The Ostrich Egg

Chicago MP3 Experiment

2008-10-05T05:01:00.000-05:00

Even though it was chilly, raining, and a Saturday afternoon -- a gaggle of brave UChicago students ventured north to Lincoln Park for a once in a lifetime ImprovEverywhere extravaganza.

All we knew was to arrive at exactly 2PM with a pre-loaded mp3, an umbrella, a balloon, and wearing one of four colors ... the instructions were specifically vague, but having pored over last year's experiments, I knew we were in for something amazing!

Upon getting to the park we experienced a 40 minute onslaught of insanity that culminated in what could only be bellowed as an EPIC BATTLE. With thumb wars, hundred-person games of twister, human Tetris, vast umbrella canopies, and an unyielding drizzle - these precursors to the grand finale would've been enough to weird out any passer bys.

Yet, we continued, led along by the soothing voice of Steve. Seriously, where else would you see something like this? And why wouldn't you join in?

Here's where the colors we were wearing came in handy. After a bit of battle training, all of the participants were split into two camps with their own respective drummers and flutists. With balloons in hand and a fantastically muddy battleground -- the epic battle commenced!

With many, many casualties the end of the battle saw everyone covered in mud, all colors intermingled, balloons discarded, and mp3s reaching their end -- but the pervasive feeling of good cheer was unmistakable. What a fantastic time! Thanks IE!

A new acquaintance (above) & the whole experience (below)!

The Mp3 Experiment Chicago from ImprovEverywhere on Vimeo.

Also, check out the full flickr photo set c/o icopythat and an official recap on the Improv Everywhere MP3 Experiment Chicago page.

Threadless Store Chicago!

2008-05-31T01:02:00.001-05:00

I finally got the chance to visit the physical entity that is the Threadless store in Chicago. I've been a patron of threadless.com for several years now, so visiting the store was akin to a sacred pilgrimage for me. Plus I was long overdue for a shirt purchase ...

The store itself is actually really small, but fits in snuggly alongside the boutique and restaurants on Broadway Ave in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. If you need a map, you can check it out here. The store is just a bit aways from the original Threadless warehouse, ensuring a fresh supply of new shirts every Friday. Though there are only 20 designs on sale at a given time, high rotation and an amazing presentation of the goods definitely make up for it.

LCD monitors showcase shirts, prices, and even show off customers' faces in the storefront window (you can snap your photo at the register).

I really enjoyed the visit, the staff were super friendly, their music was great and the ambiance was terrific. But the best part of it all -- I managed to make it in on the Friday before the $10 Summer Sale of 2008! All of the usual shirts were $5 off in store, and there were tons of great reprints. I wound up picking up a neat artsy design - Tools of the Trade, but I'm sure I'll order more online next week. The staffer told me there were going to be offering a couple dozen new and reprinted shirts over the course of the sale, so I don't want to miss out. I love the sales way too much.

Of course, since I'll be interning relatively close by this summer ... maybe I'll just stop in every so often. The free tote bag I got with the purchase ensures that I'll get a dollar off each purchase in the future. Oh man, I <3 Threadless.

More photos of the store via flickr

Summer Breeze 2008

2008-05-19T07:29:00.003-05:00

This Saturday the University of Chicago hosted it's annual carnival & evening concert, tantalizingly titled Summer Breeze, despite the fact that finals are still several weeks away. I have to say I probably enjoyed this year's event more than last year's. The carnival, which lasts from noon to four, really only differed in that free Jamba Juice was involved and in the fact that I got to man the cotton candy machine (pretty sweet). The biggest difference came in the organization and line-up of the concert.

Cool Kids > Andrew Bird > Talib Kweli > Cake

Whereas last year the main acts were The Roots and Spoon (in that order), this year we had four acts which were arranged in a bit more logical fashion. The Cool Kids kicked off the concert, followed by Andrew Bird - who played until dusk. I didn't actually get to Hutch Courtyard until Talib Kweli was due to start but it seemed like people were enjoying themselves, there was a beer garden and Kraft was giving away some sort of microwavable sandwich, plus there had been some slight rain, but it had passed for the time being ...

Either way, Talib Kweli had a pretty great show, he was really going for the crowd reaction and if you can tell by the giant mass of people above, it worked pretty well. The Roots were able to do this especially well last year, but thankfully instead of putting on the equivalent of Spoon after them - they got the show topper - Cake!

The wait for Cake to set up was petty long, something like 30 minutes, in which time the rain really began to be a problem. While Mandell Hall was apparently designated the back-up location in this event, no one wanted to leave their spots in front of the stage. As the rain intensified the crowd began to grow restless and started chanting "Cake, Cake, Cake" (which the lead singer later remarked sounded like "KKK"). Ah, Cake and fascism.

Well, the band ultimately came onstage, and as the rain was now pouring down in sheets they opened with an all too appropriate It's Coming Down

It's raining outside, you've nowhere to hide ...

The first couple of songs were rather mellow since it turned out some of their electrical equipment had malfunctioned. But soon enough, they were back up and pandering to the loving, wet, and completely muddy crowd.

My camera essentially broke at this point, so if I can find any YouTube clips I'll post them, but needless to say it was a remarkably memorable night. The stage was at the top of a slope, so either you were packed together at the top, or sliding down what was now a mud incline. What's more the temperature had dropped by something like 15 degrees, but the packed crowd and loud music were enough to keep everyone cheering.

Eventually, lightning caused the show to be cut short but not before Cake played Frank Sinatra -- with a perfectly placed thunderclap adding to the wailing trumpet. It was pretty fantastic.

The end of the show came all too soon and I was sort of bummed that they hadn't played Symphony in C or the requisite Short Skirt, Long Jacket. Though we'd cheered loudly for one more song, and the frontman did come back on he only did so to give away a peach tree ... to the person who could guess the number of sharks killed each year. Yes, sort of weird. But by that point I was covered in mud & freezing, so I didn't much question my sanity. It was still a great night overall and seemingly worth the cold I'm now trying to stymie.

Listen to the Summer Breeze muxtape here

Madeline Albright Lecture

2008-05-14T21:29:00.001-05:00

Tonight I had the great opportunity to listen to a talk deliverer by Madeline Albright at the University of Chicago. The full title of the event was the Thomas Garrigue Masaryk Lecture on Democracy and it was premised on a deep connection between the University and the Czech Republic, stretching back to an original series of talks given by Masaryk, the founder and first president of an independent Czech Republic, in the early 20th century.

The introduction to the talk was presented by Dean Boyer as well as the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the United States, Petr Kolár. It served to establish Albright's Czech origins and her work in American politics. Though these introductions were longer than Albright's whole talk, there were some light moments. Such as when Kolar jokingly said he and many in the Czech community had tried but failed to persuade Albright to run for President in the Czech Republic, though he didn't hold the fact that she refused against her.

The lecture was held at Rockefeller Chapel, and filled the entire venue.

Albright finally took the podium and presented the lecture with an inspiring air of confidence and composure. One of the main points she pushed across with her talk was the notion of responsible leadership at the heart of a true democracy. She specifically called out China and Russia alongside Iran, as failing their duties to their citizens with regard to adhering to certain standards for human rights. Yet, while the US used to have a moral vantage point from which to make such criticisms, she conceded that the US is itself now no longer in a very positive position. There was especially a lot of applause after her condemnation of Guantanamo.

After her talk, Albright fielded an impressive array of question form the audience. She touched upon everything from the role of the AU to the question of US involvement in Pakistan to her reasons for endorsing Hillary. The most interesting question however, came at the very end, when someone asked her about the legitimacy of the Hamas as a democratically elected party in Palestine. Albright agreed that this was a very difficult question, and began to qualify the definition of democracy.

Her inability to accept the legitimacy of Hamas lay in the fact that the group uses violence to achieve it's aims. Though it has a strong stake in the well-being of the people and the community, the use of violence to achieve its aims ultimately discredited them on an international level.

So again, the this moral element is directly linked to the definition a truly democratic state. While Hamas can be seen as representing exactly what the people of Palestine want - efficacy in pursuing national aims, despite the violence, their immoral means discredit their democratic election to power. Albright's only means of resolving this was ultimately to claim that the opposition party, Fatah, could have offered just as much to the people, without the violence, but failed to do so, thereby failing the democratic process. If indeed there had been adequate choice, then Fatah, the right party, would have been chosen.

Ultimately, questions like this reflect the fact that it really is quite difficult to present an universal description of democracy. I applaud Albright's attempt to do so, yet the notion that democracy should be the ideal system to emerge under any circumstance is difficult to accept given the wide array of regional and historical contexts for all states and their citizens. While the link between economic prosperity and democracy is well established, the push for democratic processes under adverse conditions and in a context that would not support it, can only cause more harm.

Better photographs on flickr c/o victorchen55

Either way though, I'm going to lighten this post up and say that Albright definitely had the best comment of the night. When referring to the White House she quickly quipped that she hadn't seen any intelligence out of there in a long time. In more ways than one.

Items, items, items

2008-05-13T00:15:00.002-05:00

So, like I mentioned earlier, I'm going to profile a couple of the items from this year that I really enjoyed. There were nearly 300, but here are my favorites:

76. Spend a night in a major Chicago museum, a la From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. [24 points]

Sneaking into the Oriental Institute was easy ... getting the judges to count it as a major Chicago museum was not. Either way the experience of walking around centuries old artifacts with a flashlight & video camera was amazing.

3. PIE FIGHT!! Bring ten cream pies and prepare to prove your superiority old-timey comedy style [Scav Olympics]

This was a mess, an incredible mess. I think everyone got splattered!

89. Greetings, Aperture Science Test Subject #3252613. You need a friend, one that cannot speak, and thus will never threaten to stab you. Please construct a fully-functional weighted companion cube. For the best one, there will be cake. [9 points] The companion cubes had a birthday party! The cake was not a lie!

8. Life-size Battleship . We’ll need six human boat pieces from you, to be divvied up and placed as you wish. You’ll need a goodly supply of water balloons. [Scav Olympics]

I have to admit, the perfectly placed wall here made the event what it was. It was hilarious to watch and had so so many close misses & dramatic direct hits. My only wish is that I would've been warmer out, I definitely want to see this again in the future.

225. Make a dollhouse of your dorm. Please include as much detail as possible. Why should Queen Mary have all the cool stuff [81 points]

Pretty close, no? We even had mini textbooks on the desks in each room.

51. A De Lorean. We’ve got seventy-five bucks riding on this one.

So we didn't get this item. But several other teams did, the Judges' blog has a nice write up of this (and took the photo pictured above). We did manage to fake some fire tracks though ... y'know, you just missed it!

259. Scavbarnraising! By noon Friday, erect a barn around a CTA bus stop. [X28 points] Just plain awesome.

Scavenger Hunt 2008

2008-05-12T12:50:00.003-05:00

The University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt for 2008 just ended. It's my second year participating in it, but I still haven't been able to get over the insanity of the whole event. Even now it seems bizarre to me that just the other day I was watching people swing chickens covered in razor blades at one another ... or helping to hang a gigantic spider web across Hull Gate ... or covering a high-chair with aluminum foil and skulls at 3 in the morning. But that's the essence of Scav and it couldn't have been better!

MacPierce at Scav Olympics

Our team placed fourth, the same as last year, and while we were really hoping to get third I think we had a great run. We had a huge turn-out and people were really excited to participate. A lot of groups branched out and took the initiative on larger projects like the dollhouse dorm or the CTA bus stop barn-raising, and we had many first years get really involved.

While we had the enthusiasm, I think our downfall probably lay in organization and generally losing points on the large-showcase items. We had a new Scav server set up for list management, but it was somewhat difficult to navigate, and the lack of dedicated page captains (like Max and Snitchcock's) put a lot of pressure on the Small-med-large items captains. Also, while we were able to pull together last year's big items in the night prior to judgement: the clown bed and the strandbeest, this year's items were difficult to get together in such a manner. Building the monowheel and zeusaphone boiled down to expertise not will power, and while last year half a dozen individuals could really move things along, this year the smallest thing seemed to be able to bring down an item. What's more, a huge rainstorm the night before judgement disrupted a lot of construction that just couldn't happen inside - like a gigantic paper mache volcano ... though it did rain out FIST, so we're not complaining.

The road trip's car (decorated as the house from Wizard of Oz) caught fire ...

The points boiled down to just a 120 point difference between us, MacPierce and 3rd place - which went to Burton-Judson. The complete breakdown is as follows (you can also check out the video of the final results).

Snell-Hitchcock, aka Army Dillo
Max Palevsky, aka The Audacity of Pope
Burton-Judson, aka The War of Southern Aggression
MacPierce, aka The University of Chicago School of Engineering
Shoreland, aka The Untouchables
The Grad/Alum Scav Hunters, aka FOGIES
The Federation of Independent Scavhunt Teams, aka Heroic Furry Gut Monks
Broadview, aka Vandelay Industries
Hoover/Breckinridge, aka Scav Trek V: The Vinyl Frontier

Overall, I think the experience of Scav will be what I take away from the four days. Both this and last year's judgement left me with some conflicted feelings - sure we were getting validation for doing all of these insane things, but seeing 6 clown beds in a row and having to be evaluated on them, somewhat diminished the kind of unbridled, spontaneous element of Scav that I love. Though ... all right, I will add there were plenty of random outbursts during judgement (like our amazing flute drumline), and seeing the amount of variation possible on any one item was great ... but everyone was so sleep deprived and tired by that point that I have to admit, Sunday just flew by. Now the whole experience seems quite surreal and distant, but I'll try to do a quick write-up on the little items that I really liked.

