is made from the lamp parts and found objects (by that I mean things that were picked up at junk shops, tag sales, manufacturers castoffs, junk yards) except for the barrels to the gatling gun, they are made from an assemblage of brass tubes that were bought at a hobby shop," writes Ed, the blog owner.

Construction on the ship began after a decision that the laser cannon was going to be a part of a larger piece. Starting with the tracks and trestle, which were made of vintage rail tracks and a disassembled wine rack, the assembly of the ship was underway. Construction continued with brass wheels to ride the tracks, a pulley belt, and rear wheel drive to move the ship. The boat itself was made of a wood frame, a planter, steel strips, brass screws, and various other materials. Through trail and error, the ship eventually came to be (though, according to the blog owner, it is only halfway done). "When you make something from scratch and the plans are only the ones in your head that come to you in that dreamy state before you sleep, there are a lot of do overs."

Visit Steampunk Machine "Barnum's Dream" to check out more photos and descriptions of the projects!

Video - Insert Coin

2010-12-15T15:59:00.002-05:00

News - 1 in 7 Chance of Someone Using Your SSN

2010-12-08T03:35:00.001-05:00

According to ID Analytics, a fraud-fighting San Diego company, 40 million out of the 290 million Social Security numbers they analyzed were attached to more than one name.

20 million Americans, or 6 percent of the population, have multiple Social Security numbers attached to their name. In most cases, however, typos are to blame. Any time a person gives a Social Security number to a company, there is a chance is will be incorrectly entered into the system. Once this happens, the false Social Security number is forever connected to the person. The false number may belong to a different real person, or it might be a "synthetic" number -- "an unassigned number that becomes a new entity in the credit system." (Definition taken from MSNBC article.)

5 million Social Security numbers are attached to three or more people, meaning nearly 1 in 7 number holders in America have two or more names attached to their Social Security records. Many people are on this list because of typographical errors as well, however, the majority of victims of Social Security fraud fall under this category. Others included in this group are those who buy or borrow a Social Security number in order to obtain work, namely illegal immigrants.

Blogs - Google Street View

2010-11-23T17:27:00.002-05:00

Jon Rafman's Tumblr includes the best (and worst) images that Google Street View has captured. Some images include people getting arrested, prostitutes, accidents, and many people flipping off the camera.

Photos - "Which Road Do I Take?"

2010-11-15T23:40:00.002-05:00

Website - I Can't Find My Phone

2010-11-03T21:25:00.001-04:00

I Can't Find My Phone is a website which allows you to enter your cell's digits into the keypad, hit hello, and automatically call your phone! Now you no longer need to ask "Can someone call my phone? I can't find it!"

Photos - Eat Well

2010-11-02T22:12:00.001-04:00

Doodles - I Know What I Must Do

2010-10-24T20:28:00.001-04:00

eyes wild
and blinking slowly,
i can't seem to wake up.

i'm pulling out pink hair.
i can't be bothered to remember how much i hate that.

the weather turns,
my mother makes noises
in another room,
i'm cold and losing patience.

mountains made of newspaper
sit solemnly on a field of charred and blackened grass.
my fingers are stained
and i wish i could swim between the words.

i can't seem to run fast enough.

Music - Over the Ice by The Field

2010-10-23T20:00:00.000-04:00

This song is heart-stopping at 1:46.

News - Tornado Hits Queens and Brooklyn

2010-09-17T17:05:00.002-04:00

Though the National Weather Service has not officially declared it a tornado yet, anyone who witnessed the high winds (80+ mph), hail, lightning, debris being tossed through the air, and downed trees can probably say "Yes, it was a freaking tornado." Between 5pm and 6pm on Thursday, September 16, a tornado began in Park Slope, Brooklyn and moved through Middle Village, Forest Hills (my neighborhood), and Bayside in Queens.

Video filmed in Kew Gardens (Queens).

At the moment, about 18 hours after the storm, I look out my window and still see entire trees tangled around telephone and electrical wires littering the ground. I'm watching people pick branches out of the back seats of their cars, cleaning their shattered windshields one piece of glass at a time. I can see yellow police tape and hear sirens rushing from one end of Yellowstone Boulevard to the other.

Thankfully, there have been reports that only one person, Iline Levakis, was killed when a tree crashed through her windshield. From the news story:
"The ferocious winds sent a massive tree crashing onto the car of Iline Levakis after she pulled off the Grand Central Parkway near Jewel Avenue in Forest Hills to escape the blinding rain.".

Video filmed in Park Slope (Brooklyn).

Both Queens and Brooklyn reported at least two partial building collapses each.

And apparently, one or two tornados hit New York every year. It seems this one is the first in many years to actually leave an impact. That is, unless the National Weather Service decides to just keep calling it a "tornado-like storm" instead of a tornado...

Once everything settled down after the tornado, I walked around my neighborhood and shot some photos. These are all taken within a one block radius of my apartment building.

More photos can be found at my LiveJournal and Flickr. (All photos are uploaded on LiveJournal. More to come on Flickr.)

Video - Simon's Cat

2010-08-21T20:52:00.002-04:00

Simon Tofield, an English animator, is the artist behind brilliantly simple and hilarious flash animations about cats (appropriately titled "Simon's Cat"). All of his animations are about 2 minutes long, and they each depict the various traits and characteristics that make cats so cat-like. As a cat owner, I definitely found myself laughing at the devilishly endearing habits of cats that Simon chose to represent.

Video - Morgan and Destiny’s Eleventeeth Date–The Zeppelin Zoo

2010-08-11T03:19:00.003-04:00

This video is the product of Joseph Gordon Levitt's collaborative art website, hitRECord. The video, which also stars Channing Tatum, is a short story about something we're all familiar with - two men fighting for the same woman.

Photos - Devil's Den

2010-08-11T02:53:00.004-04:00

Trey and I went hiking at Devil's Den in Weston, CT on August 8, 2010. We had a really great time following the trails (as well as NOT following the trails and climbing up rocks and hills), finding cool animals (frogs, bugs, birds), getting dirt all over ourselves, and discovering a pond. We had both been feeling incredibly claustrophobic in the city, and going on a hike is exactly what we needed. Plus, it was great exercise.

