This is an addendum to my "All I got for Christmas" blog. I was surprised by how many people have actually expressed concern for me.
Wow. You really do like me! (Yeah, I did a Sally Field thing there....ha ha)
But I should tell you that I thrive in the face of chaos. So I'm really kind of pumped. Plus, I exaggerated the knee thing. Went to the doc this AM, it's a dislocated patella. Which, if you've ever met me, you know ain't no thang to me. I've done this like 5 times before. It's a breeze. Just a couple of weeks away from clowning chumps on the dance floor, and voila! I'll be all mobile again.
I also should say that I am ACTIVELY looking for a job now. My plan is to network like mad. Please let me know of ANY networking meetups, job openings, or pathetic saps you know of that could help me (or that I could entrap and suck the life/money out of.)
The personal life hoo-ha I'm keeping on the DL for now until something noteworthy happens. In the meantime know this: I BELIEVE IN LOVE, PEOPLE. Clap your hands if you believe too!!! You too, Tinkerbell.
LOVE will rule in 09. If we let it....
Happy New Year.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Refinery29: Sound Waves -- music, new, releases, playlist
The top 20 tracks of 08, by style-phile site Refinery 29. Check it like old-school listening lab style:)
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
All I got for Christmas was broken up with
NOTE:
I should be blogging about technology and whatnot considering I'm totally unemployed and verging on poverty, but screw it. Just call me rebel. I'm going for transparency--it feels so fresh right now. (And apparently I like to indulge in feeling sorry for myself in front of a quasi-audience. Maybe you should call me exhibitionist.)
Round 1:
Decided to go to Tahoe with the boyfriend this Christmas. He loves to snowboard, and a really good girlfriend of mine has a house near Squaw with a guest room--So there it was.
Just prior to leaving however I started to realize this may not be the best idea ever. It was revealed that many other guests with much alcohol and mischief were also planning to come up to the same house, and I could foresee this chilled out snowboarding trip turning into a tequila-fueled bacchanalia. Not that I'm generally opposed to such events--just not during the holidays. Feels a little creepy.
Round 2:
Despite my better judgment, boyfriend and I get on the road and head towards Tahoe. I brought champagne along for the road. Also probably not the best idea ever.
Two hours in, I was picking on boyfriend's driving chops. He was trying to remain silent. I was getting more boozy by the minute.
The snow is falling heavier now, and the fact that we're in a rear wheel drive BMW is just now dawning on me. Drunkenly, I sulk.
Round 3:
Boyfriend and I pick up another friend of ours on the way to Tahoe. The snow is falling really heavily now, and I'm drunk enough to attempt becoming BFF with my friend's tipsy mother. We pose for pictures and pronounce eachother as undying allies. I slip and fall on the way back to the car.
Round 4:
In the mountains of North Tahoe, the three of us are pulled over by a Chain Check police blockade. "Crazy night for driving. You got chains?"
Boyfriend pulls out his chains and I sit becoming bitchier with worry by the second. Boyfriend tries to put chains on, to no avail. Thirty minutes pass and finally the other friend has joined in on the boyfriend's efforts to put the chains on the tires.
Round 5:
With the chains attached and my head in the clouds, the three of us head off toward the house. At this point I'm too drunk to remember where I've put the address, but I don't let the boys know this yet.
The chains fall off the tires and I begin calling boyfriend a "useless fuck."
No, I'm not a happy drunk.
Round 9:
I'll save you the hellishness of hearing every detail, but suffice it to say that by the time we arrived at the house - (by the hair of our chinny chin chins, considering I'd lost the address,) I had unleashed such a torrent of rage and hatred onto my boyfriend that he was utterly destoyed.
The finale to my grand Christmas moment was when I fell on the ice in front of my friend's house and blew out my knee. Again. ACL. Torn.
Still would all be okay except that the boyfriend wants to break up. That makes me an unemployed, gimpy, broken-up with girl.
2009?! Save me?!
I should be blogging about technology and whatnot considering I'm totally unemployed and verging on poverty, but screw it. Just call me rebel. I'm going for transparency--it feels so fresh right now. (And apparently I like to indulge in feeling sorry for myself in front of a quasi-audience. Maybe you should call me exhibitionist.)
Round 1:
Decided to go to Tahoe with the boyfriend this Christmas. He loves to snowboard, and a really good girlfriend of mine has a house near Squaw with a guest room--So there it was.
Just prior to leaving however I started to realize this may not be the best idea ever. It was revealed that many other guests with much alcohol and mischief were also planning to come up to the same house, and I could foresee this chilled out snowboarding trip turning into a tequila-fueled bacchanalia. Not that I'm generally opposed to such events--just not during the holidays. Feels a little creepy.
Round 2:
Despite my better judgment, boyfriend and I get on the road and head towards Tahoe. I brought champagne along for the road. Also probably not the best idea ever.
Two hours in, I was picking on boyfriend's driving chops. He was trying to remain silent. I was getting more boozy by the minute.
The snow is falling heavier now, and the fact that we're in a rear wheel drive BMW is just now dawning on me. Drunkenly, I sulk.