Either way, I can't wait to do Scav again next year! Check out the 2008 list for all 269 glorious items (not counting the list the Vegas Scav Warriors got), as well as the Judges' blog. Finally, since Scav is all about the little things that celebrate our quirks, here's a video of everyone Rickrolling the judges:

Spring Break 2008, pt 2

2008-03-30T01:03:00.001-05:00

So after getting back from a relaxing couple of days in St. Augustine we decided to drive up the coast and visit Fort Frederica in Georgia. We had previously checked out the Castillo De San Marcos, a neat remnant of the Spanish presence in Florida from the 18th century. The latter was pretty expansive and well maintained - it even offered a live reenactment of the fort's siege, with cannon fire and such.

Also, it had this rather despondent looking forge -- D:

Well, getting back to Federica, it turns out the British had quite a nice thing going there in the early 18th century. That is of course until the British declared war on Spain in 1739. This meant a lot of back and forth between the forces in Frederica and San Marco ... something which the educational video we watched depicted as quite confusing for both parties, what with the swamps and mosquitos. Ultimately the War of Jenkins' Ear determined the victor - the Brits, and the war ended in 1763 with a British acquisition of all of Florida.

Now, while all of this history paints the British side quite nicely, I have to admit Fort Frederica wasn't all that astonishing. Most of it had been wiped out in two consecutive fires during the 18th century, so all you really get to see are patches of tabby and lots of signs put up all over the place.

Gee, really? Thank goodness for unnecessary signs.

Sure the tourist bureau of the town of Saint Simon (which seems to have way too much disposable income) has tried to make this worth the visit, but San Marco really was infinitely more interesting. The weather was really pleasant though, so all in all, I didn't mind it too much. Plus all of the Spanish moss made for a pretty neat atmosphere.

Either way, after visiting both forts I have to say my Spring Break is now complete. I mean ... what other things do people do over break?

Spring Break 2008

2008-03-30T00:23:00.000-05:00

I drink your Jack Daniels, I drink it up!

That's right, I visited the Jack Daniels brewery over spring break.

And yes, that is exactly as random as it sounds.

Additionally the brewery is located precariously close to Motlow College ... which I managed to read as Molotov College. That's about all.

Neti Pot Addendum

2008-02-23T01:12:00.001-06:00

So I mentioned neti pots in my last post ... and I realized that many people might have no idea what this strange little item is. I know I had no idea until the fateful Office episode where Dwight uses Pam's teapot as his own personal nasal irrigator.

Well, so I figured I would link to this image, since it's so iconic and also hilarious. What's more, surely the Internet would make light work of finding this screencap ... right?

Well, as it turns out, there's nothing! After too much time spend trying to Google this image with no results, I decided the only proper thing to do would be to do the Internet a favor and post it myself.

So here, for all of posterity, is the image in question.

You're welcome the Internet.

Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me

2008-02-22T00:11:00.002-06:00

So I finally got a chance to go to a taping of the NPR news quiz show, Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me. If you haven't listened to it before, it's a pretty amusing hour of current events commentary, with a Daily Show-esque flair for getting to the absurd heart of any story fused with an unmistakable public radio feel.

The panelist for the show were Mo Rocca(!), Paula Poundstone, and a third guy whose name I don't really recall ... but who managed to mess up a Dr. Strangelove reference and was given loads of flak by the audience.

The show itself was quite hilarious. There was a lot of talk about the Hillary/Obama divide, and tons of laughs over Obama fangirls, and if I'm not mistaken, at one point all of the candidates were compared to kittens.

You can listen to it here: http://odeo.com/audio/18328273/play

Finally, and because this was the reason why I was so excited to go, Mo Rocca was simply amazing! He managed to slip in a lot of random references, like a mention of neti pots at one point ... for which I can't recall the context. And his real life "erms" and "umms" were insanely endearing. I've been reading his blog for a while, and I loved him on the Daily Show, so when I got to meet him after the taping I was positively ecstatic.

I asked him what his favorite president's tombs were, since he too has an interest in obscure historical locations, and he agreed that Lincoln has one of the best. It's true. So great.

Finally, since this has pretty much turned into a Mo Rocca blog-a-thon, I'll end this post with my favorite video of him on the Daily Show:

The Year of the Rat

2008-01-29T16:08:00.001-06:00

The Chinese New Year is right around the corner and I'm quite looking forward to ringing it in with style. Not only is Chinatown right around the corner from here, ripe with the promise of delicious food and huge crowds, but I admittedly have a soft spot for rodents as well.

I loved Ratatouille after all and was very much on the verge of buying an animatronic Remy toy at one point ... but more on that some other time.

Either way, there's just a plethora of rat influence in popular culture and design. And while I could showcase a bunch of different superb examples (check out Banksy's work if you haven't yet) I wanted to focus specifically on neat pair of USB speakers I received in a mail a couple of weeks back.

Presenting the USB Rats Speakers --

I have to admit, these are pretty fantastic. I've been needing a dedicated pair of laptop speakers for a while now, and since I usually have to transport my laptop between home and college having a pair portable speakers sans bulky adapter was my number one priority. Plus having something other than pair of clunky speaker cubes was something I had in mind.

These speakers pretty much fit the bill with so many regards. They're USB powered, they get that umph over my crummy laptop speakers, they light up (and match my laptop), they even have an attached volume control.

A quick run-down on the tech specs for these guys.

Built in amplifier: high quality sound with a 3W+3W power output.

Volume control switch with blue LED indicator, blue LED lighting effect.

Supports Windows XP/2000/ME/98SE, Mac OS with USB port.

Cable length: 6 feet

Simple, just plug it in!

I bought mine through USBGeek for under $30.

If you're looking to buy a pair there're stores selling these all over the web. Just keep in mind, there are actually quite a number of different variations on these: color wise there's a pair in red (with blue LED though ...) and I've seen them sold in both the USB and adapter-powered forms. Also they're called anything from i-Mice/iMice to the "Rats" variant I picked up.

Some action shots for your enjoyment --

Katamari Winter

2007-12-07T13:54:00.001-06:00

We had our first snowfall of the season earlier this week quite apart from making finals week even more strenuous, it was actually pretty sweet. There was a huge cross-campus snowball fight in the middle of the night, with everyone letting their pent up stress over finals devolve into sheer flurry snow fury. But in addition to this, there was something that I think clearly needs to be shared with the Internet as a whole.

A couple of Tuftsians went out and made Katamari snowmen in the middle of the quads! Katamari Damacy and We Love Katamari are pretty much staples in our house lounge, so this made complete sense. Plus the results are fantastic.

Photos from the night before, stolen off of Facebook:

This is why I love my dorm!

If I'm not mistaken, the snow sculpture has been up in front of Eckhart (the math building) for most of finals week. So hopefully this cheered up some people in the midst of the finals funk. Plus, now that break is here I can look forward to playing We Love Katamari at home - having finally located and bought my own used copy! Thanks Gamestop?

Finally, if you're in need of some snowy Katamari goodness, here's an official Katamari desktop background. And there's more where that came from.

It's the Beat

2007-12-02T21:07:00.000-06:00

Finals are finally here ... (sigh) ... and with such dire times ahead of us I believe that new and ever more resilient forms of procrastination are required!

Thankfully our dorm has always been known to provide video-game based procrastination at a moment's notice, what with a Super Smash Brothers set-up permanently on one television and the alternating Katamari/Mr. Driller set-up on the other (yes we have two gaming TVs!). Yet, with finals week in full swing reinforcements were more than necessary.

With that call to action, I was both happy and extremely worried to see Guitar Hero come to prominence within our house lounge's gaming hierarchy. Of course, it is an amazing game - no one can argue that - if anything, for the sheer value of the guitar peripheral alone! But ... as with the DDR dance pads that were brought-in last year, I fear that my ability to get the most procrasintative value from the game may be lost.

No matter how much I try, I just can't seem to get into it, because ... at the heart of the matter -- I simply have no rhythm.

Yeah. No. There's no way I can ever be this fly.

DDR leaves me looking foolish, jumping around, arms flailing (to no added benefit) and even the most straightforward rhythm-based games like Elite Beat Agents for the DS leave me completely lost, as it prod the screen the stylus, increasing desperation etched upon my face ...

At the heart of any one of these games, no matter how fancy they get, is the basic ability to combine elements (whether they be arrows or colors or street funky flair) and to do it rapidly enough to get the timed aspect right. Since I've never been musically inclined, or able to dance for that matter, I've never honed these abilities -- but with a month off for break, can anything help me create at least the basic semblance of rhythmic instinct?

So here's my request: I am in need of something, anything to help me find my "groove". Practicing Guitar Hero in the middle of the night, with the hope that no one will see me, is not proving to be very helpful. As soon as I attempt anything more difficult than normal I flounder! I need a game that can help me master the essence of these games, I need to be able to beat the most basic beat game around!

Anyone have any suggestions?

The following is your reward!

Similan Mobile Disco - It's the Beat (mp3) (via rapidshare)

Testing ...

2007-11-14T21:26:00.001-06:00

Gasp! It's almost finals week and I've done very little with the blog over the past couple of months. I definitely have some ideas to get it back on track, so no worries there. I just need to catch my breath and put my procrastination to good use ... (does that make sense?). Expect more randomness shortly.

Meanwhile, I'll leave you with a link to more astounding photos of inanimate things with oddly human characteristics. Just as amusing as everyone's favorite, the lolchair, but with so many lovable new characters!

http://community.livejournal.com/los_faces/

Hopefully when I start seeing things grimacing at me from afar it won't be because I've finally snapped from overwork. Whew.

It's Halloween

2007-10-31T19:34:00.000-05:00

It's Halloween again and though it doesn't feel like it, the internet is always the perfect outlet for getting into the spirit of anything. Case in point: The Shaggs take on this holiday. Listen and be amazed. I know I was.

The Shaggs - It's Halloween (mp3)

Poland: Day 35

2007-08-29T13:00:00.000-05:00

Sure Polish foods can be bizarre and a bit "different" ... but after visiting a restaurant on the border with Slovakia I'm certain that everyone should try these specialties!

Witches are delicious! And apparently a Polish delicacy - at half price!
Also, if anyone knows how to make a crumpet right, it's a highland robber. Mmm-hmm.

Poland: Day 26

2007-08-20T11:21:00.000-05:00

Back to school.

The notion, for some, may bring thoughts of dread or disenchantment over how little they've actually accomplished over the course of 3-or-so months of summer sun. Or it may evoke ideas of autumn leaves, a new curriculum, and a return to nights in front of the textbooks. But for me the very phrase heralds the massive commercial wave that has become a staple in all consumer societies. Acting as a new holiday in itself (alongside the colorful marketing for Halloween and Chrimmas) the "back to school" sale offers an enchanting plethora of notebooks, pens, and those protractors that people buy buy because the list says so, but never actually use.

While I have to admit I was a little saddened by the thought of an August sans Target's or WalMart's famed back to school centers. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Poland's own supermarket chains have embraced the back to school mantra with almost as much zeal as any American counterpart.

Back to school in Krakow.

Take any Carrefour or Real (both French hypermarkets) and you'll find that there isn't really much surface difference between them and an American chain. There's the same push of low-low prices, fervent list checking, and display of parents nudging their kids towards the generic folders rather than those boasting cartoon characters, extreme sports, or favorite bands.

But then the culture shift kicks in - and you realize the notebook you've picked up has Hanson on the cover, it's tiny compared to our spiral-bound monstrosities, and it's pages are all grid paper - no college or wide-rule here!

Check out those fruits on the cover.

Such are the joys of Polish back to school shopping then. A lot of notebooks are already sorted by class with 'themed' covers for subjects like English (the British flag), physics (Issac Newton), or religion (Pope Benedict) - and since they're smaller and cheaper than most American spiral-bounds the variety in terms of covers is a little daunting. But that's not the only big difference. There's also your choice of writing utensil!

Much as a lunch-box is a staple for any elementary school kid in the US, the piórnik (featured above) is everything a Polish kid needs in terms of their note-taking. With colored pencils, markers, rulers, erasers, sharpeners, and sometimes even calligraphy pens or weekly schedules this really is your all-in-one (mini) trapper keeper of sorts. These can get just as varied looking as the notebooks, and cartoon characters seem to be the favorite choice (I personally bought a Dexter's Lab one), though there are definitely odd ones too, like the "Savage Spirit" theme up there.

Having brought up lunch boxes though, they're one of the things you won't find in a Polish back to school section. Also on this list: crayons (the waxy kind), huge trapper keepers, plastic-sealed TI-89s, locker "gear", eraser tops or pencil grips, and there's definitely not a College-bound section with dorm decorations! Everything else is fair game though, and with plenty of Chinese products the variety is endless and sometimes a bit frightening.