All the photos can be viewed at my LiveJournal (you must be added as a friend to view them).

Video - Diehard Car Battery vs. Gary Numan

2010-07-14T10:40:00.001-04:00

I haven't updated blog-style in a while, and this isn't much of a bloggy update, but it'll do until I write up a proper post.

Orchestra of Cars

Art - "Living" Paintings

2010-04-21T03:29:00.000-04:00

Alexa Meade is a twenty-three year old artist from Washington DC with unique painting skills. Meade applies paint directly on top of three dimensional people and objects to make them appear flat and two dimensional. The result, a stunning piece of art, forces the viewer to rethink what he or she is seeing.

From Meade's website:
"Typically a painting is an artist's interpretation of the subject painted onto another surface. In Alexa's paintings, she creates her artistic interpretation of the subject directly on top of the subject itself. Essentially, her art imitates life - on top of life."

More photos of Alexa Meade's art can be found on her Flickr page.

Doodles - Unforgettable

2010-03-15T06:32:00.001-04:00

You are currently remarkable.

This will be the strangest doctor visit of your life.
Time passes at a speed you can describe as neither fast nor slow,
and pain doesn't quite hurt. You receive sympathy from no one.

Strange things slip from your tongue
and beat your teeth into noise makers.
Chatter chatter you chatter away
and your voice carries
sounds that injure my pride.

I have no idea if I'm lying.

I laugh, though.
You make me forget what four years felt like.
I'm sure I make you forget too.
There are too many things wrong for me to ever say what I sometimes feel
during bliss, during ecstasy. I'd sooner put my hand over fire.

I still never sleep,
but at least I have someone to ignore the sun with.

Video - Chat Roulette

2010-03-11T14:44:00.000-05:00

Chat Roulette, the internet's newest craze, is a "service for one-on-one text-, webcam- and microphone -based chat with people around the world."

Here, a quirky short film delves into the world of Chat Roulette.

chat roulette from Casey Neistat on Vimeo.

As an additional treat, I offer you 24 Best Chat Roulette Screenshots (possibly NSFW):

Photos - Snowfall in Manhattan

2010-02-04T12:21:00.001-05:00

For more photos, visit my Flickr page.

The Media - Wearable Magazine

2010-02-01T18:24:00.001-05:00

How do we go about saving print journalism? We wear it!

"T-Post" is a wearable magazine that has been in publication since February 2004. According to the website, the name for the magazine was decided upon with a simple formula: "offbeat news + graphic t-shirt = T-Post." Every six weeks, a new t-shirt is delivered to subscribers that features a news story printed on the inside and an artist's interpretation of the story on the front.

The Philosophy Behind T-Post: "There are t-shirts that can inspire a conversation. And there are t-shirts that can inspire a movement. T-post was created to do both. With T-Post, it’s not just what your t-shirt says about you or the artist who designed it, but also what your t-shirt says about the world. More than just a fashion piece, T-post uses great design as a subversive tool to instigate meaningful thought, conversation, and action. It’s a communication experiment that typically begins with a compliment like 'Nice t-shirt' and continues with the wearer explaining the interesting news story behind the design."

(Check out previous "issues" of the magazine here.)

Video - Cat Gets Called for Jury Duty

2010-01-09T16:44:00.000-05:00

After my own recent experiences with Jury Duty (they continuously harass me while I am in school full time, and even when I was living out of state), this video made me giggle at the complete incompetence of the Juror System in the United States.

Read the full story here.

Art - Extraordinary Paper Art

2010-01-04T16:32:00.003-05:00

Art by: Peter Callesen

Art by: Jen Stark

Art by: Simon Schubert

Art by: Brian Dettmer (Book Autopsies)

Art by: Jolis Paons

Art by: Bert Simons

View more amazing paper art at: 100 Exrtraordinary Examples of Paper Art

The Government - New Airport Security Measures Following Bombing Attempt

2009-12-27T23:38:00.001-05:00

On Christmas day, a 23 year old Nigerian man identified by federal officials as Abdul Farouk Abdulmutallab, attempted to ignite an explosive device on an airplane that departed from Amsterdam and was scheduled to land in Detroit.

Read the full NY Times article here.

As the plane, Northwest Flight 253, began it's final approach to Detroit "Abdulmutallab stayed in the bathroom for 20 minutes before the attempt, returned to his seat, told his seatmates that his stomach was upset and covered himself with a blanket. It was then that the smoke and popping sounds began."

Other passengers heard popping noises and saw a fire. Thanks to the quick reactions of several other flyers, the fire was extinguished and Abdulmutallab was apprehended.

The story of the heroic passengers can be viewed here.

Photo by: WDIV-TV, via Reuters

Due to the recent "attempted act of terrorism," airports have initiated new, stricter security measures.

"For all United States bound aircraft originating in a foreign country and including Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands:
- Passengers will not be able to leave their seat from approximately one (1) hour prior to landing. The cockpit will inform in-flight personnel when this should be enforced.
- In-flight and cockpit personnel must refrain from making any PA announcements regarding the position of the aircraft or landing announcements. Cockpit personnel will use the IF alarm system to warn in-flight personnel to take their seats prior to landing.
- Passengers will be allowed one carry-on item or one personal item and will not be able to access this item during the one (1) hour period prior to landing.
- No items can be used/held/accessed/accessible by any passenger, including personal electronic devices, magazines, newspapers, books, etc. during the one (1) hour pre-landing period.
- In-flight personnel must collect First / Business Class PED one (1) hour and thirty (30) minutes prior to landing.
- In-flight personnel must collect all pillows and blankets one (1) hour prior to landing. Pillows and blankets must be stored in the galley and not in overhead bins.
- All on-board fixed IFE systems will be disabled and not available to our customers. Do not run or attempt to run any fixed IFE system."

New security guidelines found here.