Round 3:
Boyfriend and I pick up another friend of ours on the way to Tahoe. The snow is falling really heavily now, and I'm drunk enough to attempt becoming BFF with my friend's tipsy mother. We pose for pictures and pronounce eachother as undying allies. I slip and fall on the way back to the car.
Round 4:
In the mountains of North Tahoe, the three of us are pulled over by a Chain Check police blockade. "Crazy night for driving. You got chains?"
Boyfriend pulls out his chains and I sit becoming bitchier with worry by the second. Boyfriend tries to put chains on, to no avail. Thirty minutes pass and finally the other friend has joined in on the boyfriend's efforts to put the chains on the tires.
Round 5:
With the chains attached and my head in the clouds, the three of us head off toward the house. At this point I'm too drunk to remember where I've put the address, but I don't let the boys know this yet.
The chains fall off the tires and I begin calling boyfriend a "useless fuck."
No, I'm not a happy drunk.
Round 9:
I'll save you the hellishness of hearing every detail, but suffice it to say that by the time we arrived at the house - (by the hair of our chinny chin chins, considering I'd lost the address,) I had unleashed such a torrent of rage and hatred onto my boyfriend that he was utterly destoyed.
The finale to my grand Christmas moment was when I fell on the ice in front of my friend's house and blew out my knee. Again. ACL. Torn.
Still would all be okay except that the boyfriend wants to break up. That makes me an unemployed, gimpy, broken-up with girl.
2009?! Save me?!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
All my friends are nerds. And this is a good thing.
Here's some cool nerd gifts if you are actually buying holiday presents this year, (unlike myself, who is planning on evangelizing the out-ness of Christmas and holiday gifts. So last year. So last century. L-A-M-E.
Not to be a total scrooge. But yeah, gifting feels inherently passive aggressive to me--Even bordering on preachy, guilt-inducing and just overall a recipe for disaster, since you probably won't even like the gifts you do receive, and others will likewise be disappointed in what you give them.
At least that's what I'm telling my unemployed ass this year. But no, I'm not a hater.
Do yourself a favor and join me in my manta: Holiday gifting is so last year. Feels the opposite of modern, like buying unsustainable cheap furniture from Ikea or something. At the very least, you'll save some scratch this season.
Still, if you have HOT nerd friends that you can't resist giving gifts to, check out the link here and just give the gift to them on the 26th or something. Not a holiday gift then. Just a show of appreciation.
Friday, December 12, 2008
I got the boot
And it's not the lace-up chunky heeled ones I've been coveting. I got laid off from my job yesterday. I totally saw it coming. The agency had lost clients and work many times over since I'd been there, and there had already been a few rounds of lay-offs prior to mine that had left the office space barren and stirred up my suspicions.
So now I'm doing the unemployment thing. It's my first time. I'm an unemployment virgin. If you are too, let me share some tips. I'll give you some personal ones, and then post a link to another site that's all about unemployment. Unemploymentality 24/7.
What I've learned is that being unemployed is very similar to being employed in that you make it what it is. For instance, my attitude towards getting the ax has been very positive. It was a needed change. Advertising has lost a lot of the sexiness and ability to inspire. I could go on in haterade fashion, but that would probably be fairly retarded of me, so 'nuff said. The point is: I was able to see getting laid off as a potential opportunity, etc. This is a good attitude to take when you (perhaps) get the ax too.
Next thing that is helpful to know as an unemployed person is to remember that NOBODY WANTS TO DOLE OUT MONEY TO YOU. You'll find that making your unemployment claim isn't quite as simple as your HR exit interviewer might have made it sound. When I called the number listed on the brouchure of the Cali Unemployment Insurance office, I got a recorded message that told me to log on to the website to make a claim. Then it hung up on me.
Of course (you can probably see this coming) when I went online to file the claim, the error message advised me to call the number that had the useless recorded message.
Annoying. Yes.
But just like at your normal workplace, you're gonna have to extend yourself a little. Find the closest unemployment office and show up in person. This can be harder than expected too. In my case, the phone representative I eventually got through to told me that I wouldn't be able to file the claim in person. It was only possible by dialing the useless recorded message number or by logging on to the site that only gives error messages. And no, she can not file the claim. Not her job. She lied like a rug.
I didn't believe the the hype, and instead took to the streets. I live in the Tendernob directly across the street from Cup-a-Joe cafe, where many unemployed looking types hang out and steal free wifi all day. I figured I'd give the cafe a shot. Jackpot. I simply walked into the cafe, and announced: "I just got laid off. Anybody know where the unemployment office is?"
Ten people raised their hands. It was like they were expecting it. One dude said he'd even escort me there. And when we arrived to the office, the line was quick, and I got the whole thing completed in under an hour.
Plus I made a friend.
Check out more tips at:
http://unemploymentality.com/2008/12/unemploymentality-blows-up-like-lil-wayne/
So now I'm doing the unemployment thing. It's my first time. I'm an unemployment virgin. If you are too, let me share some tips. I'll give you some personal ones, and then post a link to another site that's all about unemployment. Unemploymentality 24/7.