The Polish back to school section seems to be much more art-themed though, which is a nice discovery. With colored pencil and marker sets, paint, easels, and lots of packets of plasticine (plastelina) kids aren't going back with just your garden variety box of 24 Crayola crayons. Also unique is the number of globes and world maps you find, which, when coupled with the varied language instructions and sometimes blatantly Chinese product names - gives a nice feel of multi-culturalism.

Finally, the most important back-to-school item the world around, the backpack.

While in Poland the choice you find is pretty much the same as in the US, with a veritable plethora of styles and colors, I had my eye out for a very special backpack, one I haven't seen in ages - the 'tornister' - or in English, a satchel!

These were almost everywhere in the 80s, but now, like the mythical animals of ages past, they've all but gone extinct in the mind and hearts of school-children. As I searched the backpack aisle I felt my hopes plummet, these were all brands and types identical to their across-the-Atlantic counterparts! But then - with a discovery that shook me to my core. I found quite possibly the most fantastic display of tornister-y known to mankind!

It was akin to finding the last of a species - a species long though crushed by time and circumstance. Except this was not a creature besotted by it's presumed fate. In it's dying days it had grown more splendiferous and exaggerated then ever though possible!

Almost egregiously decorated - with such a furious show of American patriotism and dizzying amount of highlighted material - I just couldn't take my eyes off of it. Surely, such a satchel must have been the very same as worn by Ronald Reagan when he karate chopped down the Berlin wall, or contained within it's depths wonders beyond the wildest dreams of the founding fathers! This truly was the American dream, bringing justice and liberty with the triangular reflector lights of its shining glory!

Alas it'll have to live on in my memory. But I have no doubt in my mind that bringing this specimen back to the US may have caused an influx of patriotism so strong that the very fabric of the universe may have been jepordized! It was chance enough that this product would be carried in Europe, by a French supermarket no less, and so it was with trepidation that I even lay eyes upon this product - fearing that it's presence, much like the standing of the US in the world at large, may be naught but a mirage. But it wasn't - and it was awesome.

I came away from these sales with a bunch of weird notebooks, folders, and a Chinese made pencil sharpener shaped like a pineapple with a face and a bowtie - but the backpack definitely made my day.

Oh. And the back to school ads.
They made my day too ...

Tags: Poland, Back to school, sale, shopping, satchel

Poland: Day 8

2007-08-02T12:12:00.000-05:00

Work on the dig in Igołomi – Wawrzeńczycach has started!

These are just some introductory photos. Digging has already started to a depth of 25 cm and is turning up a lot of material. You can spot me working over the piles of dirt that have come out of the dig site - even a second time around I was still able to get two bag fulls of clay fragments, flint, and scattered bones. Though the work is rather grueling. I'll try to get some more non-copywrite infringing photos when I can.

For now, bask in the awesome power of the Polish sun.

My legs are finally tan ... unfortunately the socks posed a bit of a problem. Haha, so cool.
Hopefully a month of work in the field won't leave me too crisp!

Poland: Day 5

2007-07-30T03:58:00.000-05:00

Going abroad is a time to discover new ways of life and exciting foreign cultures cultures. Part of this grand tradition therefore, is the discovery (or in my case, re-discovery) of great food staples. What comes to mind when one thinks of authentic Polish fare, however, has been completely shaken with my latest food discovery.
Lay's Potato Chips - shaped like French fries - and seasoned with a ketchup flavoring.

They're Ketchup STIX and they're sensational!

Now hear me out. I was skeptical too ... at first. I usually don't even go for regular fries with ketchup. But pop a handful of these in your mouth and you'd swear they were topped with the most spot-on ketchup you'd ever be likely to find, but with no goppy mess. I just couldn't get enough. They were so perfect - and they made you come back for more just to see if the flavor would still be 'soo right' (it was). This was seriously one of those finds, the kind of thing, which - like Pop Tarts or a certain brand of soda - might truly become a staple of one's pantry.

But of course there would be a problem ... why in the world do we not have these in the US!?
It would only make sense, wouldn't it? We're the country that invented McDonald's. We're the one's enamored with junk food and fast food. So why in the world would a combination of the two PLUS ketchup, not be an instant hit?

Now, I understand that Polish people love their ketchup too. We even put it on our pizza when no one is looking. So, this whole thing could just be a marketing ploy honed on to Poland as a target demographic.

But surely - Idaho - the potato state - which is more than likely even bigger than Poland could at least act as a gateway for the States? Is there no hope? What can one do? I need some stix really bad. Maybe you can order them online? The label on the top left corner does say "new" so maybe I just missed this hitting the local supermaket? Is there a slim chance it really is around? Have you seen this product!?

WANTED.

Seriously though, if you've seen these around - let me know. I'll probably be bringing back half a dozen bags with me (unless I find a different addictive snack that'll take priority). They're just that awesome. Oh - and if you haven't noticed - see that blue stripe running down the bad vertically? Well, the bag opens on the side as well, for easier access to the fried-chippy goodness. Seriously, this snack has everything!

Poland: Day 2

2007-07-27T11:15:00.000-05:00

It is day two now, isn't it?

Well, at any rate, I've decided to re-purpose this blog for a bit and begin to use it as a way of keeping my thoughts and experiences of living "abroad" out there. Unfortunately, apart from the fact that I'm in Poland I can't say that my sleeping excessively for the past 24 hours can be counted on as exciting. But either way, hopefully neat things will come.

I did manage to take some photos during the 9+ hour direct-flight to Krakow and apart from keeping me sane during said flight, they do make for some interesting post fodder.

The plane I was on was a roomy Boeing 767 - a staple of the LOT airline fleet. There's a photo of it right there. Pretty nifty, no? Well - while the interior of the plane wasn't that revelatory and I was a little dejected by the fact that it would be such a long flight with no entertainment apart from back-to-back screenings of Wild Hogs and The Astronaut Farmer, there was one major perk to booking early.

That would be the emergency exit as seen from row 19B.

While the responsibility of keeping my fellow passengers safe in a moment of emergency was certainly a perk - I do have to admit that the INSANE amount of leg room granted to me for the sole reason that the space in front of me would be an exit route off of the plane - well, that was pretty swell.

The only downfall I could think of, apart from potentially being trampled if anything requiring emergency evacuation did arise was the fact that being in proximity to such an exit felt like sitting next to a refrigerator that could dip to a negative 56 degrees Fahrenheit. Fortunately a double set of blankets was nice (the seat next to me was completely vacant), add to that my iPod, and the flight wasn't too bad overall ...

Aaah - comfort.

The view from my double-seat emergency exit window was also really nice. As our plane collided with the creeping sun there were some pretty good views to be had.

It's a shame that the photos don't really do it justice.

The whole effect was really much more luminous and well worth sneaking the window covering back up, even if it resulted in some annoyed glances from other passengers who were trying to watch the aforementioned films - blerg.

Also weird - there was an army of arrows out there on the wing. I understand it's an emergency exit, but do you really need all those arrows? Oh well, at least they weren't as bad as that gremlin hanging out a little further out. It was mocking me the whole time. You do see him right!?

The Decemberists & Grant Park Orchestra

2007-07-20T02:26:00.000-05:00

One of a set of great free summer concerts happening across the nation, the Decemberists playing at the Jay Pritzker band shell in Millennium Park with the Grant Park Orchestra provided an opportunity that couldn’t be missed. With a slew of web-publicity (thanks Facebook) and the support of Metro – celebrating 25 years of amazing music – the turn out promised to be grand!

Just look at that set list!

When I arrived at the park at around 4 in the afternoon, the place was already filling up fast. Without blanket or picnic basket and wary of the rain forecast for that evening I decided to take my chances in the line curving around the green which promised entry into a 2,000 person public seating.

From what I heard the seating can actually hold 4,000 but half of those spots were already reserved for performance season ticket holders. Fortunately though, the line didn’t seem too bad and once things got moving getting in was pretty well organized - though it didn't quite look it!

As our line moved closer towards the seating the opportunity was ripe for people watching. Everyone and anyone seemed to be excited about this event. Apart from web saavy teens, bored college students, and your garden variety Indie kids there were a lot of “young professionals” enjoying the day, as well as parents indoctrinating their young kids to the joys of the Decemberists. Then, of course there were the people who had season passes for the Orchestra. Although you wouldn’t expect it, smartly dressed retirees apparently make for pretty avid Decemberists fans.

Two really funny things soon stood out as a mainstay of pretty much half of the people in the crowd. First of all, the number of people wearing Threadless shirts was insane, it seemed that every other person you passed sported another shirt from their endless online shirt catalogue. (I was glad I had worn mine the previous night instead of that day) What’s more, with the Harry Potter book release coming up fast, you could be sure that at least half a dozen people around you were toting a 600+ page book! They seemed just about as commonplace as any iPod – though hardly as portable … at least my copy of The Order of the Phoenix was already battered enough to withstand a day out on the town.

Well, getting back to the show, the seating that we managed to get was actually really decent. For what they had opened to the public we were just a couple of rows in and had a great view of the stage. Better than the people who were out in the grasslands, anyhow ...

The wait for the show wasn’t too bad either, by the time we had gotten our seats there was about an hour left to wait and that time soared by pretty fast. Again people watching moved things along rather briskly, and listening to the P.A. system kick in to say things like: if the music moves you to dance.

The show kicked off promptly at 6:30 PM – and after the orchestra had taken their seats and the Metro introduced the concert, the Decemberists came out to a roaring crowd.

Unfortunately that was about the same time that the rain started to come down. First it was a light drizzle, then the sky began to spark, and finally a little ways into the concert the sky just opened up!

Then the umbrellas came out … which provided the catalyst for one of the most annoying moments in crowd history that I can think of!

As the crowd started getting into the music it was rather unsettling to see everyone just sitting in their places. The ticket-holders seemed to set the standard, acting politely throughout the entire show. Yet pretty soon a couple of errant fans in the public seating would get up and start dancing – no one really seemed to mind. But then – as the umbrellas went up – more scattered groups began to stand in order to get a better view of the stage. Obviously, as this proved problematic for the people trying to see the stage behind them, loud jeers and cries of “sit down” became commonplace. As the rain kept coming down and the set progressed further and further in, the annoyance of these people could not help but interrupt the show.

I'm assuming that woman is thinking "what in the world"

Thankfully, after a bit the Decemberists themselves prompted everyone to stand as a particularly rousing song came up. With everyone in the crowd standing and clapping all animosity seemed to melt away. And then, as Colin Meloy himself ran through the aisles hi-fiving people, awesomeness was restored!

Blurry awesomeness!

Afterwards people generally mellowed out and began to enjoy the show once more, though the rain would come in periodically and the grumbling of thunder would add its sound to those of the orchestra. Once both the band and the orchestra got into the effect of the combined sounds were really something magnificent. The last part of The Tain was especially amazing - I managed to snag a clip of Tain V below - and as The Decemberists came to the conclusion of I Was Meant For The Stage the lighters even came out!

The Tain, Part V

Then the Decemberists died --

-- but were instantly reanimated with the call to abandon all seating arrangements
and rush towards the stage for the last two songs!

The result of this post Orchestral addendum was amazing. There are plenty of videos to document this change, but the crowd - which was previously seated and somewhat muted - erupted in the glee of a true Indie concert event. The last two songs: 16 Military Wives and the Mariner's Revenge song were completely animated and the Decemberists fed off of this energy, even getting the crowd to participate in a hearty back and forth of LaDeeDaa's and getting everyone to scream as if eaten by a giant whale - indicated by Chris Funk's running up and down the stage opening and closing his arms.

16 Military Wives

Oh, Colin Meloy ...

... the crowd loves you!

Introduction to The Mariner's Revenge Song (With Arm-chomping action below)

I don't know what's going on here ...

... no one did ...

... then it all made sense?

... and then The Decemberists died again.

At this point everyone in the crowd seemed amazingly satiated. Colin Meloy hopped a piggy-back ride off of the stage as the crowd cheered on. Then as the crowd gradually parted ways and in the momentary hubb-bubb everyone forgot that it was crazy and raining and dark outside. But even once the rain really started to pour the feeling of "it was totally worth it" remained - yay, fun story.

Harry And The Potters

2007-07-19T15:01:00.000-05:00

July is clearly the month that Potter mania reigns supreme. With everything from the fifth movie to the new book (COMING OUT TOMORROW) there is no better time to be a wizard-enamored muggle! Case in point, everything even remotely connected with the books is receiving a magical boost in hype.

The music scene is definitely one that seems to be the most interestingly affected. Taking a cursory glance at myspace reveals a plethora bands spouting lyrics about the boy wizard and the magical world at large. Draco and the Malfoys, The Whomping Willows, The Parselmouths, The Moaning Myrtles, The Remus Lupins, The Ministry of Magic - they're all real groups which have all sprung up in the wake of the series' popularity. With genres ranging from techno to rock and 'other' they all share a common comedic core that transforms the tribulations of life as a wizard into songs like "Voldemort can't stop the rock!"

Another factor which connects all of these niche groups is the fact that they're getting A LOT of attention. All of the groups listed above are currently on tour at venues all across the nation.

But who would have these Potter-obsessed groups? Well ... In a classic example of synergy bookstores and libraries are more than willing to grant these bands exposure in exchange for bringing in the rabid Potter crowd! The fans are happy, the bands sell merchandise, and the purveyors of books will hopefully have fans coming in long after the Potter hype has died away.