Photo by: Jonathan Alcorn

"The T.S.A. issued an update on its Web site Sunday that said passengers would be subject to greater security, but its information was not as detailed as the memorandums sent by the agency to airlines this weekend. The airlines said the new T.S.A. measures required an additional round of searches, including body pat-downs at airport gates overseas.

"International travelers were also told that they could not leave their seats for the last hour of a flight, during which time they also could not use a pillow or blanket. They were also limited to one piece of carry-on baggage, including a purse or briefcase, and that piece had to be stowed in an overhead compartment for the last hour of a flight.

"Airlines were ordered to turn off in-flight entertainment systems with maps showing a plane’s location, and pilots and flight crews were told not to make comments about cities or landmarks below the flight path."

A NY Times article explaining TSA security changes.

Festive - Holiday Hangover Cures

2009-12-18T04:11:00.002-05:00

The winter holidays tend to be a time when people "celebrate" with various alcoholic beverages. Too much wine in Thanksgiving? Hittin' the eggnog a little too hard at that Christmas party? Down an entire bottle of champagne on New Year's Eve? Well, these holiday hangover cures can help!

Code Blue is caffeine-free drink that contains electrolytes, vitamins, and milk thistle to help you recover.

This all natural hangover tonic, created by Ono, is actually a tea which uses yerba mate to increase energy and licorice root to detoxify the body.

And for those who have the wherewithal to prevent hangovers before they happen, there is Party Smart. It is a blend of herbs meant to protect your liver and flush out toxins quickly.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

Music - From Monument to Masses

2009-12-04T19:04:00.001-05:00

Video - Indoor Cycling

2009-12-02T15:43:00.000-05:00

Music - "Who needs love when there's Law and Order?"

2009-11-29T05:17:00.000-05:00

"Leeds United" by Amanda Palmer

We watch you, your expert double exes.
Tts just like you to paint those whiter fences.

Its so polite, its so polite
Its offensive, its offensive.
Its so unright, its so unright its a technical accept it.

But who needs love when there's Law & Order?
And who needs love when there's Southern Comfort?
And who needs love at all?

We stalk you, your expert double exes.
We oxidize you in your sleep,
There's no exit, there's no exit.

You're on a roll, you're on a roll,
No one gets it, no one gets it.
Your honor, no your honor can't you protect us,
Protect us.

But who needs love when there's Law & Order?
And who needs love when there's Southern Comfort?
And who needs love
When the sandwiches are wicked and they know you at the mac store?

uh uh uh uh oh oh oh oh oh uh oh - I'm so excited!
uh uh uh uh oh oh oh oh oh uh oh - The blacks and beat kids!
uh uh uh uh oh oh oh oh oh uh oh - I'm getting frightened!
uh uh uh uh uh uh uh uh - Someday, someday leeds united!

Bugsy Malone came to carry you home and they're taking you all to the doctor.
Burberry vices all sugary spices, it's nice but its not what I'm after
Sure, I admire you, sure you inspire me,
But you've been not getting back so
I'll wait at the Sainburys counting my change making bank on the upcoming roster.

And we'll stop you, your expert double exes.
Oh yeah, a big stock holder extra cold with two exes.
That never talking thing you do is effective, its effective.
Your shoulders, icy colder than a death wish, than a death wish.

But who needs love when there's Law & Order?
And who needs love when there's Southern Comfort?
And who needs love
When the sandwiches are wicked and they know you at the mac store?

uh uh uh uh oh oh oh oh oh uh oh - Im so excited!
uh uh uh uh oh oh oh oh oh uh oh - The blacks and beat kids!
uh uh uh uh oh oh oh oh oh uh oh - They're so excited!
uh uh uh uh oh oh oh oh oh uh oh - When I think about leeds uniting!
uh uh uh uh oh oh oh oh oh uh oh - I'm getting frightened!
uh uh uh uh oh oh oh oh oh uh oh - The blacks, the blacks, the blacks, and beat kids!
uh uh uh uh oh oh oh oh oh uh oh - Tts so exciting!
uh uh uh uh oh oh oh oh oh uh oh - Someday, someday, someday, someday, someday, someday...

Doodles - Change or Die

2009-11-16T02:13:00.002-05:00

i miss those days
when "tell me something"
meant something.
i miss the boy who showed his emotion in teeth,
grinning or crying.
death follows even closer
to home.
but i lost my home
to a bottle of white zinfandel with a face lost inside and twelve years of yelling.
i'm losing the most valuable thing on earth,
but learned that, ultimately, we all just die alone.

recklessness is calling for me,
but it's mispronouncing my name.

Art - Face Painting

2009-11-10T08:44:00.001-05:00

James Kuhn, a Michigan-based artist, is by far one of the most inventive face painters I have ever seen. His work involves incorporating various parts of the face, such as the eyes and tongue, into his paintings. One of the most impressive parts of his art, however, is that he paints and photographs his own face without any assistance.

More of his work, as well as his personal journal, can be viewed here.

Journalism - Fake AP Stylebook

2009-11-03T23:28:00.001-05:00

"If you cannot find the source of a quote, make one up. Nobody's reading your story anyway. Get over yourself."

I recently came across a Twitter feed for a Fake AP Stylebook, which is both hilarious and witty. For writers, journalists, and journalism students like myself, the AP Stylebook is somewhat of a bible that is used on a regular basis for grammatical references, politically correct terms, and general guidelines used by newspapers and other written publications. The Fake AP Stylebook offers funny suggestions for the modern-day writer or blogger, such as:

"A 'cougar' is a large cat native to North America. An older woman who pursues a younger man is 'embarrassing herself.'"

Music - Borgore and Reid Speed at COCO66

2009-10-20T16:33:00.003-04:00

Borgore and Reid Speed are playing a show this Friday, October 23, at COCO66 in Brooklyn. I will be attending. $5 entry all night.

Music - My Manic & I

2009-10-14T04:50:00.001-04:00

My Manic and I by Laura Marling

Song and Video

He wants to die in a lake in Geneva,
The mountains can cover the shape of his nose.
He wants to die where nobody can see him,
But the beauty of his death will carry on so
I don't believe him.

