I’ve always loved the British phrase “are you taking the piss.” However, if asked the question while standing next to one of these - the proper reply would be, “No mate. I’m taking a piss.”
To see an NIN rehearsal is to understand just how incredibly tight the band performs regardless of who is part of the rotating cast. I happen to be somewhat partial to this line-up because it marked the return of guitarist, Robin Finck and the last round of performances with keyboardist-guitarist, Alessandro Cortini (a friend and salt of the earth person). Here is Echoplex and 1,000,000. Also from The Slip album is Letting You and Discipline. These films were directed by the band’s resident art diector, Rob Sheridan.
The Swedish design company TAF boasts a colorful portfolio of brilliant objects, furniture and spaces. I’d really like on the lights below for my kitchen.
I’ve always thought dog shows are wrong on so many levels and speak far more about the absurdity of the owners of these animals than the pets themselves. I suppose this is precisely what made Christopher Guest’s comedic faux-documentary, Best in Show so damn funny. So that said, I wonder what it says about the owners of these poodles that they’d rather groom them into something other than a dog. Frankly, this sort of thing really doesn’t bode well for the human species.
Ever since the internet became intertwined with our daily lives, people have commonly fantasized about creating the next big thing website or service that they could cash in on. Social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace have been sold in the last few years for outrageous sums that truly can’t be rationalized. On the other hand, there have been sites that actually can quantify their success in real numeric terms. Many of these sites like Zappos for example provide a very necessary service. A few months back I posted about a website called Kickstarter. The site which is still in beta speaks to this kind of ingenuity in which common people will be able to find themselves doing something that they simple couldn’t do before. In recent weeks, Kickstarter has been picking up traction and even received two write-ups on the NY Times in one day. One article explains how the concept works and why micro-patronage is the big idea. And this one, the story of how a record label used the service to avoid trashing a large collection of overstock.
I try my best to not buy bottled water these days. As it turns out, the one brand that I did purchase from time to time has some pretty bad politics at play. NYC tap water happens to be some of the best available water in the whole country and I’ve been using one of the popular Swiss brand Sigg bottles for well over a year now. I consciously chose their bottles to avoid the leaching issues associated with reusing plastic and to support an eco-friendly endeavour. So I was rather annoyed to learn that Sigg has some pretty bad health related problems as well. Who knew getting safe clean water in the developed world was so hard?
Nine Inch Nails have long been one of my very favorite bands. When it was announced that they would be playing a show at the Bowery Ballroom to a capacity crowd of 600, I had to find a way in. So I did. Having never done anything like this in my life, I have no idea what came over me when I crowd surfed during Head Like A Hole and landed on the stage. Unfortunately, this video misses that moment but it does capture the intensity that I experienced way up at the front during the whole show this past Saturday night. It was completely exhilarating to be able to take part in such a rare musical moment.
The Personas website creates a colorful graphic representation with keywords that shows how your name floats around in cyberspace.
Here is a wonderful side by side test that compares the high definition images captured from the Canon 5D MKII with the Panasonic Lumix GH1 and The RED One. The footage appears to be shot in natural daylight and night without any additional lighting.
Last night, I caught one of the documentary films in The Pursuit of Excellence series from filmmaker Mark Lewis on PBS. The film, Synchronized Swimming takes an in-depth look at the passion, sacrifice, and determination it takes to compete on two of the top youth synchronized swimming programs in the US. The film is truly one of the most cinematic documentaries I’ve ever seen. The camera takes great pleasure in capturing the visual spectacle that is this little known sport. The film can be purchased through PBS for $10 and is certainly well worth it.
As I’ve mentioned before, I have something of a yearning to open a proper old-world gentleman’s barber shop in the neighborhood in Brooklyn that I call home. Perhaps it is some sort of omen that I’ve discovered another beautiful shop that is quite similar to what I have in mind. I discovered The New York Shaving Company while strolling around Nolita.
In the world of film production, the RED HD camera has been on the tip of everyone’s tongue. There is no doubt that the camera offers quite a bit for a relatively small price tag. I thought that I’d share three projects that were shot on the camera and are all quite beautiful. The first is a music video for the band Delphic. The second is a video for Damien Jurdado. And lastly, is the clip for Heartbreaker by MSTRKRFT.
One Day Like This by Muziektelevisie may look like film, but it’s not. Actually, the video utilizes consumer equipment and a DIY approach (including a homemade lens adapter) to capture a wonderful cinematic look. Similar results were achieved on a project entitled Een Hommage aan de Wipomolen and another called Vague Millimeter.
I suppose that there is a certain amount of truth to the adage that every generation is bound to grow older and proudly talk about how things were different when they were younger. Looking back. I find that I often use film and music as a mile marker to help create sense memories of what a certain time or age was like. The films of John Hughs left a huge impression not only on me but probably everyone I grew up with. His work touched on a profound awkwardness and sense of aloneness in the world that comes with being a teenager. These films defined a generation. To me, they very much help to keep the memories of my childhood fresh.
Just a few years ago, I rented The Breakfast Club because my girlfriend had somehow never seen it, even though she grew up in the US during the 80s. She was definitely ambivalent about watching a film about a bunch of high school students. I couldn’t blame her. After all, the teen genre really has since offered nothing to speak of. All that I had to say to ease her doubts was that this film was a classic created by the guy who made Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. And by the end of film, she truly understood why this film is so important to me. Sounding a bit older and fulfilling that cliche that comes with age, I can whole heartedly say that they don’t make them like they use to.
In today’s NY Times, frequent collaborator Molly Ringwald reflects on her experiences with John Hugh’s who passed away last week at 59.
I’ve just discovered the work of photographer Paul D’ Amato. The earnest view of his lens captures moments that often feel wrought with tension.
During the last few years, I’ve found myself engaged in more and more conversations about buying locally sourced foods. I’ve participated in Community Supported Agricultural (CSAs) for three years now. This has profoundly changed the way I eat, the diverse vegetation that I have access to and how healthy my body feels. The reasons for buying local go on and on. And one of the best ways to tap into fresh locally sourced foods is through the green market. In this video, you’ll meet Rick Bishop of Mountain Sweet Berry Farm. Rick sells his crops at the well known Union Square Green Market and also supplies many of the cities very top restaurants including Blue Hill and Gramercy Tavern. Why wouldn’t you want to buy your food from the same place these chefs go?
I hate to admit it but I have a short attention span when it comes to reading. While I am surrounded by people who ravage their way through one large volume after another, I tend to do much better with short stories and articles. I wanted to recommend a fast read which is also one of the most profound books I’ve had the pleasure to take in - Waiting for the Barbarians by J.M. Coetzee (2003 Nobel Prize Winner for Literature). The story is devastatingly powerful.
Obstaculum is a surreal series of photo-illustrations rich with texture. The project was conceived of by designer-photographer Craig Hunter Parker.
Yesterday, I purchased from itunes a few albums that I once owned on cassette - Dr. Dre’s The Chronic and Ice Cube’s The Predator. As if buying these albums from my high school years didn’t make me feel old enough, I now realize that I am part of a dying breed - those who pay for at least some of their music collection. The NY Times has some staggering information on the continued decline of music sales.
...of the 13 million songs for sale online last year, 10 million never got a single buyer and 80 percent of all revenue came from about 52,000 songs.
I’ve never played my guitars through an Electro Harmonix pedal that I didn’t like. This video takes a look inside the companies production process in their factory located in NYC.