Harry and the Potters, one of the groups at the forefront of the musical mania, was just at the Harold Washington Library two nights ago with a free concert. Performing on the ninth floor atrium, home to events like Chicago Metro History Fair competition, the re -purposing of this space was not to be missed. The fans came out in full force, completely maxing out the 500 person capacity of the venue.

My friend and I arrived just a half an hour before the performance was about to start and were met with a long line of fans sitting along the wall of the ground floor marble hallway. Apparently tickets were needed for this event and some people had been waiting since the early hours of the morning to reserve a spot! Well ... not having realized this beforehand and sans-tickets we decided to investigate anyways ... lets just say that by a stroke of luck and probably a bit of magic we got our hands on two tickets!

Now able to get past the guards and get our hands stamped for admission (there were awesome Lightning bolt stamps) we rushed in just as the crowd was getting ready to welcome the Potter duo. With handmade wands at the ready, and even giant foam hands the crowd was REALLY into it. The librarians had put out activity packets on each of the chairs, consisting of crossword puzzles, potter tattoos, and even DIY Hogwarts ties that you could color in, but those were put aside as soon as the prompt to rock was put forth!

Who here tonight feels like a muggle?
WHO HERE FEELS LIKE A WIZARD???

The Potter duo, consisting of Paul and Joe DeGeorge, Harry Potters Year 7 and Year 4 respectively, were clearly enjoying themselves on stage, and the crowd reception could not have been better. For all of the high school and college kids in the crowd no one was too self-conscious to participate. Indie kids and 7 year olds alike sang-along to songs like "Hagrid is full of love" and most everyone felt free to indulge their inner book nerd (who wouldn't with lyrics like "This book is so awesome!")

Here's an animated image of everyone getting into a particularly rousing song!

I have no idea who that guy with the glasses and the tattoos is (on the far right),
but he was probably the most into-it of the lot. He was totally rocking out up front.

A better view of the stage and of the entire group.

That has got to be one of the coolest guitar straps!

The two would stop between songs and talk for a bit. The younger brother was definitely excited about all of their songs and would build up the crowd before each one.

See them jump and interact with the crowd for the SPEW song!

Joe right after the show, before the signing session.

Stef and the drummer. I really wish I had caught his name!
He was super nice and even got my friend one of their drum covers for her birthday!

When he said that "it's been through a lot" he wasn't kidding.
Is it me or is that blood on it?!

Getting my Harry and the Potters shirt signed.

This photo came out sort of weird. But it's all good!

All in all it was a night of fun music, Harry Potter, and supremely good luck! Afterwards we couldn't help but go see the fifth movie in theaters again. If you get a chance to see these guys live or any other tribute band I highly recommend it. While the books are really great of their own accord, the feeling of being involved with this magical community is really neat - especially when you can see the sorts of things that come from it.

If you want any more information on the group you can check out their webpage.

This is the Day!

2007-06-11T21:11:00.001-05:00

I'm a fan of M&M's. There's just something special about those iconic hard shelled sweets that can't be denied. Each lower case 'm' stamped individually onto each little bit of chocolate just seems like an affirmation of the magic of marketing and for the most part M&M's has been able to play the game relatively well over the years. Ultimately, while they may often compete with Starburst when facing off for my vending-machine change, they're a candy I just can't say no to.

Unless of course it's Lent, I've given up chocolate, but I get the chance to hop-skip through the 3 story tall M&M's store in New York City's Times Square ...

Fight it, fight it, fight it ...

But, I digress. I've been meaning to tackle this latest round of M&M's advertising, which has both my marketing sensibilities and candy love working over time. While I've found the anthropomorphized red and yellow characters to be great representatives of the brand, the idea has been expanded vastly to encompass not only the family of colors (the crazy minis, smexy green, etc) but now each and every member of the M&M's nation!

You can check out these "Inner M" commercials on the M&M's commercials page. Or right here:

Sure the idea is clever and they even have an M&M avatar promotion behind it, whereby you can make your own freaky 3D M&M avatar, but that's not the main reason why I've gotta love the commercials ... even though my M&M me is oh-so lovable.

The MAIN reason has definitely got to be the supremely good music choices M&M has recently begun to use for its commercials. While they can't touch the randomness factor of a good Starburst or Altoids commercial with a 10 foot pole, they can surely get enough music ear worms around that the commercials becomes memorable for almost that sole reason.

Case in point, the last commercial to get this treatment used Iron & Wine's Such Great Heights to an amazing effect - giving M&M's the mellow indie cred that is as almost as sweet as chocolate itself. As people returned from commercial, finding themselves unable to shake the tune of this catchy but obscure song, they were forced to look beyond the top pop charts and dig a little deeper. All the while then, M&M basked in the beautiful synergy of good music and web-literate listeners.

Now, as listeners come out of this latest round of commercials, yearning to find out more - they're pointed to the M&M's main page ... but, I can cut out that middle man. The source of this amazing song is none other than the eighties, nineties, and even 00's under appreciated sensation, The The.

Yes, that's right, the band's name is The The.

And here's the music video for their catchy chocolate commercial cameo. Enjoy!

What's more, if you're like me and need to have this song around - whether on computer or iPod, you can find it on The The's album Soul Mining (through The The's website) ... or listen to it here

The The - This is the Day (mp3 via Rapidshare)

So now that I've devoted an irretrievable part of my life to blogging about chocolate commercial tunes, I feel about ready to drown my self-pity in a sea of colorful chocolate friends ... hmm, M&M's you may have made the best possible choice yet, what with pandering to a demographic of New Wave loving bloggers! Kudos! While today may not be the day, tomorrow will be the day -- my life will surely change!

Little City Used Book Sale

2007-06-10T18:12:00.001-05:00

I love books. It's a fact.

After coming home from college with two huge boxes worth of philosophy texts, course materials, books gleaned from rummage sales, and my old favorites I thought I would be set for the summer. But that was before I heard about the Little City Foundation's Used Book sale!
Here's a quick description from the Skokie Review:

The world's largest book sale will be held at the Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center June 9 - 17. Over 200,000 books will be on display and 50,000 people are expected to attend. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Little City Foundation, based in Palatine.

Needless to say, I was already salivating at the mere mention of "world's largest book sale," but the thought of all those discounted prices and the charitable aspect of it all -- I was simply shocked by the fact that I hadn't heard about the sale in years past!

Thanks to a bit of background information from the article, "Little City steps in to save book sale", it would seem that Brandeis University, who had previously used the platform of the sale to raise money for its library, has passed on its 48 year tradition to a new batch of volunteers. Now on year 49, the Little City Foundation, whose work benefits children and adults with mental retardation and developmental challenges, appears to be making the sale an even greater success. I was really impressed by the efforts of all of the volunteers and the dedication of some of the shoppers (some of who were taking home cart-fulls of books) ... but most impressive of all were the books themselves.

Two yellow tent-fulls of them to be exact!

I was really impressed by how well organized all of the books were! With sections for just about everything tagged with helpful signs it was all really, really well planned out. The first tent housed a vast collection of fiction and literature, divided up into genres, and even by hardcover/paperback distinctions. The second tent meanwhile got into the non-fiction and specific genres, things like human sexuality (see above), science, business, US History, art, humor writing, romance, comics, signed books, children's ... just to name a few. Of course for all the relative organization, it was the opening night, and the possibilities for craziness were tempered by a $5 donation entry fee ... but I'm sure as the numbers of visitors swell, the small army of volunteers bustling about will be able to meet the challenge.
Here are some more scenes from under the tents:

What? Cliff Notes? Book nerds shall not stand for this!

The children's book section was absolutely swamped.

The shopping carts were a bit difficult to maneuver,
but after a while became necessary!

I was able to come out of the sale after a relatively short time (thanks for keeping me on task Callie!) with some amazing finds. Vonnegut, Murakami, Dostoyevsky, a Faulkner box set ... and some really popular reads: Kite Runner, Catch-22, Atlas Shrugged all for really low prices. I even got a hardcover of A Brief History of Time, which I had been holding off on for quite a while, due to the steep $20+ pricetag at most every book store - it was only $2.50! Well, I got a whopping thirteen amazing books (and that's after weeding out my pickings) for only $35. All of the books are actually in really good shape, no more than the wear of a library book in most cases, and I'm sure if I had bought them all new they would certainly have cost well over $100. I was so pleasantly surprised - I definitely have to recommend this sale to everyone!

If you have the chance to go this year, here's a quick rundown of the schedule. More information can be found via this convenient pdf flyer for the 2007 sales.

Sunday, June 10: 10am - 9pm
Monday, June 11 to Thursday, June 14: 11am - 8pm
Friday, June 15: 11am - 5pm

(Bargain Weekend)
Saturday, June 16: 6pm - 10pm
Sunday, June 17: 11am - 5pm

Even if you're not bookish by nature (and no, that's not code ... for now), just go, there is a section for everyone there - and you'll be sure to come away with a least one amazing find, for yourself or for someone else! Besides, the proceeds go to a good cause, so what more incentive do you need? Also, if you'd like to donate books or volunteer, both are options I'll be looking into for next year. Did I mention I love books?

Read more about the event in the Daily Herald -- Little City, big sale

Update (6/6/2008) -- I got a really nice e-mail from the PR people at Little City with a schedule for their 2008 sale. Since I realize my blog probably gets some of their traffic, I'll include a link to their latest line up as well! I'm definitely going to try and get some more book this year, though with finals right around the corner, I'll probably have to put off reading them for a bit :(

Candy Mountain?

2007-06-10T16:54:00.000-05:00

At my last visit to Old Orchard Mall, I was taken aback by a certain shop stand that I saw while walking around the open air shopping center ...

Now I've seen Charlie the Unicorn enough times on YouTube to know that it's become a bit of an internet meme and quite possibly even one of those pop culture references that will drive people insane. But when I saw this stand, the first thing that came to my mind was "Candy Mountain, Charlie!" and I sincerely hope I'm not the only one whose mind jumped to that conclusion.

Now if at this point you have no idea what I'm talking about, just watch the video below:

What do you guys think, could the unicorns truly be funneling their kidney-sale monies to shoddy mall ventures? Is this a coincidence enough to make some sort of valid connection? Could letter shaped plush toys ever be popular enough with mall dwelling pre-teens without the push of a catchy online fad? Or are you all just non-believers ... ("Shun the non-believer. Shuuuuunn, shuuuuunuunnnNAH!")

The Truth is out there!

Robots Like Us

2007-04-26T19:43:00.000-05:00

I always enjoy a good trip to the museum, and while New York was rife with fun museum-hopping material, it was the chance to visit the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago again a couple of Sundays ago that I found really great. I'd gone to the museum several times before, and while this time around I got a chance to see the surreal but utterly amazing Body Worlds 2 exhibit, there are certain permanent exhibits that never cease to amuse me.

So if you haven't yet visited the museum or are hoping to discover something fun on your next visit I'd definitely recommend the Robots Like Us exhibit. The vintage robots and robot-like creations it showcases really are the cream of the crop and make my design sensibilities all a-flutter.

Not only does this exhibit have a really wide collection of robots and space toys from the mid-twentieth century, it takes pride in the sci-fi culture that has since sprung up. The collection is interspersed by interesting focal pieces that definitely provide some true nerd-fodder. About halfway through the exhibit you can find a functioning theremin, a rather strange musical instrument used to produce the kooky sound effects of early sci-fi flicks (but mainly exploited by kids who loved getting it to produce the longest and shrillest possible screech). Other pieces include throwbacks to sci-fi shows and movies, with everything from the Daleks of Dr. Who, Rosie from the Jetsons, and a large Sentinel sculpture from The Matrix at the very end of the exhibit.

However, the toy collection really is the big attraction for me. With more than 200 pieces from the 'golden age' of robots, it showcases some of the most interesting toys to be produced during this time. Though I can't say how many of these were of Japanese origin (which also had a marked robot renaissance during this time) the pieces presented were definitely varied enough to satiate most individuals.

Here are some of my favorite robot characters from the exhibit, chosen for their quirkiness and overall vintage aesthetic. I don't know that they could've competed with the little plastic wind-up robot I had as a kid, but in all reality, who could resist their quirky charm?

Mr. Sandman is the ultimate transformer:
apparently he can be deconstructed for use as a pail, shovel, and watering can.
It's a good thing he doesn't have any wiring though!

This little guy definitely represented the big themes of this time period,
robots, outer space, and a love of tin ... delicious, delicious tin.

Two words: KROME DOME!

Remote controlled toys first got their start in this period, so its refreshing to see that they began to adopt so many interesting iterations.
Robot-space-drummer-boy? Sure!

The packaging was displayed separately from the toys in cases that were further down in the exhibit, yet these were just as interesting to look at - especially with the art style that made this time period distinctive. Fear the Mighty Robot, in all of its panic-stricken glory!

These robots all look so industrious ... although, I don't yet know what possible practical use robot "LAZOR-vision" might possess. Oh, Japan ...

Finally, the most amazing robot of the bunch.
ROBOT-BATMAN
... I'm somewhat confused though, if he's Batman (The Dark Knight of Gotham city) and a robot (so clearly he must posses some robot powers) then why in the world would he need to carry a gun? That is what's in his right hand? Right?