He greets me with kisses when good days deceive him
And sometimes we're scorned and sometimes I believe him.
And sometimes I'm convinced my friends think I am crazy,
Get scared and call him but he's usually hazy.

At one in the morning the day is not ended,
By two he is scared that sleep is no friend.
And by four he will drink but he cannot feel it,
Sleep will not come because sleep does not will it.
And I don't believe him,
Morning is mocking me.

I'll wander the streets avoiding them eats
Til' the ring on my finger slips to the ground.
A gift to the gutter, a gift to the city,
The veins of which have broken me down.
And I don't believe him,
Morning is mocking me.

Oh the gods that he believes, never fail to amaze me.
He believes in the love of his god of all things,
But I find him wrapped up in all manner of sins,
The drugs that deceive him and the girls that believe him.
I can't control you, I don't know you well.
These are the reasons I think that you're ill.
I can't control you, I don't know you well.
These are the reasons I think that you're ill.

And since last that we parted, since last that i saw him,
Down by a river silent and hardened,
Morning was mocking us, blood hit the sky.
I was just happy my manic and I.
He couldn't see me the sun was in his eyes,
And birds were singing to calm us down,
And birds were singing to calm us down.

And I'm sorry young man I cannot be your friend.
I don't believe in a fairy tale end,
I don't keep my head up all of the time,
I find it dull when my heart meets my mind.
And I hardly know you, I think I can tell.
These are the reasons I think that we're ill.
I hardly know you, I think I can tell.
These are the reasons I think that I'm ill.
And the gods that he believes never fail to disappoint me.
The gods that he believes never fail to disappoint me.
My nihilist, my happy man, my manic and I
Have no plans to move on.
The birds are singing to calm us down,
And birds are singing to calm us down.

Text Art - We Own the World

2009-10-02T19:21:00.001-04:00

Music - Attack Decay Sustain Release

2009-09-30T17:09:00.001-04:00

Today is brought to you by Simian Mobile Disco, good vibes, and a ridiculous amount of caffeine.

Here's to optimism, a new month, better sleep patterns, more music, laughter, fulfilling wanderlust, new beginnings, fewer bad dreams, intellectual conversations, time well spent, making money, spending money, dancing alone, good health, independence, finding inspiration, and fixing the messes we've made.

Photo by: ellyvstheworld

Doodles - Fantasy

2009-09-25T19:29:00.001-04:00

music may not save the whole world, but it sure as hell has saved mine. i'm gonna keep these beats pumping through my head, and soon you will mean as little to me as i do to you. back to my old self just in time to remember how easy it is to write people off.

ready...

set...

go.

Fantasy by Anto.

i'm keeping myself in motion, constant, smiling. i can't help but feel good.
lights twist and leave trails that i will never follow again.
the music slows, and for a minute i take my eyes off the colors. a body is gone.
the beat drops, and

i will never look back.

i spin harder and cut through the empty air.
no one is there except blue and green. blue and green. blue and green.
my muscles are screaming.
"oh god," i think. "this is it."
nothing will change. the music keeps playing.

(Courtesy to Welcome to Dance Club for the song.)

Music - The Great Red Shark (SoundCloud)

2009-09-25T17:17:00.001-04:00

The Great Red Shark; a self-described musician, producer, and blogger; has a website in which he showcases all his latest musical releases and radio shows. The songs he creates range from electronic music to good ol' fashioned rock. His radio show, a product of St. Andrew's University in Scotland, varies the kind of music that is played from week to week. It is a magnificently put-together student radio station...One of the best I've heard.

Check out The Great Red Shark's SoundCloud page! It is an easy to navigate website that includes a list of all his latest releases, in chronological order (newest to oldest).

Sam Sally - Wonders Loop Circle (thegreatredshark teatime remix) by The Great Red Shark

Blogs - Cody Mack

2009-09-21T18:37:00.001-04:00

Cody Mack, a student at Full Sail University in Florida, has been involved in graphic design since his Sophomore year of high school. His abilities at using various design software are made apparent on his website's "about" section, where there is an extensive list of computer programs Mack knows how to operate and manipulate to his liking. The website also showcases a number of creative projects he has done, ranging from DVD covers to posters encouraging people to vote.

I encourage everyone to check out the rest of Cody Mack's work on his website!

Blogs - People of WalMart

2009-09-15T14:39:00.002-04:00

This post is dedicated to Alex, who I know hates WalMart just as much as I do.

I found a blog called People of WalMart, which is a photoblog of all the "interesting" characters one may find in WalMarts all over the country. I still haven't stopped laughing.

Check out the blog for more photos.

Music - Zero-Sum by NIN

2009-09-11T23:57:00.001-04:00

they're starting to open up the sky
they're starting to reach down through
and it feels like we're living in that split-second
of a car crash
and time is slowing down
and if we only had a little more time
then this time
is all we have
do you remember the time we
and all the times we
and should have
and were going to
i know
and i know you remember
how we could justify it all
and we knew better
in our hearts we knew better
and we told ourselves it didn't matter
and we chose to continue
and none of that matters anymore
in the hour of our twilight
and soon it will be all said and done
and we will all be back together as one
if we will continue at all

shame on us
doomed from the start
may god have mercy
on our dirty little hearts
shame on us
for all we have done
and all we ever were
just zeros and ones

and you never get away

and you never get to take the easy way
and all of this is a consequence
brought on by our own hand
if you believe in that sort of thing
and did you ever really find
when you closed your eyes
any place that was still
and at peace
and i guess i just wanted to tell you
as the lights start to fade
that you are the reason
that i am not afraid
and i guess i just wanted to mention
as the heavens will fall
we will be together soon if we
will be anything at all

shame on us
doomed from the start
may god have mercy
on our dirty little hearts
shame on us
for all we have done
and all we ever were
just zeros and ones

shame on us (shame on us)
we knew from the start
may god have mercy
on our dirty little hearts
shame on us (shame on us)
for all we have done
and all we ever were
just zeros and ones

Photography - September 11

2009-09-11T16:42:00.002-04:00

Music - Double Check Your Head (Beastie Boys)

2009-09-01T19:21:00.001-04:00

Max Tannone, the creator of Jaydiohead (Jay-Z and Radiohead), came out with a new project today.