What I've learned is that being unemployed is very similar to being employed in that you make it what it is. For instance, my attitude towards getting the ax has been very positive. It was a needed change. Advertising has lost a lot of the sexiness and ability to inspire. I could go on in haterade fashion, but that would probably be fairly retarded of me, so 'nuff said. The point is: I was able to see getting laid off as a potential opportunity, etc. This is a good attitude to take when you (perhaps) get the ax too.
Next thing that is helpful to know as an unemployed person is to remember that NOBODY WANTS TO DOLE OUT MONEY TO YOU. You'll find that making your unemployment claim isn't quite as simple as your HR exit interviewer might have made it sound. When I called the number listed on the brouchure of the Cali Unemployment Insurance office, I got a recorded message that told me to log on to the website to make a claim. Then it hung up on me.
Of course (you can probably see this coming) when I went online to file the claim, the error message advised me to call the number that had the useless recorded message.
Annoying. Yes.
But just like at your normal workplace, you're gonna have to extend yourself a little. Find the closest unemployment office and show up in person. This can be harder than expected too. In my case, the phone representative I eventually got through to told me that I wouldn't be able to file the claim in person. It was only possible by dialing the useless recorded message number or by logging on to the site that only gives error messages. And no, she can not file the claim. Not her job. She lied like a rug.
I didn't believe the the hype, and instead took to the streets. I live in the Tendernob directly across the street from Cup-a-Joe cafe, where many unemployed looking types hang out and steal free wifi all day. I figured I'd give the cafe a shot. Jackpot. I simply walked into the cafe, and announced: "I just got laid off. Anybody know where the unemployment office is?"
Ten people raised their hands. It was like they were expecting it. One dude said he'd even escort me there. And when we arrived to the office, the line was quick, and I got the whole thing completed in under an hour.
Plus I made a friend.
Check out more tips at:
http://unemploymentality.com/2008/12/unemploymentality-blows-up-like-lil-wayne/
Monday, December 1, 2008
I'm too old for this shit
So I went to a Tribal Funk party at Mezzanine on Saturday and stayed out really freakin late....(or should I say early:) And was so hammered I was tuning in and out of the sound of the music, the definition in people's faces, and any conversation that lasted more than one or two sentences.
Ugh.
I'm pretty sure that my tendencies to be a total bitch cunt when wasted have toned themselves down now that I'm older, but I can't be sure; and whenever I feel like I'm ready to piece together the separate moments of the night into a single, detailed memory I cringe a little somewhere deep inside and force my brain to look away.
Not healthy behavior, really.
But I can't deny this urge to destroy myself sometimes. Day-to-day living can make me feel like I'm holding my breath for something to meaningful to happen, and if I go too long not breathing I need to destroy.
Anyway, like I said I'm fairly certain that my aggro tendencies have mellowed over the years, but I have some horror stories of picking fights with cherished friends, heckling DJs that didn't impress me, even kicking some dude that was mean to me in the face. The sad thing? The face-kicking moment was like the HIGHLIGHT of that boring ass party for everyone. They finally had something to talk about, rally around, bitch about.
Sigh.
I'm not unhappy, I'm just sayin.....
I guess I'll go to yoga tomorrow. I've got to let my breath out somehow.
Ugh.
I'm pretty sure that my tendencies to be a total bitch cunt when wasted have toned themselves down now that I'm older, but I can't be sure; and whenever I feel like I'm ready to piece together the separate moments of the night into a single, detailed memory I cringe a little somewhere deep inside and force my brain to look away.
Not healthy behavior, really.
But I can't deny this urge to destroy myself sometimes. Day-to-day living can make me feel like I'm holding my breath for something to meaningful to happen, and if I go too long not breathing I need to destroy.
Anyway, like I said I'm fairly certain that my aggro tendencies have mellowed over the years, but I have some horror stories of picking fights with cherished friends, heckling DJs that didn't impress me, even kicking some dude that was mean to me in the face. The sad thing? The face-kicking moment was like the HIGHLIGHT of that boring ass party for everyone. They finally had something to talk about, rally around, bitch about.
Sigh.
I'm not unhappy, I'm just sayin.....
I guess I'll go to yoga tomorrow. I've got to let my breath out somehow.
Friday, November 28, 2008
KILL YOUR IDOLS put words in my mouth
Let me set-up my thoughts for you....
Today I watched a movie called Kill Your Idols. It spans 30 years of music, 13 bands, and 1 city--New York. The music is solely art-punk, which has been the rhythm of my heart essence since I was very young. It's funny because now that I'm in SF and have been immersing myself deep in mysticism, I find fewer and fewer people who understand my love for such aggressive music. Blame it on my Detroit/NY roots. I mean I love a good kirtan, but when a scream that could curdle my blood combines with a transcendent chord progression, I feel light and free and cathartic.
The movie shows live footage and interviews with bands like Suicide, Lydia Lunch, Sonic Youth, The Swans, Liars and Gogol Bordello. All of whom are refreshingly chill answering their questions, and all of whom seem to be fairly pissy about the co-opting of underground music. (And fashion, literature, language, haircuts.....you get the point.)