I hope this has given you a taste for how amazing this exhibit is and the Museum of Science and Industry can be. Also, if you have any further interest in looking into the culture and design that made this period of toy production so exciting I'd definitely recommend checking out some of the great robot books published on the subject:

Super #1 Robot: Japanese Robot Toys, 1972-1982 by Tim Brisko

Robots: Spaceships & Other Tin Toys by Yukio Shimizu

Blast Off! Rockets, Robots, Ray Guns, and Rarities from the Golden Age of Space Toys by S. Mark Young, Steve Duin, Mike Richardson, and Harlan Ellison

The Target Dollar Spot

2007-04-21T23:17:00.000-05:00

I haven't been at my local Target in a while, yet whenever I get a chance to go to one it really is a festive occasion - especially if it's a Super Target. The reason I bring this up is simply because I feel the need to voice how utterly amazing I find the 'Dollar Spot' section of Target to be. While for the most part the store remains one of the best around for really cheap food stuff and shoes, without getting the Walmart stigma attached to it, the one dollar section really puts it over the top as one of the best supermakets/department stores around. And ... well, I have to admit, I guess I'm a bit enamored by it.

As you walk in the door and are greeted by the red - everywhere - the dollar section is right there, beckoning you to it with the promise of really cheap and completely random objects. I think the fact that you never know what to expect is really one of the biggest draws for me. Well, alright ... you know you can find seasonal objects there - like Easter rabbit ears or little stocking stuffers. But the completely random knicknacks, gadgets, or whatsits are truly what its all about!

Case in point: wind-up, head-bobbing, tail-waggling triceratops. Both absurdly painted, both completely random, both exotic Chinese creations ... yet only ONE dollar!

I call this one Pinky.

But yes, while I may be easily amused by these toys and drawn into purchasing things I may not necessarily need - there can be practical finds in the dollar section as well! For that I turn you attention to the 50 cent "toy" toaster, with pop-uppable plastic toast. While its hard to image this having any sort of use beyond simply popping toast over and over ... and over again for my sole amusement, it does make remarkable holder for my iPod video! Seriously, this may very well be one of the most perfect and completely original iPod solutions, but hey - if you've found something weirder or more inventive than this - let me know.

Aaah yea - getting some toaster-Video iPod-the Office action

But indeed, I'm beginning to think that Target is seeing the potential for expanding its line of completely useless objects even outside the dollar section of the store. Sure plastic toasters and wind-up triceratops-es are one thing, but while walking through the 'seasonal' section of the store just this past week I began to notice a preponderance of completely random looking objects - which, while seemingly having a practical purpose, were overwhelmingly of the same mettle as the design-heavy knick-knacks I had come to love in the dollar spot.

I really was caught quite offguard when I happened upon these "Owlford Owl" watering cans. Yet apparently they're just one part of Target's plans to further a unique and fun aesthetic, which individuals like myself can't get enough of.

"Summer is a fun and exciting time and Target believes the theme of ‘Happy Summer’ truly captures the spirit of the season,” said Gina Sprenger, senior vice president, merchandising, Target. “The collection offers guests easy and affordable ways to decorate and celebrate in style this summer season.” [Target press release, 2007]

Designed by David Kirk, the illustrator and creator of such children's classics as Miss Spider I'm glad to see these fun products appearing in more mainstream areas and appealing to greater numbers of consumers. Although ultimately, I guess it made sense then that these items were primarily being marketed under the SunnyPatch kids collection ... but really, Target - I would have seriously considered purchasing a pair of owl garden boots if the price was right ... and they actually came in sizes larger than children's. Think about it! I know I haven't!

All in all then, I guess I've given voice to this persistent affliction of mine. It's no wonder I'm so drawn in by garage sales and Chinatown - but now Target too is helping to further this fond habit of mine. And while I should probably be condemning them for this, with some last remnant of my reasonable mind ... I can't ... Target, thank you for the Dollar Spot and your random design aesthetic!

Designer Paper Craft

2007-04-16T14:13:00.000-05:00

As a person who views Kidrobot as her own personal paradise, you can be sure that I've followed the development of the designer toy and vinyl art scene for a while now. I'm continually inspired by the wealth of amazing designs and whimsical, anthropomorphized characters which have transitioned from an urban medium and embraced this amazingly flexible new format.

With the market for such inventive, highly-collectible designer toys burgeoning it's not difficult to see why this design sensibility now encompasses vinyl figurines, plush toys, collectible capsule trinkets, and all manner of accessories. By targeting an older, design-saavy, yet inherently 'hip' demographic (who are at their core nostalgic for their old toys) these limited-release creations have claimed a sizable following. Online stores and boutiques in major cosmopolitan centers have begun to tailor to this growing trend and the prevalence of this design is consistently growing.

Yet the collectors are only one part of this subculture. Toy and figurine creation is proving to be an outlet for designers of all kinds, from those with a reputation in street art to seasoned artists like Gary Baseman (an illustrator you're probably familiar with). The general ease with which vinyl can be transformed into a limited edition creation, combined with the amazing response that it engenders has drawn in a wide gamut of designers who constantly push the boundaries of design.

In the spirit of the vinyl toy then, it is not surprising to see designers taking their creations into other mediums. Recently, I've begun to notice more and more instances of paper art around the web. With the ability to be freely distributed and very easily produced this newest wave of design is definitely gaining ground. What's more, this new format is helping to introduce even more individuals to this creative design realm.

Being one to adorn my desk and shelf space with all sorts of knick-knacks, this consistent introduction of great new paper creations is something I'm really excited about. What better than a completely unique and free paper kraft could there be to make one excited about design and its creation.

While websites and blogs like Paperkraft and Paper Forest have sprung up to document the newest introductions to this field, I figured I would include some of my favorites below.

Toypaper.co.uk is a recent website with a sleek Flash interface. As you parouse the various design categories you'll find a wide variety of fun pre-made and customizable paper monsters and series. With a photo, description, difficulty level and link to pdf download - it couldn't be easier to print and create your own desk buddy.

Readymech.com is a side project of Fwis, a graphic design group in Portland, Denver, Cupertino and Brooklyn. With an ever growing number of design series, Fwis enlists the help of various designers to create the sundry creatures that make up the readymech family. Again, the presentation remains very straightforward and you'll be sure to find a paper creature to suit your tastes. I for one love the four-armed Tenaclopse!

Loulou Illustrations features a number of really fun and colorful images, yet the shop transforms them into a selection of paper figures that are worth your time. While the badminton enthusiast (below) was the one that really caught my eye, there are a couple of other amusing designs including robots and a surfer - good times.

I knew I couldn't get anywhere without including this most amazing paper tribute to one of the best games of all time, Katamari Damacy. So while I have no idea how to even begin to decipher the Japanese characters all over this page -- that is indeed where you can find your very own Katamari prince paper figurine! As quite possibly the best paper kraft toy here, why not make your own to enlighten you in the ways of the katamari?

Found on Flickr, where it was created by the user buding, this is definitely a very close follow up to the Katamari prince. With a similar style and innate quirkiness, the Rabbit-man can easily become the stalwart defender of cool wherever you place him.

And finally, because Flickr really is the perfect resource for this sort of thing - groups like Paper Designer Toy and photo sets like PAPER TOY show off some of the best designs out there. The two of these are rather closely associated with Paper Possible and 100% Loading, which appears to be one of the larger groups through which designers have showcased their paper art. Check these out if you're interested in seeing some of the best custom paper designs out there - though, they unforunatley don't offer too much with regard to reproductions.

So with all of this inspiration I know I'll probably spend way more time than I should trying to put together paper creatures instead of writing my essays ... but who could resist? I'll definitely try to document their creation if I do or, if you feel inclined to make your own - let me know about it in the comments.

Altoids: Curious Advertising

2007-04-10T18:29:00.000-05:00

When I was in New York City last month (and walking pretty much everywhere for four days straight) my camera and I happened upon a couple of instances of clever, but seemingly unassuming Altoids advertising.

Careful, It's a trap.

Sure it wasn't some new fangled viral marketing or anything, but the minimal approach to the ads - a nice clean design paired with a witty phrase - was enough for me to get out my camera and take a photo. There was something about the subtle way Altoids managed to sneak a bit of humor or radomness in, without making it something absurd or over the top, that really appealed to me.

Well, after being pulled in by this minimalistic but effective approach to their posted adverts I really was 'curious' to learn more (har har). Apparently after making an appearance on Valentine's day (with a jab at sentimentality) this follow up series of street advertisements was meant to further awareness of the new "curiously chocolate" Altoids. Chocolate you say? Well, after seeing the success of their usual peppermint, cinnamon, and ginger flavors what natural progression was left but to dip them in dark chocolate!

(image originally posted on candyaddict.com)

While my initial reaction to this news was of ... well, puzzlement. I do have to confess that other combinations which I had previously been skeptical of - chocolate covered pretzels, for instance - have fast become some of my favorite food hybrids. So, curious combination aside, it seems Altoids genuinely has something special on its hands. While I'm yet to pick up a box of these choco-mints, others have taken the liberty of reviewing the different flavors, which apparently are pretty good!

Plus it seems Altoids not only has this clever series of paper ads, but also a number of quirky commercials that play with the notion of consumer's initial surprise at seeing this hybrid. Truly, if you couldn't think of anything more bizarre than chocolate covered mints these commercials provide some close alternatives.

Banana-Hands Allen

Half-Deer Edwards

Produced Biscuit filmworks under Leo Burnett-Chicago and directed by Tim Godsall, the series of four commercials definitely continue the vein of weird, yet humorous ads that have come to define the Altoids brand. The two spots I posted above were definitely the ones I enjoyed the most, but if you want to see them all there's also Blow-Hole Bob and the Australian Double-Back - but I'll leave these up to your discretion.

While I'm not sure that these commercials can top my love of the ad-sense portrayed by the Skittles brand, the similar vein of quirky humor and that mix of surreality with the sense of mundane definitely brings them to the top of my list.

Now I just need to get my hands on some of these buggers -- why in the world must the deer men hoard them so? If you've tried these already let me know where I can find them, and what flavor you'd recommend. Otherwise, let me know which Altoids spot you enjoyed the most!

Happy Easter

2007-04-08T20:57:00.000-05:00

Easter has always been a holiday I have somewhat mixed feelings about. While the religious aspect of this time certainly has some significant personal weight at its forefront, I believe the moral dilemma it brings to other things ... namely Marshmallow Peeps, is not to be overlooked!

I've always loved eating Peeps - from munching down on their plump marshmallowy forms to enjoying that fine, yellow sugar that always sticks to your fingers or is leftover at the bottom of a finished box, making the whole endeavor so finger licking good. Besides, knowing you can use the microwave to blow Peeps up to massive proportions before they implode upon themselves, can even be justified as a creative act - pulling in kids (and college students) on their 3rd or 4th box as the prospect of merely decapitating them starts to wear off in novelty.

Yet, as with Teddy Grahams and Gummi Bears (perhaps too those Goldfish crackers that "smile back") there is always an element of sadistic cruelty in taking pleasure from chomping down on these gentle, marshmallow-based creatures. Usually I have no qualms about this ... but this year, I got an especially heart-wrenching box!

That's because this year my final box contained Peeps whose weepy chocolatey eyes implored me not to eat them! I realize this is simply a side effect of the mechanization of the Peep creation, yet adding this emotional level to my Easter sweets is not only uncalled for ... it makes me feel like a monster!

Don't cry little Peep!

You may have won this time sentimental-attachment-to-deliciously-defenseless-sugar-species, but just you wait until I get my hands on those marshmallow ghosts, they're already "dead" hence, no remorse! I suppose for the time being I'll just stick to my stash of Cadbury Creme Eggs and assorted Polish candies - oh, how I love the guilt free sugar trip that is the holiday season!

Also, if you want to see more photos of Peeps in and out their natural environment I highly recommend checking out the Peeps flickr group: Peeps-tastic! Featuring photos like the one below, which just made me crack up!

Written On The City

2007-04-07T03:12:00.000-05:00

I've always been a fan of street art in the sense that it introduces an element of the unexpected into a seemingly formulaic arrangement of the streets, addresses, and buildings that form a city. The presence of stickers on the back of a no parking sign or a cleverly placed tag on a street corner, in essence, evokes for me the life of the city and helps in some ways express how the core element of the city - the people living there - interact with their environment and leave their mark. The streets really do then begin to say things, given life by the people who interact with them on a daily basis, and forming the character that others perceive when visiting a city.

That's why Written on the City, a website devoted to the phrases and words of the city environment, was such a great find for me. Clicking through the entries for the various cities around the globe brought me closer to understanding the sentiments and random musings which individuals have expressed through the street medium.

The about page, describes this sentiment perfectly ---

someone is trying to tell you something.
they don't know you, and it doesn't matter. they say it anyway, writing on the city itself, because the message is important.
and so we're listening.

what's your city saying?

If you have a chance click through some of the entries or explore entire cities, it really is a fun way to spend some time. Otherwise, here are some of my favorite entries, both thought provoking and otherwise random *

Ashbourne, UK

San Francisco, California, USA

New York City, New York

Arnhem, The Netherlands

San Francisco, California, USA

* Clicking on a photo should take you to the original page. Once there you can find further information about location, photo, and photographer - as well as the option to comment on the work!