The new project, called Double Check Your Head, was created in support of the Beastie Boys' recent reissue of their "Check Your Head" album. According to Tannone, the project's concept was to remix the Beastie Boys' music only using songs by the band. "The Beastie Boys are mashed up with themselves, rapping over tracks, sampling their own instrumentals, with all vocals and sampled elements coming from 'Check Your Head,'" he said.

To listen to Max Tannone's project, visit doublecheckyourhead.com.

Video - Head Case (Beat Box)

2009-08-26T20:19:00.001-04:00

Neurosonics Audiomedical Labs Inc. from Chris Cairns on Vimeo.

Goodbye Florida

2009-08-23T15:41:00.000-04:00

Doodles - Confusion

2009-08-14T18:51:00.002-04:00

I am questioning everything.

Doodles - There is Concrete in My Blood

2009-08-12T03:17:00.001-04:00

I miss New York City.

We needed time apart, though. Like a rocky relationship, I needed to get away from it and see other cities and towns before I could comfortably settle myself back in a humble abode with my love, New York. I will always consider it my home, and I will always love the place no matter how poorly it may treat me sometimes.

Living in Florida for the summer has given me the breath of fresh air I needed. Without it I would have gone completely stir-crazy in New York. Now I can return, happily, to the city I belong in.

I miss what the city used to be, but right now I just want to get the concrete under my feet. I know I will return home, and the subway will the crowded, slow, hot, and more expensive. I know my mother and I will argue about pointless misunderstandings or because we've had a bad day. I know I won't be able to hang out with the people I met in Florida. I know I have to return to school and work my ass off because it's my last year. And I know I'll be farther away from the person who provided me with a sanctuary this summer. It's all going to suck, but to be perfectly honest, I'm anticipating it and trying to remain optimistic.

I miss New York City, but I know I'll hate it again soon. At some point in the next few years I'll leave, probably for good. But until then, New York is my home...

...And I'm coming home so soon.

Video - Cute Cats Do Cute Things

2009-08-09T16:31:00.001-04:00

This video made my day.

Text Art - Car Used to Create Font

2009-08-04T04:49:00.001-04:00

iQ font - When driving becomes writing / Full making of from wireless on Vimeo.

News - Scientists Find New Strand of HIV Virus

2009-08-03T15:38:00.002-04:00

From The Frisky:

"While treating a 62-year-old Cameroonian woman in Paris, scientists discovered a new strain of HIV. This strain is from gorillas, not chimpanzees, and cannot be detected by conventional HIV tests. Scientists suspect the woman caught the virus from another human, not by eating infected meat. But, since it doesn’t show up in conventional tests, the virus could be “cryptically spreading in the population.” All of this is pretty scary, but scientists don’t seem too concerned. They say the new disease can still be treated with the same drugs and they’re pretty sure that if a vaccine is invented, it will work for this strain, too. Unfortunately, the effects are probably still the same no matter which strain people contract."

Read the full story here, at BBC News.

Entertainment - FOX Won't Air Family Guy Abortion Episode

2009-07-28T14:07:00.002-04:00

FOX television network (surprisingly) lets a lot of things slide when it comes to Family Guy. The show openly makes fun of FOX constantly, however, the network is probably not going to air an episode next season called "Partial Terms of Endearment," which is about abortion.

From THR Feed:

There were few details offered about the content of the episode, but given the show's penchant for political incorrectness -- it has in the past featured a character wearing a McCain/Palin button on an SS uniform, among other flourishes -- it's unlikely Planned Parenthood would use the episode in a PSA anytime soon.

When asked for further comment, MacFarlane e-mailed a statement: "Clearly my sarcasm doesn’t come across in print. I completely support whatever decision Fox makes. We were allowed to take a crack at this controversial story and that’s enough for me.”

If Fox chooses not to air the episode, it would be the second time in "Family Guy" history the network opted not to telecast the show. In 2000, the episode "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein" was rejected by the network, though the show later aired in syndication and was on the show's DVD set.

EDIT:

According to this, FOX has released this statement:

"Fox will not air the 'Partial Terms of Endearment' episode of 'Family Guy,' but we fully support the producers' right to make the episode and distribute it in whatever way they want."

Video - How It Would Be, If a House Was Dreaming

2009-07-25T09:19:00.001-04:00

555 KUBIK | facade projection | from urbanscreen on Vimeo.

Done by UrbanScreen.

Blogs - Pro-Choice Escorts

2009-07-24T13:21:00.000-04:00

Pro-choice activists find one more way to show they're better than pro-life crazies.

People around the country offer an escort service (It is literally an escort services...No sex is involved.) for women walking into abortion clinics. The escorts often surround and protect the girls from pro-life protestors who hang around outside clinics and hassle the women.

From the blog of an escort:
"We do this because clients of the clinic are often met at their cars by protesters. Between 2 and 5 protesters will follow/chase a client from their car parked in the public lot across the street to the private property line; talking at them, handing out literature, attempting to steer clients into the fake clinic down the block, shouting misinformation, slowing their pace, blocking the door and impeding clients any way they can. "

Personally, I hate pro-life lunatics. They needlessly and ceaselessly push their religious/archaic ideals and beliefs onto other people who I'm sure already have to make a difficult decision or go through a traumatic event.

Music - BEMF (Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival)

2009-07-24T12:40:00.003-04:00

An indoor and outdoor music festival will be taking place on Saturday, August 8 in the Old American Can Factory in Brooklyn, NY. The tickets are $25 (will call only), and the festival begins at 4pm and continues until 4am. I haven't heard of any of the artists who are playing, but the show is bound to be fun nonetheless! I wish I could go.

Oh, yeah. And there's "complimentary" PBR from 4-6pm. Hahah.

For more information visit www.brooklynemf.com.