In any case as I was watching this and getting more and more angst-ridden, (as this subject is one I obsess over as well,) I realized something. Maybe Millennials don't suck per se, maybe their just freakin CONFUSED as to what to rebel against.
If that's the case, then there's still hope in a new kind of nihilism. One that is a joyful nihilism. One that can see emptiness as potential. One that isn't afraid of nothingness.
It's interesting then, that I've been so intuitively drawn to Tantric dharma lately. If emptiness is form as our teacher shows us, than the bark of old school nihilism loses its bite. I would love to know how other people cope with this current state of zero integrity.
Do tell....
Click the "read more" link here to watch the trailer for Kill Your Idols.
read more | digg story
Today I watched a movie called Kill Your Idols. It spans 30 years of music, 13 bands, and 1 city--New York. The music is solely art-punk, which has been the rhythm of my heart essence since I was very young. It's funny because now that I'm in SF and have been immersing myself deep in mysticism, I find fewer and fewer people who understand my love for such aggressive music. Blame it on my Detroit/NY roots. I mean I love a good kirtan, but when a scream that could curdle my blood combines with a transcendent chord progression, I feel light and free and cathartic.
The movie shows live footage and interviews with bands like Suicide, Lydia Lunch, Sonic Youth, The Swans, Liars and Gogol Bordello. All of whom are refreshingly chill answering their questions, and all of whom seem to be fairly pissy about the co-opting of underground music. (And fashion, literature, language, haircuts.....you get the point.)
In any case as I was watching this and getting more and more angst-ridden, (as this subject is one I obsess over as well,) I realized something. Maybe Millennials don't suck per se, maybe their just freakin CONFUSED as to what to rebel against.
If that's the case, then there's still hope in a new kind of nihilism. One that is a joyful nihilism. One that can see emptiness as potential. One that isn't afraid of nothingness.
It's interesting then, that I've been so intuitively drawn to Tantric dharma lately. If emptiness is form as our teacher shows us, than the bark of old school nihilism loses its bite. I would love to know how other people cope with this current state of zero integrity.
Do tell....
Click the "read more" link here to watch the trailer for Kill Your Idols.
read more | digg story
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Pluto says peace out to Sag, Moves to Capricorn
I've always had a strong sensitivity to changing energies, and will adjust my behavior and attitudes to be more in sync with an emerging zeitgeist before most people even realize that there is transformation in the air.
It seems that there must be some changes afoot, because I lately I feel the need to get as self-sufficient as possible in order to maintain control over myself in the face of these changes. I'm compelled to do this mainly out of survival skills. It just feels necessary. Many habits I see in myself and others seemed repulsive suddenly, and I'm not sure why. Although my intuition tells me this "batten down the hatches" moment is based a lot on financial crises and the current state of the economy.
Here's an interesting astrological blurb addressing this time period. It was written last year by Vivian Weaver, as a prediction on how Pluto's move into Capricorn will affect us. Pluto left Sagittarius for Capicorn yesterday, where it will stay until 2023. I feel like my recent desires to prepare for a new more serious and efficient way of living may have something to do with it. You decide. Here's the prediction from Vivian Weaver:
"It is a habit of Pluto to exaggerate the negative until we are forced beyond our lethargy to resolve issues. In these first few years (of Pluto in Capricorn) Big Business will become the ruler of the globe and governments merely puppets. General economic fear will likely create an atmosphere in which we, the people, will voluntarily give up our personal rights to achieve order. The process is one of erosion..." "We need to do what we can to stem the tide of Big Business tyranny over the next decade. Get out of debt. Change your lifestyle and take good care of your health. Become as independent as reasonably possible from institutions and corporations. Take any steps, however small they seem, to preserve your independence and self-sufficiency. None of us is immune to the zeitgeist of the time in which we live, but we can stay awake and adopt behavior that reinforces our personal freedom."
It seems that there must be some changes afoot, because I lately I feel the need to get as self-sufficient as possible in order to maintain control over myself in the face of these changes. I'm compelled to do this mainly out of survival skills. It just feels necessary. Many habits I see in myself and others seemed repulsive suddenly, and I'm not sure why. Although my intuition tells me this "batten down the hatches" moment is based a lot on financial crises and the current state of the economy.
Here's an interesting astrological blurb addressing this time period. It was written last year by Vivian Weaver, as a prediction on how Pluto's move into Capricorn will affect us. Pluto left Sagittarius for Capicorn yesterday, where it will stay until 2023. I feel like my recent desires to prepare for a new more serious and efficient way of living may have something to do with it. You decide. Here's the prediction from Vivian Weaver:
"It is a habit of Pluto to exaggerate the negative until we are forced beyond our lethargy to resolve issues. In these first few years (of Pluto in Capricorn) Big Business will become the ruler of the globe and governments merely puppets. General economic fear will likely create an atmosphere in which we, the people, will voluntarily give up our personal rights to achieve order. The process is one of erosion..." "We need to do what we can to stem the tide of Big Business tyranny over the next decade. Get out of debt. Change your lifestyle and take good care of your health. Become as independent as reasonably possible from institutions and corporations. Take any steps, however small they seem, to preserve your independence and self-sufficiency. None of us is immune to the zeitgeist of the time in which we live, but we can stay awake and adopt behavior that reinforces our personal freedom."