Head On

2007-04-06T00:09:00.000-05:00

While I might have considered this during the sophomoric youth of my career as a blogger, this post is ultimately NOT meant to reference to that amazingly annoying series of commercials you've come to hate to see in the middle of your Jeopardy broadcast.

"HeadOn® apply directly to the forehead!"

Though I have to admit that when repeated ad infinitum this slogan becomes just about as catchy a screwdriver boring into your skull - it is has to some extent come to define the commercial genre. Sure its incessant slogan may fuel a horrid headache, but - gasp - what sole product must you then rely on to cure that headache? Why, none other than HeadOn!

Curses! I've succumbed to their ploy!

Rather than dwelling on this realization of a commercial conspiracy, however, I wish to direct you to an amazing work of modern art that I've been mesmerized by for a while now.

Head On by Cai Guo-Qiang

Currently an installation in the Deutsche Guggenheim in Berlin, Germany this work utilizes 99 life-sized replicas of wolves in its creation of the completely surreal scene. I can only imagine how astounding this work must be to see in person, yet even these photographs (taken by Ihara and Mathias Schormann) shed light upon the amazing intensity of the work.

With few wolves scattered in the front gallery, all ninety-nine wolves run, gallop, and jump toward the far end of the exhibition hall, where a wall stands. The bravery of the wolves is met head on by the unyielding wall. As the leading wolves go down, many more follow with force and determination. As those in the front fall and pile up, those behind take up their positions. [Concept description]

While the work initially piques my interest for its scale and unorthodox presentation, the real message behind this installation can be applied to a deeper view of any ideological struggle faced with an insurmountable barrier. The relentless push exerted towards a goal beyond the glass, even when unexpectedly cut short, really exemplifies the strength of will with which people can be mobilized and moved in such great numbers to act. What are seemingly solitary animals, the wolves thus, take on a form beyond their individual selves and the force of their vast unified action - even when ultimately unsuccessful - still leaves a lasting impression in its wake.

To see the other works of artist Cai Guo-Qiang I highly recommend visiting his website.

Two of his most recent 2006 works have also become favorites of mine - Inopportune: Stage Two, which arranges tiger figures in further unexpected positions as well as Clear Sky Black Cloud, which hints at his amazing work with smoke and explosives really speak volumes to the skill of this artist.

If you find a work of his that speaks volumes to your personal taste, feel free to leave a comment!

Let's Explore the Airport

2007-04-04T23:30:00.000-05:00

I know that for some people flying isn't a big deal. But I have to admit that ever since I was little the airport has held a certain magical appeal for me - perhaps it was all those hours of playing "Let's Explore the Airport" with Buzzy the Knowledge Bug in elementary school ... and I kid you not, that was the actual title! But really, there is just a certain magical charm to knowing that this specialized building facilitates the hurtling of you and your possessions through high altitudes in a winged metal tube - a charming vision of flight indeed.

Well, like Buzzy, I guess I too want to share my fascination with the whole process of commercialized aviation. Having flow internationally only twice before, taking an American Airlines flight round trip between ORD and LGA was pretty exciting time for me. It's no wonder then that I arrived at the airport carrying-on my very own American Airlines t-shirt, which I had bought at Wal-Mart just the day before for it's prominent use of eagle (see Colbert Report).

Eneagled!

Well, let me tell you, the American Airlines experience at the O'Hare International airport involved way more than just slightly disturbing cross-promotional apparel. After acquiring my boarding pass via one of those neat check-in stations and passing a the prerequisite security checkpoint the marvels of the airport were open to me! Overpriced literature, noisy food courts, and bustling travelers all called to me ... yet, something was missing ... sure the interactive weather and news display was there, but after meandering the length of the terminal, each further step reverberating the sound of my sad realization, I had to face the truth - there were simply no moving walkways in this section of the airport.

Next to escalators and self-opening doors, the moving walkway represents for me one of the marvels in modern convenience. Why exert yourself unnecessarily if technology provides a simplified solution? After all, the whole of our modern society is framed around this principle, with everything from computers to the popularized notion of an 'easy button.'

Alas then, it was with sad resignation that I returned to my boarding area, knowing that I could not in fact pay tribute my favorite ambient/electronic airport fusion inspired work (and no, I'm not referring to Brian Eno or his pretentious Music for Airports!).

Ah, Royksopp - how perfectly your mellow beats frame the irony of my plight. For all of the American Airline terminal's technological innovation: cavemen can ride the dream of the future, but I cannot!

Fortunately though, this sad state did not linger for too long (it clearly only expresses itself periodically in the form of these rants, er, posts). As the plane boarded and the prospect of flight elevated my spirits, the crowning shining pinnacle'd zenith of my aviation endeavor finally revealed itself! As the sound system crackled into life, the safety demonstration began ...

For this I salute you, flight stewards and stewardesses of the world!

Like an interpretive dance heralding the birth of creativity - the lethargic and seemingly asexual forms of the flight attendants came into motion. Prompted by colorful props and whimsical gestures the story of aviation safety came to life! The struggle for survival, for well-being and safety had never before been presented in such an enthralling fashion. With all of the excitement I finally understood the true dedication that must've been exerted by the attendants to maintain a listless and bored look on their faces. Even I, at the edge of my seat, suppressed the urge to jump and laud them with praise - masking it instead with a disinterested rifling through an in-flight magazine. This was thus, perhaps one of greatest performances of our time, each and every passenger and crew member playing the role of 'indifferent person' without even a the single hint at their deeply focused character acting. I was floored, at a loss for words - but of course, outwardly, I was just glancing over the safety brochure.

With the dazzling spectacle of this preflight ritual over, it was fun to look over what the safety instruction manual had to offer. With a radical departure from the forms common to Ikea instructional booklets or the traditional 'generic passenger' clip-art in airplane publications - the manual I held in my hands portrayed real people ... from the bygone era of what I would assume was the early 90s.

After being trapped for more than a decade on the pages of their staged emergency situations, these people had developed some amazing abilities. Not only were they able to levitate down inflated slides (as if by magic!), but the one woman in blue clearly manifests an ability to manipulate time and space itself. While she's initially depicted pushing the main in the heinous horizontally striped shirt down the slide in the middle frame, the last frame show her already off of the slide and behind the man in the heinous vertically striped shirt!

For this to have been possible, she (A) would have somehow had to get ahead of the guy she had just propelled into the air (B) and gotten on the ground (a) before he had even finished sliding (b), ergo magical powers! Note, the magical circles drawn around here are there to facilitate the effect *

I know, perhaps I'm desperate for Heroes to come back from hiatus ... but in all honesty, before anyone can say a word she'll probably have whisked off into the non-existent landscape, never to be heard from again ... except perhaps when she mysteriously turns up at another emergency landing! Coincidence? I think not. Perhaps Homeland Security should be tracking down subversive elements like her instead of just letting her parouse through our defined notions of scene continuity (Hmpf)

But for all of the inherent insanity of this image, I'm thankfully not the only one who thinks these safety manuals are weird. In fact there are some hilariously appropriate captions added to other airplane manuals via Airtoons. What's more even the Fight Club idea for a 'realistic' emergency leaflet has been realized!

Honestly, if you're going to have one satisfying experience at the airport, it's not taking the experience with such passivity or annoyance - instead enjoy it! Take advantage of the time when your flight it delayed to muse over the implications of time travel or let your mind wander towards randomness as you engage in your own rituals of bag identification or the ever skilled dance of the fallen-asleep leg. Have fun with it!

Spring Break 2007 & The Colbert Report

2007-03-23T04:12:00.001-05:00

Four days in NYC and a ticket to see the Colbert Report (on Stephen Colbert Day no less). What could be better than this for finals detox?

Yeah, no, seriously - I can't think of anything better.

Though, I suppose I should rewind just a tad bit ...

Basically I got insanely lucky and managed to get tickets for the middle of Spring Break (my tickets for Winter Break fell through). With the savings I had held on to from the summer I snagged a great plane deal and designed a trip around the show date. On the day of, March 20, we got to the studio around 2 in the afternoon. Just walking towards the studio and seeing the "Colbert Report" awning slowly growing larger was a fantastic experience. We had been walking around New York all that morning and event though I was tired and it was rather chilly out, my energy shot through the roof. Willie Nelson (!) who was the guest for that evening, had his massive tour bus parked outside, and staffers were buzzing around the entrance -- this was just too cool!

Left: Willie's bus and a security guard. Right: photographed by a staffer.

The line was tucked away along the side of the building, and though we were fourth in line, there was still much waiting to be had before the doors opened. Two memorable moments occurred when 1) Willie Nelson finally walked into the studio (though I don't have a photo) and 2) when Mark Malkoff, the amazing audience director, came out to prep everyone. I got to talk to him for a bit and let him know how much I loved his work. He really was as positive (and amazingly helpful) as I had read.

The time in line inched by, but finally we were ushered inside. We were assigned seating numbers and left to wait a little while longer in a large-ish room just outside of the main studio. Apparently Stephen was still taping his toss with Jon, so while we waited I got a good look around.

The most striking thing in the room was the Colbert Nation flag, sent in by the Colboarders - a nice tribute to the fandom (plus I'm probably up there).

Finally, after a bit debriefing by the stage manager, another Mark, in which we were told to cheer as loudly as possible and reminded that Stephen fed off of our energy, we were let into the studio. While you couldn't take photos inside, my memory of that moment remains crystal clear. The lights for the set were dimmed and there were only a few people there, but the overwhelming character of the set, coupled with my immense familiarity with it, created an intense sensation. Suddenly this set that I had known so well gained another dimension and I veered as close as I could to the stage itself in order to peer more closely at the bookshelf and the doo-dads place just out of frame. Fourth in line, meant I had a seat almost right in front of the desk and as I sat down I couldn't help but realize my legs were wobbling.

Image via colbertpics.com (RIP wonkyear.com)

Thankfully, all of this excess energy was channeled by the stand up comic who ran out and got us excited for the show. He picked on different people in the audience and generally had us practice screams and bellowing laughs at the slightest notice. He was out for something like 30 minutes, but finally it was time for Stephen to emerge!

He bound into the studio as we were at the height of our cheers, his energy seemingly endless as he ran back and forth between the two tiers audience seats with a gigantic grin plastered onto his face. While I had mused that he might be somewhat less animated in person, if anything, he was more alive and charismatic than I had ever imagined. His intensity, which easily dominated a television screen, engulfed the entire room and the audience was more than willing to throw the energy right back at him.

There was a quick Q&A session once the cheers had died down and I actually got to ask the man a question. I rambled out something on the topic of this video and asked him if he ever got his revenge on Jon Stewart for making fun of the Alphabet All-Starts. Stephen grinned and said that Jon had done a lot of embarrassing work in the past (he sang with Elmo), but then went completely deadpan and mentioned that he had also put a pipe bomb in his car after the toss. Fun times.

The actual show began soon thereafter. Seeing Stephen slip into character so effortlessly was really quite impressive. During the commercial breaks he could put on his producer hat & do some last minute edits, play with his glow pen while jamming to the music playing overhead, or with the prompting of the audience suddenly initiate the Threatdown. Soon enough watching him felt just like watching the regular show ... if of course, one watched the show while on some sort of wonderful drug.

You can check out a full recap of the show at the link below, as well as a video of the interview with "Weedy" Nelson ...

Episode 3038 (3/20/2007) summary c/o No Fact Zone

Despite Willie & Richard Hollbrooke's best efforts to get Stephen to taste the Country Peach Cobbler, it would seem that Stephen would not budge ... right?

Well - I have a shocking revelation.

The interview was pretty drastically edited down for time and unfortunately one of the things that was cut was a really comical exchange between Willie/Hollbrooke and Stephen in the midst of their diplomatic deliberation. Even though the interview above ends with Stephen as victorious, he actually did give in and nibble on the Cobbler Ice Cream Willie was pushing. Hollbrooke was really trying to get Stephen to give in and I don't think Stephen's improv experience could let him say no. Plus it actually would've made for great TV, since Willie crossed himself rather comically right afterwards and Stephen remained ever-defiant (though defeated). What's more Holbrooke looked really happy -- happy enough even to hand me the prop carton of ice cream Stephen had just eaten from. Not too bad.

A delicious end to the night?

Well, I should be wrapping this post up, but from the image at the top I think it's pretty clear that I wound up waiting to meet Stephen. It was pretty cold by that point, so a Dunkin Doughnuts around the corner proved immensely useful.

When Stephen finally came out I almost missed him, and he was actually the one who came up to me and asked if we were waiting for him. I nodded and tried to properly thank him for the amazing show, his amazing body of work, and the fact that he even stopped to say hi. He smiled and took all of this very graciously, before realizing that I was also the been the same person to ask him a question earlier. Awesome! I didn't want to take up too much of his time, so I quickly asked if I could take a quick photo with him and he agreed. Needless to say, I was pretty astounded that all of this had just taken place, and probably sound like a total nerd as I wrap up this post. But it really was amazing! Thanks Stephen.

Cram Session Sustenance

2007-03-09T22:21:00.000-06:00

As a follow up on my How to Survive Finals post and because I have a bunch of procrastination-based photos floating about: here's a recap of what I did as a study break during my intense finals review, complete with tips on what is and ISN'T a good idea for midnight snack-age.