People are Stupid - 2 Year Old Smoker

2009-07-23T19:49:00.002-04:00

"People are stupid" is going to be a new theme for my blog. This is a perfect example of the things it will include:

This kid seems like a straight-up gangster, but he'll probably be dead before puberty. The adults in the video won't be laughing then...

The Government - NYC's "Naked Cowboy" Running for Mayor

2009-07-22T12:02:00.001-04:00

From The Huffington Post:

New York City's infamous "Naked Cowboy," a man who plays guitar in Times Square wearing little more than cowboy boots and a hat, is running for mayor. The cowboy, Robert Burck, plans to do "more with less" for New Yorkers according to his campaign's mantra.

From The Naked Cowboy's Blog:

"I've basically created a global brand with just some tighty-whities and hard work, so imagine what I can do when I'm backed by all the wonderful people and resources of the greatest city on earth? My campaign is based on one simple truth -- no one's done more with less than me -- and that's the kind of thinking I'll be delivering as mayor. And I'm not going to be the kind of politician who's shuttled around in a limo all day -- I'm going to keep doing my thing, engaging with folks from all walks of life and really listening to them."

For more information visit nakedcowboyformayor.com.

Text Art - There Will Always Be Something There

2009-07-21T20:32:00.000-04:00

Music - Volunteer for All Points West, See the Shows for Free

2009-07-20T15:11:00.001-04:00

All Points West, a one year old arts and music festival held in New Jersey, is giving people the opportunity to go for free.

"Are you ready to volunteer?

You will be required to work a minimum of 15 hours throughout the weekend. In exchange, you will receive a full weekend festival pass, camping, and a festival t-shirt. Be a huge part of this amazing event, meet new people and gain valuable experience.

Times and assignments will be announced closer to the festival date. Although filling out the application does not guarantee you a spot on the Work Exchange Team, we do have several positions available!"

Fill a volunteer application here.

Photography - Thunderclouds

2009-07-16T02:56:00.001-04:00

View more photos at my Flickr page.

Art - War Horse

2009-07-14T17:56:00.001-04:00

The New York Times published an article yesterday about magnificent puppets that stand seven feet tall and require three human puppeteers to move. The puppets; giant horses made of wood, aluminum, gears, and silk; are part of a play in London called "War Horse," a story about a poor British boy who is forced to give up his horse to a British officer to fight in World War I.

From The NY Times:

“'This level of puppetry hasn’t been seen on Broadway before, and this is what audiences are going to find riveting,' said Basil Jones, one of the creators of the puppets."

"The ears of the horses, for instance, are driven by bicycle brake cables and are capable of a 180-degree sweep. The tail is controlled by three cables acting as tendons, producing a movement based on the actual anatomy of a horse. And the curling of the lower leg and hoof, as the horse raises its leg, is controlled by so-called passive tendons, loose cables that are moved first by the puppeteers and then by sheer gravity."

The Government - Places I Won’t be Going Back To (by Warren Ellis)

2009-07-14T15:35:00.002-04:00

From WarrenEllis.com:

"So I can’t light a cigarette in a bar in Arizona, but you can walk into one with a loaded gun, get completely trolleyed and be fully defended by a state law that doesn’t remotely consider this a dangerous and inevitably tragic situation.

Around 80 people die by gunfire per day in the United States. That’s about fifteen deaths per one hundred thousand people, per annum. In 2005, the number of children killed by gunfire would have filled 120 public school classrooms. Since 11 September 2001, somewhere in the region of 220,000 people have died by gunfire in America."

I just do not understand this country or its laws sometimes.

Doodles - I Miss so Many Things

2009-07-07T01:48:00.001-04:00

i am the only person i know who can spend the summer in florida and still be pale. one red bull and a cup of coffee and i'm still exhausted. this place wears me out. i wonder when i last wrote how i felt. i wonder when someone actually read what i wrote. i wonder a lot of things, but answers never come easy. sometimes i think about laying on my back in that room, with the itchy carpet biting my shoulders, playing "tell me something." other times i think about when our words meant something to each other. i miss my friends. i miss being able to hear without hearing aids. does that qualify me as disabled? when did i forget how to have fun? was i happier with him? why can't i draw anymore? nothing inspires me. i lost my muse without ever realizing it. why am i complaining? i am neither poor nor hungry nor homeless. i am spoiled. rotten. useless. i am lonely. i am going to quit smoking when i return to new york. i am a smoker. i was...something. i feel like screaming. my tattoo spells "wander," but here i am. stuck, trapped, smothered. i am a hypocrite. it is written on my skin. i will read it one day and gather the courage to walk away. i miss the freedom life used to grant. i miss being able to open my arms to endless possibilities. this is not the life for me. i miss feeling empowered by music. now i resent it. new york is calling me back, and i'm resisting. i miss my cat. i am so sick of feeling sick by this. this wasn't my choice. it was his. i miss the days when i was a stronger person. i was defiant, independent, untouchable, infinite.

how did i end up here?

Video - Happy 4th of July

2009-07-04T15:15:00.002-04:00

I hope everyone has a fun, safe time.

Enjoy the video.

Photography - Miami

2009-06-30T02:37:00.002-04:00

More photos can be found on my Flickr page.

Google AdSense

2009-06-26T01:47:00.003-04:00

Maybe you've notice, maybe you haven't.

I have an ad on my website now! It's from Google AdSense. I get paid (a small amount, but paid nonetheless) every time someone visits my site and every time someone click on my ad. The ad I chose to display on my blog is content-related, which means it'll only show things related to posts on my site.

I think it's pretty cool.

(And a big thanks to Jason Hunter for telling me about this.)

Memorial Benefit for Shannon

2009-06-24T19:09:00.002-04:00

On July 25, 2009 there will be a memorial benefit held in Shannon Doupe's name in Huntington, NY. Though I will not be able to attend, she was a friend of mine so I wanted to pass on the word to anyone who may be interested in attending or showing their support.

(The text on the flyer is small. To view a larger version, click on the image.)

All of the benefit's proceeds will be going towards the "Little Animal Shelter" in Huntington, NY where a room of the building will be named after Shannon.