Thursday, October 30, 2008
http://gentrify.r08.railsrumble.com/
Gentrify is a new app that helps rich people find good apartments, because rich people need help.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
TED | Talks | Jill Bolte Taylor: My stroke of insight (video
Neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor had an opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: One morning, she realized she was having a massive stroke. As it happened -- as she felt her brain functions slip away one by one, speech, movement, understanding -- she studied and remembered every moment. This is a powerful story about how our brains define
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Friday, October 17, 2008
Check Your Head: Yakkay's Cap Bicycle Helmets
Apparently, it's POSSIBLE to ride your bike wearing a helmet and not look a little bit retarded. Get rid of the bike shorts though. Not cute. Never will be.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Interview - Naomi Wolf - Give Me Liberty
Interview with Naomi Wolf author of "Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries" given October 4, 2008 on Mind Over Matters, KEXP 90.3 FM Seattle.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
fashion week: Preen 08 RTW
The "it" label of the moment is actually something I'm digging, for once. Still, feeling London's looks over NYC/Paris.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Monday, September 29, 2008
Bailout Doesn't Pass
Stocks plunged after the House of Representatives failed to pass a bailout proposal aimed at shoring up America's financial services industry.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Jesus is My friend! Just in case you were wondering....
Even atheists want to run down the aisle and testify after this irresistible diddy! It's got some hard core ska legs, actually. Plus I want the organist's dress.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Monday, September 8, 2008
Guidelines for Online Success
Taschen plus FWA dude = kick ass book.http://www.taschen.com/pages/en/catalogue/design/all/05204/facts.guidelines_for_online_success.htm
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Jon Stewart Annihilates Sarah Palin's Media Surrogates
Jon Stewart at his absolute best running circles around cable news douchebags. I realize this isn't totally original since everyone I know has blogged this...but I gotta go group think and regulate those RNC bastards one more time.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Monday, August 25, 2008
Shamanism, Anarchy, and the End of the World
So I may be getting all neo primitive b/c I'm off to Burning Man today. But whatever the reason, I'm going with the vibe. So here it tis:
The jist:
The teaching we need will not come from priests, gurus, shamans, or scientists. We must find our way without the individuals and organizations that duplicate the power and alienation of capitalistic culture.
read more | digg story
The jist:
The teaching we need will not come from priests, gurus, shamans, or scientists. We must find our way without the individuals and organizations that duplicate the power and alienation of capitalistic culture.
read more | digg story
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
SHAZAM is rad
When you catch a moment in between using your iphone as a lightsaber, automated dice roller, eatery slot machine, anything BUT a phone, let Shazam into your life. Any song that you can hear and hold your phone towards, Shazam will let you know track’s title, artist, and album. It will let you buy it from itunes. http://www.shazam.com/
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Friday, August 15, 2008
Airbed & Breakfast
When traveling, crashing with a friend is great because it's cheap and offers many of the comforts of home, but crashing at a hotel's also great because no one has to actually like you. If you're broke and unpopular, use Airbed & Breakfast.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
R/GA Expands Into Branding Biz, Taking on Traditional Player
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- As more brands connect to consumers digitally, can traditional branding practices keep up? R/GA Brand Design will attempt to fill the gap between theory and practice of creating a brand in Web 2.0.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Monday, August 11, 2008
Samsung Mobile Moment Locates Lost Hotness » Adrants
Last week, Toronto residents looking for some love had some help from Samsung and Koodo Mobile's Mobile Moment campaign. The promotion launched Friday August 1 with street teams blanketing the city asking mobile users to text their 'missed connection' to MobileMoment.ca.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Judge on Rove’s citizen arrest: ‘It’s about time.’
Last Friday, police in Des Moines, Iowa arrested four people who attempted to make a citizens’ arrest of former top White House aide Karl Rove. A retired minister and three members of the Des Moines Catholic Workers community were cited for trespassing. However, according to a press release, the judge praised their efforts.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Facebook Redesign To Go Live Tomorrow
Five months later and it looks like Facebook is ready to release their new profile redesign. Initially Facebook announced they were working on a redesign earlier this year. In May, a glimpse of the redesigned was released to developers in the developers sandbox. Tomorrow evening the redesign will be open to the public.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Friday, August 1, 2008
Optical storage goes deep: 1TB stored in three dimensions
Researchers in California report on the creation of a standard sized optical disc (120mm x 1.2mm) that is capable of holding up to 1 Terabyte of data. The added storage comes from using all three dimensions instead of encoding data on the surface of the disc.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Vanishd.com
yes, it's true, that sinister freak that sits in the cube next to you may actually be surfing porn. Hence the drool. Ew. Check it:
Make your co-workers, bosses, friends, and family think you're working. Surf the web in privacy. Cover any web page with a fake work document or another web page and PEEK THROUGH A HOLE to surf without anyone seeing.
read more | digg story
Make your co-workers, bosses, friends, and family think you're working. Surf the web in privacy. Cover any web page with a fake work document or another web page and PEEK THROUGH A HOLE to surf without anyone seeing.
read more | digg story
Monday, July 28, 2008
Pirate Bay Wants Total Network Encryption, But Who Else?