Stopping at the campus convenience store can yield a bounty of foods beneficial to the cause of a late night food break. Mac & cheese, different sandwiches, soups, or pizza type things are generally good as they're light enough to feel like a snack - but not the kind of sugary, highly carb based creations that're going to knock you out in a couple of hours. Thankfully our campus food and coffee shop, Bart Mart - located in Bartlett Hall, is open until 2 AM on the weekdays - making these sustenance and caffeine stops easy.

After picking some seemingly filling looking foods and paying with flex dollars, I walked back over to my dorm and got my snack-on! With a box of cheese-filled garlic bread sticks and a cup of Cambell's Soup-at-hand ... on hand, my hours of watching the Food Network would finally pay off in the crafting of this finals night meal.

Ultimately, the soup sort of made me think of airline food, with that sort of added flavoring that makes even the most uninteresting and otherwise blah foods passable - but for the trade-off of being portable, I think it works. Just make sure to mix it with a spoon (or in my case, chopstick) after it comes out of the microwave - otherwise it forms a sort of soupy skin layer.

And I've gotta admit, the bread sticks were surprisingly good ... although I would mainly attribute that to our semi-functioning house toaster oven. I'm almost sure that if I had tired using the microwave the results would've been somewhat sad and probably soggy.

All in all though, the snack was a good thing to have before delving back into a study of the vestibulo-cochlear systems. Even though I don't look too excited in the photo above - truly - how can anyone be unhappy when reading about the marvels of, um, whatever that marvelous structure in the ear was?

While the snack is important, the thing that's really going to ensure you'll be awake is your choice of energy drink - and for college students normal coffee just doesn't work anymore! Indeed, the heavy stuff if almost mandatory when a real cram session is in order.

If the $7 four-pack of Starbuck's doubleshot wasn't going to do the trick, nothing would!

Of course, I have to admit - I was already in possession of a so called caffeinated beverage back in my dorm room. Found in a Chinatown convenience store, Mr. Brown was the magical beverage I had relied on when faced with a Calculus final exam and an entire night of review during my first semester of college. Marked by a squat little can with an endearing character grinning on it's front, Mr. Brown definitely seemed like the kind of guy who would help you out, without asking too many questions. Yet when matched up against the stoic Starbucks coffee mermaid, could the jovial Mr. Brown stand a chance?

I knew I would feel bad for picking the sleek and confident can design of the doubleshot over the squat yet loveable Mr. Brown iced coffee. Yet the situation called for the hard stuff. While Mr. Brown's $1 pricetag was a welcome sight to a college student on a budget, this fact really only ensured a caffeine kick, the flavor was rather watered down, and not unlike what I would imagine the essence of Brown to taste like.

Ultimately then, I hoped the higher reputation of the doubleshot would ensure energy drink supremacy.

After a couple of sips the potency of the doubleshot became obvious. With an almost thick coffee flavor (definitely NOT watered down) the doubleshot certainly tasted like a drink of magical caffeinated properties. I hastily gulped down the rest of the stuff and, wanting to see how effective it could really be, I decided to get a quick caffeine nap. Well ... lets just say this stuff works - almost frighteningly well.

After 20 minutes of some highly bizarre dreams, as the caffeine entered my system, I awoke to quite possibly one of the worst, most unbearable coffee-aftertastes I think I've ever experienced! Sure the flavor was great as I took those initial sips, but this was a high price to pay -- so remember kids, brush your teeth before caffeine napping!

Admittedly in the aftermath of this little experiment I was more awake than I had been in something like the past 24 hours, but for a moderate to light coffee drinker such as myself I'll try to limit this behavior to major cram sessions only. As the time whittled down on my clock, with study progressing at a steady rate, I definitely did not feel tired that entire morning, entering an almost intensely focused state at times (I did sort of miss blinking after a while). The final came and went without any trouble and by the time the stuff finally started wearing off it was already coming up on the evening. I had even managed to see Hans Blix speak at the Harris School of Public Policy after attending a French lector session that day.I couldn't have done it without you caffeine! Thanks!

How To Survive Finals

2007-03-09T11:07:00.000-06:00

Good morning dedicated readers. As you may have noticed, I've been absent from the blog for a while - yet never fear, thankfully Finals are almost over and spring break will finally give me the time I need to clean up my backlog of old drafts and bloggable bits of the web.

So why have I been so preoccupied you might ask? Well ... it's finals week, and staring at a Neuroscience text for 12 hours straight in various small enclosures (cubicles, study rooms, etc) is rather harrowing!

Of course, this might be a rather appropriate time to segway into my involvement with the 'Where Fun Comes To Die' shirt sales at the University of Chicago (see right) ... but I think I think the fact that I still take that statement as a joke implies there is something inherently wrong with regard to the student body here, or else we all love self-deprecating attire. But hey, I'm all for profiting off of misery, so if you do want to buy a shirt or hoodie feel free to contact me. They're a great piece of UChicago tradition, and sold at prices that're way more affordable than any of the official bookstore swag.

Either way, this post is going to be devoted to my tips for surviving finals week - and as a U of C student you'd better believe they're worth something ... (something more than the procrastinative value I got from taking random photos in the midst of studying, that is)

First, check to see where you are in terms of the Agnes Review Inventory™:
- read through class resources & the text
- take notes on these (hopefully in class)
- then to review, look through the notes, paring down information into key processes, definitions and diagrams ... yes, essentially taking notes of your notes!

Next, make sure you have these notes, reading materials, class resources (power points, lector notes, etc) in order. Organizing things by date or topic is a good way to go as it allows you to focus in on specific areas of the topic! Even though it takes a bit longer and may makes your desktop look a bit cluttered, this method is really great for moving from a wast swath of knowledge into bit sized ways to review notes that can help you recall the big picture.

* Also, if you take and review notes on your computer, programs like Winroll become indispensable, as you can easily have many, many windows open but have them scaled down into just the title bar (a la Mac) - this makes switching between windows a breeze (and it looks cool, just look at that screen shot!)

And well ... what else can you do to study? I mean that is basically it. It just takes a lot of review and in some cases, a lot of cramming. But refreshing this material in your mind with the aid of notes and a lot of time is really the principal thing to do.

Actually forcing yourself to get into this mode of study is really the main thing you have to grapple with for this method to work. For some people, music helps move the process along - others find depriving themselves of any and all outside stimulus (thanks to libraries, cubicle-like desks, or study rooms) to be key. But this is going to differ for everyone ... I personally wound up sitting in a prison-like study room, but jamming to Royksopp

But regardless of where you study - if you are going for a cram session and know you're not going to be getting any sleep it is really important to have a plan and take periodic breaks. Have an outline of topics for review set up, and in between these topics try to do a little to take your mind off of the studying (make a snack, build up your caffeine levels, play some Smash, or surf the web for a bit - just don't get distracted from your goal!) This is actually a good habit to get into (as long as it doesn't happen too frequently) as it lets your mind rest for a bit. When you get back to studying this is especially helpful as you can test yourself on how much of what you've just read actually retained (try to think back to the key words, or describe the process you just read about as thoroughly as possible). See, gaged procrastination can be good for you!

Curling is Cool

2007-01-31T05:18:00.000-06:00

When you think of winter sports, most often the equipment that comes to mind has something to do with the season: ice skates, snow boards, and all manner of winter gear is usually required to bring the activity to fruition. But I present for your sampling a very different kind of sport, a way of life really, that is so unique and specialized that most people have no idea what it is.

Uh, what?

CURLING, the game --

With brooms, stones, concentric rings, skips, leads, and thirds the very image cast off by the obscure sport of curling is tantamount to that of a hip underground culture. The select few privileged enough to enter the world of this elusive sport are exposed to a set of rules and terminology that few can even begin to unravel. But for those of us forever fascinated with this secret society of ice athletes, Wikipedia provides the first step towards understanding.

Played on a long curling sheet of ice, the curling arena is prepared by spraying water droplets over it's surface and marking the concentric circles which constitute the "house" at it's far end. It is on this treacherous terrain that two teams of four, equipped with teflon coated shoes and curling brooms, face off in the ultimate game. The goal of curling is essentially to throw (slide) a rock (curling stone topped with an eye on the hog (special handle)) such that after ten ends (sixteen alternating rock throws) the team with the greatest number of rocks in proximity to the center of the house wins!

... But with all of the terminology inherent to the game, even I had trouble following this. You might have more luck understanding what is going on by playing some virtual curling for yourself and just reading through the simplified directions, or checking out my awesome high school computer art video game concept - CURL OUT ... or you could always follow my handy curling language guide, just fleetingly ripped from Wikipedia

Curling, the terminology --

Hack - a device embedded in the ice, used to provide traction to the curler making a shot

Skip - the captain of the team who is charged with determining strategy, a post held by such curling greats as Markku Uusipaavalniemi, U-15 himself!

Hogline - the line at which the stone must be released by the player for it to be considered in play, otherwise the rock is removed from play (hogged!)

Hurry (hard) (!) - to sweep the ice with such vigor as to affect the trajectory of the stone and make it's path both straighter and generally farther

Swingy Ice - ice on which stones curl more than usual

Ok, I hope that's enough to get you a bit more exposed to the strange language and practice of Curling. Sure, you may ask yourself: how many of these terms did I just make up because you wouldn't be able to tell the difference? Well ... that would mean putting to question my credibility as a blogger! And I would indeed be hurt enough by that doubt to retaliate by turn a wobbler on you at a Roaring Game fun speil! ... orangutan

Alright, so here's the good part

Curling, the weirdness --

So, that wasn't weird enough for you?
Well then, this video is what you have been missing in life!

Seriously, there's something to be had for Swedish metal in unison with Olympic Women's Curling! Especially as it would have never occurred to me that Acuvue-branded ice queens would transition so well into the dimly lit and fog shrouded world of metal.

Even if you discovered about three sentences into this post that you didn't care for Curling, surely this touches some deeply ingrained desire within you for such purely amazing ice mayhem - so listen to your swingy heart, set that curling rock star loose!

History? I LOVE HISTORY!

2007-01-29T03:37:00.000-06:00

Ok, so I realize I haven't posted for quite some time - and that a three month hiatus is probably not the best way to assure the blog's reader(s) of The Ostrich Egg's sheer vitality and true exciti-tude. But if I know one thing better than anything else, it's that an 'exclusive' and fascinating post will surely rejuvenate the spirits of this once ... flourishing ... persisting ... not nonliving blog. So what better way to brighten up the doldrums of winter than with a blog post on HISTORY!

Why history? Well, why not - posting clips of Mr. T and Ikea lamps really didn't seem to do anything for my blog-cred, so what do I have to lose? Admittedly, I accept the fact that history and wintertime fun have in the past appeared to be mutually exclusive. For a thorough documentation see the second season episode of The Simpsons, Bart Gets an F (check it out via peekvid.com). But even though the episode features one agonizing scene where Bart forces himself to study the American Revolution in a dark, dank basement while outside the town of Springfield is celebrating 'Snow Day - The Funnest Day in the History of Springfield' ... this post is really all about breaking those negative and all too true stereotypes. History really can be fun!

Alright, fine, so what can I do to convince you? It seems pretty clear that countless pages written by historians, sociologists, and philosophers throughout time have all harped on the importance of studying history. One of the most accessible arguments is neatly broken down by Peter N. Stearns of the American Historical Association (AHA) in an exposition titled Why Study History? In it he claims that history "should be studied because it is essential to individuals and to society, and because it harbors beauty." Furthermore he goes on to detail many of the functional aspects that this study provides both for the individual and society alike, aiding in the formation of fundamental skills that define who we are ... but I can sense that this approach isn't really helping my cause either. After all one can simply claim that this man is grossly biased in favor of history, why should anyone wanting an objective opinion listen to a man in AHA's pocket? (Not to be confused with Aha, New Wave originators of the 80s classic Take on Me)

So that leads me to Old Navy, and the reason for this blog post in the first place. As a company whose motto has been "Get Your Fash-On!" ever since it's ubiquitous commercial campaign in the summer and fall of 2006, one would doubt that Old Navy would be the harbinger of a new appreciation for history. And yet, even three years after their last round of catchy advertisements, one phrase remains etched deep in my psyche, and that of my peers (I would assume): "History? I LOVE History!" In what was one of the most generation defining commercials of my time, the Old Navy 'History' commercial remains, in my opinion, the most successful pro-history campaign ever unleashed on the youth of America. While other groups have tried to combine the appeal of pop culture, design, and youth-centric adverts, none have been nearly as effective as Old Navy with this regard. See for yourself, and just try to deny the effectiveness of this advertisement ...

In all reality, this commercial really is the perfect vehicle for history education. The shrill, exuberant cries of the young college student reverberate as easily through the silent lecture hall as through our minds, while the effectiveness of this technique ensures that the words will become permanently lodged there (next to other unforgiving slogans). Furthermore, the fact that the student's rant appears to be evoked just as easily by Old Navy's back to school sale as by the prospect of studying history, the commercial itself makes the idea of being passionate about something like history accessible to all (though for some it may also require the consumption of ungoldy amounts of caffeine in preparation for a midterm). The very fact that multitudes of students have gone on to study history after viewing the commercial, and continue to do so even years later, makes my point all the more valid!