A Softer World - Happiness Killed My Muse

2009-06-22T02:28:00.001-04:00

Photography - Schmap New York Guide

2009-06-19T13:29:00.001-04:00

One of my photos was selected to be used in the seventh edition of the Schmap New York Guide. I've been published!

Snapshot of the page.

Link to the page.

Photography - Happily Ever After?

2009-06-16T00:40:00.001-04:00

From JPG Magazine:
"These works place Fairy Tale characters in modern day scenarios. In all of the images the Princess is placed in an environment that articulates her conflict. The '...happily ever after' is replaced with a realistic outcome and addresses current issues."

View the rest of the project here.

Photography - Tips for Taking Photos in Developing Countries

2009-06-12T23:10:00.001-04:00

"13 Tips for Great Photography in a Developing Country" by Cashewman

Music - Maynard James Keenan Tours Wholefoods

2009-06-08T17:13:00.001-04:00

Maynard James Keenan (frontman for Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer) will be touring Wholefoods markets around the United States to offer autographs and promote his Arizona vineyard and wines. An interview with Wine Spectator demonstrates that MJK is just as serious about his wine as he is about his music.

Wine Spectator: How did you first get interested in wine?
Maynard James Keenan: Being in an occupation that requires me to travel quite a bit, you're just exposed to more cultural things than you would if you were growing up in the suburbs of Boise, Idaho. When you're drinking warm Coca-Cola and your accountants and managers and booking agents are walking around with these nice glasses with nice red juice in it, you say, 'Hey, that doesn't look like what I've been drinking in the dressing room. What's that? I'm not going on stage unless I get to have what you have.'

WS: Which is harder, getting a band together and making it successful, or starting a winery and making it successful?
MJK: I think if you focus on anything hard enough and really put your heart into it, you can take most things to a certain level, but that last 5 percent of the way, either you're gifted or you're not. I just had a knack for vocals and working together with people to make music. That came naturally to me. The winemaking? I don't know. Time will tell if I have that extra 5 percent. I definitely have the 95 percent focus and passion, so we'll see.

Maynard - 2009 Wine signings @ WHOLE FOODS MARKET (and elsewhere)
June 3 - 4:30 - 7:30 pm - Milwaukee, WI (2305 N. Prospect Ave.)
June 5 - 4:30 - 7:30 pm - Chicago, IL (1500 N. Kingsbury)
June 6 - 2:00 - 5:00 pm - Chicago, IL (1101 S. Canal St.)
June 9 - 4:30 to 7:30 pm - Miami, FL (6701 Red Rd. Coral Gables)
June 10 - 4:30 to 7:30 pm - Boca Raton, FL (1400 Glades Rd.)
June 12 - 4:30 to 7:30 pm - Orlando, FL (8003 Turkey Lake Rd.)
June 13 - 2:00 to 5:00 pm - Jacksonville, FL (10601 San JoseBlvd.)
June 16 - 4:30 to 7:30 pm - Boston, MA (340 River St.)
June 17 - 4:30 to 7:30 pm - Boston, MA (340 River St.)
June 18 - 5:00 to 8:00 pm - Springfield, NJ (NOTE: not at Whole Foods - Wine Library - 586 Morris Ave.)

(Dates and locations from BrooklynVegan.com. Links also includes Tool's tour dates for July and August.)

The Government - Bloomberg Throws a Fit

2009-06-02T19:34:00.002-04:00

From PerezHilton.com:

"Mayor Bloomberg threw himself a little fit when a reporter questioned him about his controversial push for a third term to be ~~dictator~~ mayor of New York City.

Bloomberg was spouting the usual political rhetoric when New YorkObserver reporter Azi Paybarah asked if the third term was really necessary.

Bloomberg responded, 'Why don't you just get serious questions here?' and then called Paybarah a 'disgrace.'

Bloomberg later apologized via his spokesman, but a spokeswoman for Bloomberg's Democratic opponent, City Controller William Thompson, contended that 'What's disgraceful is the mayor's refusal to answer the tough questions.'"

Government - Oy Vey (Bloomberg)

2009-05-31T16:50:00.001-04:00

Art - Bach Played on Giant Piano

2009-05-27T18:21:00.000-04:00

Two women play Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor on the giant piano in FAO Schwarz in NYC.

Link

Photography - Rainbow

2009-05-27T13:36:00.001-04:00

May 25, 2009:

Photos - Dance Anyway

2009-05-24T12:27:00.002-04:00

Bass Island was a bust, but we danced anyway.

For more photos, visit my LiveJournal or my Flickr.

Event - Bass Island

2009-05-20T12:50:00.002-04:00

Alex and I will be attending this event at some point this weekend.

For more information, go to the Bass Island website.

A Softer World - I am Never Believing Anything You Say Again

2009-05-09T00:41:00.001-04:00

News - Swine Flu Worries Getting Out of Hand

2009-04-28T17:05:00.002-04:00

My school sent out this email to all students this afternoon:

"As you may have already heard, U.S. Health Officials have declared a public health emergency with the recent outbreak of swine influenza in the United States. In an effort to update the Purchase College Emergency Response Plan, all residential students need to provide an emergency evacuation residence to which they can relocate in the event that the emergency response plan is enacted. This residence will need to be within 600 miles of the campus, a location that can be reached by ground transportation. In the event of a pandemic flu, it may not be feasible to travel by air."

This is getting out of hand.

Webcomic - Swine Flu

2009-04-27T12:10:00.000-04:00

From XKCD:

Doodles - "Home" is Not a Location

2009-04-26T17:26:00.001-04:00

I walked through the streets I spent my childhood on. I sat on the fire escape that has been here longer than I have. The plants are blooming and everything is coming alive. This place is not home to me.

I belong with the people I cherish, no matter their location. I will work hard to accomplish what I want.

News - Swine Flu, From Mexico to New York

2009-04-25T17:13:00.002-04:00

From The Associated Press:

New York City health officials say that about 75 students at a Queens high school have fallen ill with flu-like symptoms and testing is under way to rule out the strain of swine flu that has killed dozens in Mexico (link to NY Times article).