The Pirate Bay has ambitious plans to bring end-to-end encryption to all network activity, essentially blacking out a user's traffic from deep packet inspection gear and other prying eyes. Interesting project, sure, and definitely ambitious, but will it work? We doubt it, at least in the near term, and here's why.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Song Kow-tow #2
Link to Trapeze Swinger on imeem
why i kow-tow:
This song was featured in a fairly lame movie called "In Good Company". The movie starred the skinny dude from "That 70's show" (Topher Grace), Scarlett Johansson, and Dennis Quaid as
The song is so deep who gives a shit about the movie cheese. It starts out with one of Sam Beam strumming softly. Lyrics are:
Please, remember me
Happily
By the rosebush laughing
With bruises on my chin
So right away you're transported to a childlike, unrequited moment. It was the moment that kept you anguished for an entire summer. It was the moment that you can still taste when you think back now. When you hear this song. That helps.
Check it out.
Love.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Mars oppostion Uranus. Or why I tore my bikram teacher a new one.
So I've been exploring my chart lately for personal reasons. Mainly, just trying to identify and consciously try to work on problem areas in my daily behaviors.
One aspect in my chart that really jumped out at me was Mars opposition Uranus. The way it was described was kind of terrifying. And I didn't completely acknowledge this energy within me. Here's an excerpt:
"The revolutionary tendency is very strong, and you will have a natural antipathy towards traditions and static patterns of acceptable social lifestyles.
Your attitude will be anti-authoritarian, and you will be iconoclastic in your questioning of the status quo, and critical of those who are in positions of social responsibility and power. Hypocrisy from 'leaders especially upsets you, and you can be scathing in denouncing it. In fact, you probably have developed a fairly demanding set of personal principles and ideals from which you perceive the world.
Your personality can be very assertive, even aggressive and combative. You have an image of yourself 'at war' with whatever you disagree with, whether this is just a war that you fight in your own head, or it is one that you externalise by opposing social establishments that you dislike. There is a stimulation for you in conflict; and whilst it may not always be openly displayed, you enjoy competition and intend to win and dominate. This is reminiscent of the Scorpio characteristics, which are reflected through this aspect, with the Mars-Scorpio link and Uranus exalted in Scorpio. The quality of assertiveness could be extrovertedly expressed, stridently and powerfully, or quietly through the power of a strong personal presence. "
After I read this I headed out to yoga. I bought a month of bikram recently, mainly b/c it's in my nabe and I really want to get into psychotically good shape just for a short while. I've done hot yoga previously for years, but avoided bikram b/c I think the people are weirdly cultish.
Anyway, I get into class and everything is rubbing me the wrong way. The teacher was shouting through her weird little Janet Jackson headset thingee, reprimanding people for taking sips of water at rests and tearing the character of a little Indian woman to shreds b/c she had to bounce to make it to work on time. WORK! wtf?
So I'm already not loving this woman and then I hear her voice break in again, "Maroon shirt! Hey Maroon girl!" I looked up from my child's pose, realizing I was maroon shirt girl.
"Why are you in child's pose? We don't do child's pose here. Get up."
I couldn't believe it. I was used to years of practice where I was the one to determine my own limitations and due to my knees being just five months out of surgery, I was modifying my moves to avoid putting too much stress on them.
But I didn't protest, I got up as the psychotic bikram monster requested, and wiped the sweat off my face with my towel, preparing for my next move. Next thing I know, the teacher is standing right next to me, practically foaming at the mouth.
"Why do you do that? You don't need to do that. Conserve your energy!" I realized she was upset with me for using my hand towel.
"I'm resting until we're done with this pose because I have bad knees." I say.
"They can't be that bad. Do the pose. You just think you can't do it." She replies. Through her creepy Janet Jackson microphone.
Finally, I've had enough. I start laughing at her. I pull up my the hem of my workout bottoms to show her my scars. "They're pretty bad. Take a look. According to western medicine, I shouldn't even be doing this at all. And since your version of yoga is so obviously westernized, you should probably chill the fuck out."
oh snap! Mars oppostion Uranus. It's like I was speaking in tongues people. I had no control.
This is my next personal goal: Stop Uranus from it's lightning power over me in stressful situations.
I mean, the teacher deserved it. It's the other students that I feel bad about. I pulled a huge layer of bad energy over their workout moment.
sigh.
One aspect in my chart that really jumped out at me was Mars opposition Uranus. The way it was described was kind of terrifying. And I didn't completely acknowledge this energy within me. Here's an excerpt:
"The revolutionary tendency is very strong, and you will have a natural antipathy towards traditions and static patterns of acceptable social lifestyles.
Your attitude will be anti-authoritarian, and you will be iconoclastic in your questioning of the status quo, and critical of those who are in positions of social responsibility and power. Hypocrisy from 'leaders especially upsets you, and you can be scathing in denouncing it. In fact, you probably have developed a fairly demanding set of personal principles and ideals from which you perceive the world.
Your personality can be very assertive, even aggressive and combative. You have an image of yourself 'at war' with whatever you disagree with, whether this is just a war that you fight in your own head, or it is one that you externalise by opposing social establishments that you dislike. There is a stimulation for you in conflict; and whilst it may not always be openly displayed, you enjoy competition and intend to win and dominate. This is reminiscent of the Scorpio characteristics, which are reflected through this aspect, with the Mars-Scorpio link and Uranus exalted in Scorpio. The quality of assertiveness could be extrovertedly expressed, stridently and powerfully, or quietly through the power of a strong personal presence. "
After I read this I headed out to yoga. I bought a month of bikram recently, mainly b/c it's in my nabe and I really want to get into psychotically good shape just for a short while. I've done hot yoga previously for years, but avoided bikram b/c I think the people are weirdly cultish.
Anyway, I get into class and everything is rubbing me the wrong way. The teacher was shouting through her weird little Janet Jackson headset thingee, reprimanding people for taking sips of water at rests and tearing the character of a little Indian woman to shreds b/c she had to bounce to make it to work on time. WORK! wtf?
So I'm already not loving this woman and then I hear her voice break in again, "Maroon shirt! Hey Maroon girl!" I looked up from my child's pose, realizing I was maroon shirt girl.
"Why are you in child's pose? We don't do child's pose here. Get up."
I couldn't believe it. I was used to years of practice where I was the one to determine my own limitations and due to my knees being just five months out of surgery, I was modifying my moves to avoid putting too much stress on them.
But I didn't protest, I got up as the psychotic bikram monster requested, and wiped the sweat off my face with my towel, preparing for my next move. Next thing I know, the teacher is standing right next to me, practically foaming at the mouth.
"Why do you do that? You don't need to do that. Conserve your energy!" I realized she was upset with me for using my hand towel.
"I'm resting until we're done with this pose because I have bad knees." I say.
"They can't be that bad. Do the pose. You just think you can't do it." She replies. Through her creepy Janet Jackson microphone.
Finally, I've had enough. I start laughing at her. I pull up my the hem of my workout bottoms to show her my scars. "They're pretty bad. Take a look. According to western medicine, I shouldn't even be doing this at all. And since your version of yoga is so obviously westernized, you should probably chill the fuck out."
oh snap! Mars oppostion Uranus. It's like I was speaking in tongues people. I had no control.
This is my next personal goal: Stop Uranus from it's lightning power over me in stressful situations.
I mean, the teacher deserved it. It's the other students that I feel bad about. I pulled a huge layer of bad energy over their workout moment.
sigh.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Song Kow-tow #1
it opens:
"I felt you in my legs before I even met you
And when I laid beside you for the first time I told you
I feel you in my heart and I don't even know you
And now we're saying bye, bye, bye
Now we're saying bye, bye, bye
I was nineteen"
I mean I love the jangled heat, need, urgency that is this song.
And the kind of journal-like way she talks about it. Writing if off to being 19, but realizing that the urgency may never be that strong again.
Listen to it and remember your first love.
And then remember to love yourself as you were at that time.
You are still that person.
Link to song on Youtube
"I felt you in my legs before I even met you
And when I laid beside you for the first time I told you
I feel you in my heart and I don't even know you
And now we're saying bye, bye, bye
Now we're saying bye, bye, bye
I was nineteen"
I mean I love the jangled heat, need, urgency that is this song.
And the kind of journal-like way she talks about it. Writing if off to being 19, but realizing that the urgency may never be that strong again.
Listen to it and remember your first love.
And then remember to love yourself as you were at that time.
You are still that person.
Link to song on Youtube
My latest quest for truth
Tantric Yoga in the Buddhist tradition is the newest place for me to find an escape from the insanity and dissatisfaction that is a lot of life right now. I'm not UNhappy. I'm actually having a pretty fun go at it. It's just that I'm not really feeling a point. To life, that is.
Yeah, I've felt this before. In the past I went all Existential. Nihilism turned into punk rock turned into drugs turned into TRUE pointlessness. Dang. Not pretty.
This time around chemicals aren't calling to me. This time, I'm interested in the true nature of mind, peacefulness, being alive. And hopefully avoiding all the creepy detours that can happen while on the path. You know, I'm not trying to be too touchy-feely God realm. Like the person who just "loves everything. It's just all so beautiful man. I just love it...."
Nor do I want to be someone with a monomania of sorts. Meaning, someone who ONLY talks about teachings. I want to be able to bob and weave and move towards whatever is of interest to me at the moment intellectually while maintaining an understanding in empty awareness.
Neither do I want to have be an ascetic. I think it's important to stay tuned into family, friends, my own dark side.
And I kind of have a crush on a bright eyed tantric yogi.
Shit. that better not be the reason why I'm doing this.
to be continued.