The Health Department's Dr. Don Weiss said Friday that a team of agency doctors and investigators were dispatched to the private St. Francis Preparatory School the previous day after students reported fever, sore throat, cough, aches and pains. No one has been hospitalized.

The handful of sick students who remained at the school were tested for a variety of flu strains. If they're found to have a known human strain that would rule out swine flu.

Results could take several days. In the meantime, the school says it's postponing an evening event and sanitizing the building over the weekend.

Music - Jaydiohead (Jay-Z and Radiohead Mashup)

2009-04-21T18:39:00.001-04:00

I actually really enjoyed this album, and I definitely recommend download it or just giving it a listen on the website.

Download the album here. (I don't know how much longer the album will be available to download, so get it while it's hot!) Listen to it here.

Music - Trent Reznor (Before NIN)

2009-04-20T17:10:00.000-04:00

Trent Reznor, years before Nine Inch Nails, was in a synthpop band called "The Exotic Birds" in Cleveland, Ohio. Here is a clip from a TV show from 1985 that showcases The Exotic Birds.

Music - NIN iPhone Application

2009-04-07T03:15:00.001-04:00

Nine Inch Nail is releasing an iPhone application which will act as a mobile window to all things NIN: "music, photos, videos, message boards, even — thanks to a GPS-enabled feature called Nearby — the fans themselves."

"Nearby is 'kind of like Twitter within the Nine Inch Nails network,' says Rob Sheridan, Reznor's long-time collaborator. 'You can post a message or a photo by location, and if you're at a show you can see conversations between other people who are right there.'"

Find more information and a video here.

Doodles - I Burned

2009-04-06T00:30:00.001-04:00

the shower was on, but i sat on the floor of the tub
letting the water hit the back of my head.
i watched beads of water glide down my unwashed hair while trying to will my nausea away.
i threw up again instead.

the water was too hot, but i had neither the will nor the energy to fix it.

i burned
and thought about the act of compromise.

Text Art - I Wish

2009-04-05T04:17:00.001-04:00

The World is Dying

2009-04-05T00:57:00.001-04:00

Death, death, dying, killing, murder, shootings, launching death-rockets, stabbing, bombing, more dying.

Headlines:
1. North Korea Launches Rocket over the Pacific
2. 5 Children Found Dead Near Seattle
3. Suicide Bomber Kills 8 in Pakistan
4. Gunman Kills 3 Police Officers in Pittsburgh
5. 13 Shot Dead During a Class on Citizenship

And this is just within the last couple of days...

Doodles - Drive

2009-04-04T22:18:00.001-04:00

youth used to mean bruised knees and dirty fingernails.
now we live among unmotivated and uneducated children.

News - The Unemployment Olympics

2009-04-02T15:04:00.001-04:00

Dozens of unemployed people participated in the Unemployment Olympics, a low-tech Manhattan event organized by laid-off computer programmer Nick Goddard, on Tuesday. Competitors played games such as "Pin the Blame on the Boss" and "Office-Phone Skee-Ball", which required hurling a black office phone toward a chalk goal mark on the pavement.

"Prizes were offered by merchants from the surrounding Lower East Side neighborhood.

Nick McGlynn was among those who lined up at Tompkins Square Park in front of a cardboard hutch labeled with bright green paint as the Unemployment Office, where participants were required to show proof they had lost their jobs. The 26-year-old, who worked with video for Gawker Media until he was let go in November, said he was thrilled to have something to do besides searching the Internet and updating his blog."

Read more of the story here.

Music - New NIN Album (Strobe Light)

2009-04-01T13:10:00.002-04:00

Trent Reznor announced today, via Twitter, that NIN has released a brand new album called Strobe Light.

Track listing:
1. intro skit
2. everybody's doing it (featuring chris martin, jay-z AND bono)
3. black t-shirt
4. pussygrinder (featuring sheryl crow)
5. coffin on the dancefloor
6. this rhythm is infected
7. slide to the dark side
8. even closer (featuring justin timberlake and maynard james keenan)
9. on the list (she's not)
10. clap trap crack slap
11. laid, paid and played (featuring fergie of the black eyed peas and al jourgensen)
12. feel like being dead again
13. still hurts (featuring alicia keys)
14. outro skit

The album can be downloaded here.

Photography - IDEAL (I Miss Them)

2009-03-30T16:43:00.001-04:00

Art - Celebrity Faces Made from Cassette Tapes

2009-03-29T18:10:00.001-04:00

"Iri5 is an artist who specializes in using non traditional media such as old books, audio cassettes, playing cards, magazines, credit cards, basically whatever she can find."

“Ghost in the Machine” is a series Iri5 created that portrays celebrities and musicians such as Marilyn Monroe, Bob Dylan, Robert DiNero, Jimi Hendrix, Ian Curtis, and Jim Morrison.

More images can be found here.

News - MTA Approves "Doomsday" Budget

2009-03-25T15:35:00.000-04:00

The MTA passed a 12 to 1 vote today to enact a series of fare hikes and service cuts to help close a $1.2 billion gap. In addition to the cost of riding public transportation increasing and the reliability of service decreasing, many people will lose their jobs. 211 bus and subway managers are being laid off, along with 32 managers of the Long Island Rail Road, 18 at Metro North, and 21 people from the MTA headquarters. The agency also plans to eliminate about 750 other administrative positions.

Read more of this story at CBS, 1010wins, or The Daily News.

From NYMag.com:

"Subway and bus rides in the city will go up to $2.50 from $2. Monthly MetroCards will go up from $81 to $103. On bridges and tunnels where there are already tolls, EZ-Pass charges will go from $4.15 to $5.26, and cash charges will go from $5 to $6.50. Fares on most commuter rails will go up between 20 and 30 percent."

Flickr

2009-03-24T10:08:00.003-04:00

I have finally started a Flickr page. I needed a sort of online portfolio, and this seemed to be the best option.

Here it is.

There is also a link for it on the right-hand side of this blog (below my Twitter feed).

Doodles - States

2009-03-22T23:15:00.000-04:00