Yeah, I've felt this before. In the past I went all Existential. Nihilism turned into punk rock turned into drugs turned into TRUE pointlessness. Dang. Not pretty.
This time around chemicals aren't calling to me. This time, I'm interested in the true nature of mind, peacefulness, being alive. And hopefully avoiding all the creepy detours that can happen while on the path. You know, I'm not trying to be too touchy-feely God realm. Like the person who just "loves everything. It's just all so beautiful man. I just love it...."
Nor do I want to be someone with a monomania of sorts. Meaning, someone who ONLY talks about teachings. I want to be able to bob and weave and move towards whatever is of interest to me at the moment intellectually while maintaining an understanding in empty awareness.
Neither do I want to have be an ascetic. I think it's important to stay tuned into family, friends, my own dark side.
And I kind of have a crush on a bright eyed tantric yogi.
Shit. that better not be the reason why I'm doing this.
to be continued.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Rjd2 spotted giving the drummer some
Cuz the drummer hasn't had any for a LOOONG time.
this guy needs to be my new boyfriend. Seriously. Check this video out. It makes me heart happy.
Meanwhile, Rjd2 is underground enough where he may think me lame for going off on a video that was release a while ago, and is therefore now officially OLD. but whatever. After looking at other vids of his, I saw a trend toward him opting for truly boundary pushing effects and intelligent messages. So i fell more in love with him cuz it's tough to find a hip-hop type that has a brain for more than bitches and money these days.
Rjd2's body of work up until recently, was the kind of hip-hop that creates an image in your head of past moments in history and pulled from various genres. That stuff was put out while he was on Definitive Jux. Now, apparently, he's gone off into some CRAZY ass direction with his new label, XL Recordings, and is singing and playing instruments.
I love this fucker more. He's insane. He's a mad scientist. And Pitchfork panned the shit out of it. Which makes me definitely want to go out and sing it's praises.
The underdog needs love. Listen and holla.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
st-st-stu-stuttering and the future of music in ads
so i gotta admit that I actually fell in love with a song (a freaking pop song no less) that I heard on a TV commercial recently. Yeah you know it. There's a tripped out animated frog and the lyrics are, "it's been, it's been, such a, such a long time since anybody's touched me, the way that you touch me....so kiss me again. cuz only you can stop this st-st-stu-stutterin..."
yeah that one. If you don't know it, Watch it now.
I'm not stoked about it, but it's true. The product = Dentyne Ice. The song is caled "Stuttering" and the artist is called Ben's Brother. I downloaded the song because i liked it on the commerical. This is freakish for me. I'm a music snob in a huge way. I mean, I'd never go and introduce myself as such cuz it's pretentious and annoying to actually identify as a music snob. But the truth is I obsess about music fanatically, have a music collection that's better than yours (oh SNAP!) and really despise all the mainstream shit they shove down our throats. Even indie music is sucking large matzo balls lately. but this little sentimental pop song played over an ad made we want to buy the whole song. You can check it for your own damn self, and feel free to start ripping on me immediately. Note to all: the whole song is so not as snappy as the :30.
Anyway, this is supposed to just be an opening for me to wax philosophic about the future on music for ads. cuz it's gonna get crazy kiddies. Music Houses and the use of Big Name artists for ads will (hopefully?) probably become obsolete as bedroom composers and nerdy elecro homies kick out the jamz for companies/collectives offering tasty profit-sharing deals on product sales or click through rates for online ads.
Let me go off and research this more and see you on the flip, yo.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
http://www.honeyshed.com/
this is the newest version of branded entertainment for the kiddies. Little skits are written to sell the product (a fairly bland bunch of "hip" fashion, music, tech stuffs). You can get a little demo before buying, send to friends and chat with other like-minded shoppers. I guess it's got transparency going for it --it's def not trying to hide the fact that it's selling something. But not much else yet. It's still Beta. Needs to fix a lot before it goes launch for realz.
The most disturbing thing?
I didn't even bat an eye when i came upon it. Reminds me of VBS which is also blatant about ripping off subculture to sell shit.
argh. we are pretty gross. i mean, as a population. let's all groan aloud: "ugh, we SUCK!"
what makes a scene pure and vibrant?
this is a question b/c I'm truly unsure and would love to get someone to answer this question. Growing up in Detroit, when people went dancing, they fucking danced. They got sweaty and gross and into the groove and weren't looking at eachother to see what they were wearing. And it was a scene. Another authentic and pure scene i kicked it with was punk/post-punk and these peeps were just as in the moment and disinterested in pretense as the electronic mofos. Now all I see are people standing on the wall. That is not helping the spirit of celebration and letting go, kiddies. Get into it. So this leads me to wonder if the decrease in letting loose is a generational thing or a drug thing? I'd be lying if I didn't point out the rampant drug use in the electro and punk (these kids weren't straight-edging to say the least), but they were definitely tres cathartic as well. What does it take? I'm trying to figure it out. I'd love to create a safe environment for people to let loose in. I'll post pics from supposedly "happening" joints in the near future. Don't snore while you check em out. UGH!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