If you still aren't convinced by my random correlations, just listen to this: Old Navy isn't the only on to have picked up the model of catchy advertising in order to indoctrinating the youth with messages of history's virtues. While none can hold a candle up to the brilliance of the original, the popularity of this approach has clearly spurred others to try and follow suit.

Catchy slogans, reverse psychology, and the sex appeal of Napoleon Bonaparte - who could refuse?

Artist Eduardo Recife (www.eduardorecife.com), whose style and creative influence I greatly admire has lent his expertise to the development of a promo for the upcoming HBO series, Assume the Position. The premise of the show is formed around the supposition that most of our notions about historical fact are in reality based on popular culture, and it is our job as inquisitive students of history to vocally question and debunk hearsay. Robert Whul, the man charged with reformatting the common student's approach to history, is the most vocal figure present in the college classroom setting picked for the show. A couple of seconds into the promo, as his booming voice fills the lecture hall, the excitement of discovery present in the subtleties of his tone - I can't help but bring myself back to those simple beginnings when $20 capris were all that it took to get one so worked up over history.

The promo which you can check out in a 40 second and 60 second format, is really a clear sign that the youth, nurtured by Old Navy commercials of yore, have grown up to be actual college students, deserving of more mature historically infused advertisements and pop-culturally savvy programming.

I for one will keep the tradition started all those years ago by Old Navy strong, and my love for history will forever ring out, in the immortal words of that annoying girl: "...Something happens... Then something else happens! It's so sequential! Thanks... first guy! For writing history down! ...LET'S STUDY!" And I'm pretty positive others see it that way too.

Illinois delegation at National History Day 2006
See more of NHD on my Flickr photoset

Rabbit by Run Wrake

2006-11-14T03:07:00.000-06:00

I know I haven't posted for a while, what with school and everything, and yes I do feel guilty about that. But believe me, I have procrastinated enough to find a lot of good material to cover over the next week!

So, in the hope of feigning the semblance of connections to past entries I think I'm going to work off of that image of the vintage Halloween card I posted about three weeks ago. It really is pretty neat looking ... with the pumpkin ... and the scared children ... and I suppose it could be seen as presenting some sort of moral notions of ... um ... not messing with pumpkins ... and ultimately it has that interesting art sensibility that the 1950s were privy to.

But yeah, it was this interesting art style that really brought to mind a rather bizarre and yet ultimately somewhat satisfying animation that I happened upon the other day over at YouTube. Employing this classic style the animation resonates with the look of an early reading primer, yet in combination with an unusual narrative progression this animation really does become remarkable.

The short synopsis reads as: A selection of 1950s educational stickers, discovered in a provincial junkshop twenty years ago, provide the ingredients for this adult fairytale. When a boy and girl find an idol in the stomach of a rabbit, its magical abilities lead to riches, but for how long? But hey, honestly, you should check this thing out for yourself, it really is something else.

Now the facts ... as you sit and process what you just witnessed. The short film was directed by none other than Run Wrake, who has a number of amazing works available on his website including illustrations and commissions by MTV and different music artists. Working with Channel 4, this fascinating work was commissioned by 'animate!' (the home of some amazing experimental works that definitely should not be missed). The animate! website has a wealth of background information on all of the animations that it supports, and the Rabbit information page has everything from stills to concept work and storyboards. So yeah!

And the moral of this story: don't trust golden idols who convince you to make blog posts at three in the morning ~

This is Halloween

2006-10-31T14:59:00.000-06:00

Ah, yes - it's finally Halloween - that amazing end of October event which always brings back fond memories of running down the block with a zealous greed for sugar, causing havoc for my parents all night long until finally settling down to sort out mounds of sweets in front of the television (while watching the latest Simpsons Treehouse of Horror). Now that I'm in college there is definitely an element of nostalgia when considering that its way more difficult to to justify trick-or-treating, but the internet is always there to help bring about the right mindset. Thats why in looking about the internets I've managed to find some rather interesting spooky tid-bits.

(source, Flickr Vintage Halloween Pool)

First off, it goes without saying that watching the Nightmare Before Christmas is the quintessential Halloween experience - not only is it a great movie for any time of the year but playing it to excess on Halloween can totally be justified. A great video was posted up on YouTube of the latest iteration of the 'This is Halloween' tune done by Marilyn Manson for the 3D release of this cult classic. While it preserves the original nature of the song, introducing the Manson flavor really does add that extra freaky factor to it. Of course, checking out the Panic! At The Disco cover of the song (mp3) as well as the original Danny Elfman score (mp3) will have you feeling that Halloween spirit in no time.

Moving on from the stop motion animated goodness of Nightmare, I found 3D animation short in the same sort of neat Halloween vein. Created by Digital Kitchen this quick animation draws you in to a Halloween Dream with a really catchy soundtrack. Apparently its been utilized as part of Screenvision's Halloween-themed movie preshow, dubbed SCREAMvision so you might've seen it in theaters - Not bad.

Seeing as this has really become more of an animated tribute to Halloween, why add another throwback to stop-motion animation? The magic of Halloween themed peeps comes across in this random, yet amazing, quick flick. I really have to try me some of those zombified peeps.

If your desire for Halloween saturated goodness hasn't been satiated yet, check out X-Entertainment Blog, a great place for blurbs on 80s toys, random advertising, and of course, at this time of the year, the home of the Halloween Countdown!

And remember, don't be a Hallowe'en grinch(ette) when the tick-or-treaters come by or else the Freaky Flying-Pumpkin Commandeering Witch will come for you and all of that hoarded candy you thought you could keep for yourself.

Rinpa Eshidan: Evolving Mural

2006-10-26T17:55:00.000-05:00

With the onslaught of school work: essays, problem sets, labs, midterms and readings regarding the nature of the self and the relation of that self to society ... it's been difficult to find time to simply draw. For me at least, drawing is a way of capturing the wisps of innovation and design sense which may otherwise be filed in some 'to do' folder in the back of my mind. By sitting down in front of a sketch pad or my drawing tablet, with a mellow track running on my laptop, and the time glowing on my alarm clock really being of no consequence - it really leaves me in very amazing zen like state, where the motion of pencil strokes can draw out the interconnected strings of thought that have gone untangled in the corner of my brain like some pair of tossed aside headphones ... it's that sense of finally getting things straightened out by getting an otherwise dormant part of my brain active again which just feels refreshing!

But as long as I'm reduced to left-brain, work-time, logic-based functions - finding amazing examples of creative outlets as exemplified by others is still a good means of keeping my creative side open to great design sense. That's why finding something like the video below, while only something like a six minute interruption in my day, can nonetheless act as a catalyst to awakening my own ability to perceive things in a fresh and creative sense ... even Epsilon-Delta proofs! (No, wait, never mind).

The group that undertook this glorious week-long display of design and technical skill goes by the moniker Rinpa Eshidan, and while they don't yet have their own webpage you can check out more projects like this on their YouTube Channel. Investigations by other blogs have led to the conclusion that this Japan-based group is defintley going places ... I mean, their style is impeccable! So keep an eye out for them and get inspired -

Technorati Tags: Video, YouTube, Rinpa Eshidan, Mural, Grafitti, Urban Art

Ikea & Lamp Love

2006-10-17T03:16:00.000-05:00

Stumbling Upon I encountered a fun commercial for Ikea that I hadn't seen in the longest time. It definitely made me smile and reminds me why Ikea has a place in my heart - right next to Sam's Club or a great bookstore - insofar as being an amazing destination in itself. With a great twist on conventional interpretations, the very nature of the commercial is something unexpected and fresh - much like the business savvy of the international store chain. The whole Ikea mentality does away with the notion of stuffy furniture stores and gimmicky 'Columbus Day' sales advertisements in lieu of a straightforward message and clean, if not sometimes unexpected, line of logic. Something that a college student looking to find drapes or a set of bowls can truly appreciate. Thanks Ikea!

On another note - the whole lamp theme made me think of another instance where a poor little lamp just didn't have things go it's way - in a fittingly cruel take on the Pixar lamp creation.

And I suppose, seeing as this has become a very lamp-centric post all of a sudden, an obligatory I (heart) lamp mention can be edged into this blog post as well. If you've never understood the presence of the slogan on oh-so-many internet tee shirts, well, here it is - a true Anchorman moment.

"I Love Lamp"

Technorati Tags: Video, YouTube, Lamp, Ikea Commercial, Pixor, I Love Lamp, Anchorman

Music: Aveo

2006-10-01T15:38:00.000-05:00

This Seattle-based band has been lingering in my iPod play list for quite a while. With a post-rock sound that's a bit muted and mellow it's found a place alongside staples like The Smiths and British Sea Power in my groupings. Definitely worth a listen, the three songs made available on Aveo's label website - Barsuk Records - have an energy to them that's equally captivating and yet somehow toned down.

In my experience, at least, this type of music provides the perfect backdrop for burning the midnight oil. When cranking out a five page essay on the impact of diachrony and synchrony in Herman Hesse's Siddhartha at 3 AM, for example, this is the kind of music that is energized enough to keep your typing at a constant pace with your foot unconsciously tapping under the desk - yet not so intrusive as to completely throw off a caffeine fueled focus on the task at hand. These are the kinds of songs which can be praised for achieving that perfect balance and can definitely be that welcome respite from the silence of a late night cram session.

You can find more information at barsuk.com/bands/aveo

Aveo - Dust That Dreams of Brooms (mp3)
Aveo - The Idiot on the Bike (mp3)
Aveo - Frostbitten (mp3)

Songs available are from their album Battery

Technorati Tags: Music, Aveo, Barsuk, Post-Rock, mp3, Indie Rock, Dust That Dreams of Brooms, Idiot On The Bike, Frostbitten

Whirl + Ball = Whirlyball?

2006-09-18T12:09:00.000-05:00

At first hearing the name Whirlyball, one might assume that a game with such a seemingly benign name would be nothing more than one whose goals involved the whirly-ing of a ball, much like the ever loved bases-ball. But no, my friends, this game is something else indeed.

Defined as Whir-ly-ball (hwur lee bol) noun. (1) "The second most fun thing in the world." (2) For all ages, women & men. (3) Beyond description.

A hybrid of bumper cars, lacrosse, polo and basketball - this game has everything one would ever want or need in a game, from the violent crashes of NASCAR (albeit at a top speed of 4mph) to the fast paced excitement of a curling championship (I'm not joking, curling is a sweet game)! It definitely is an amazing experience that'll pit the bumper buggy maneouvring skills of some against the intensity of whiffle-based sports enjoyed by others. And while it may seem that only in a bar setting this game could thrive, it actually prohibits play while intoxicated, pregnant, or short ... so there.

As an introduction to the famed pastimes Chicago has to offer to the world, the Tufts House inaugurated us first years to the joys of this traditional game, made all the more appealing thanks to the ever constant flow of pizza and pop. The photos speak for themselves.

If you ever want to experience the joys of whirlyball for yourself there's pretty much one place in the Midwest that has games in a couple of different locations. You can find more info at whirlyball.com Additionally, the Wikipedia entry on Whirlyball, while somewhat sparse, is still pretty informative.

Technorati Tags: Activity, Whirlyball, Bumper Cars, Lacrosse, Chicago

Talk Like A Pirate Day

2006-09-17T22:59:00.000-05:00

With International Talk Like A Pirate Day just a few short days away I've been seeing what can be done to improve my general comprehension of this mystical and well-respected language. Just as I was abut to hunker down and study for a French language placement exam, I happened upon a great distracting and equally educational tool: An instructional video for talking like a pirate! With easy grammatical and syntactical guides, this video makes pirate-speak fun and accessible to the common landlubber.

I'll see you on Tuesday - ye scurvy salty dog. But if checking out the video and the Original Talk Like a Pirate Day site isn't enough, here's Stephen Colbert in pirate garb.

Technorati Tags: Video, International Talk Like a Pirate Day, Educational Video, Instruction, Language, Stephen Colbert, Pirate

The Ultimate Pac-Man Tribute

2006-09-06T11:17:00.000-05:00

I have to admit that of all of the classic arcade characters, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Pac-Man. Perhaps it's his simplicity (he is just a circle with a wedge cut out of it after all) or his affinity for little yellow orbs (delicious, delicious orbs), yet there's just something I've always found reassuring about this video game icon.

To a certain degree I think all of America can in fact claim to share the basic values which Pac-Man espouses. For both Americans and Pac-Man a traditional family seems to be central (he did after all spawn a Mrs. Pac-Man and Pac-Man Jr. spin off) and both share a tremendous innate dislike of ghosts. Yet, most important of all, it seems that Americans can completely identify with a creature of a voracious and unsatiated appetite, in essence, a complete glutton. The central goal which defines Pac-Man, is the acquisition of orbs - which he stuffs himself with - incessantly. Mirrored by a similar capitalistic desire for wealth and the general girth of the American populous, it's no surprise that Pac-Man has affected culture in such a sweeping manner. He is in essence living out the American dream - just in video game form, and with the addition of those tasty cherries as bonus points.

Having been inspired once again by this video game giant after stumbling upon a miniature version of the classic Pac-Man game (both a perfect way to pass the time and aditionally ruin your eyesight) I was moved to explore more deeply this cult of the Pac. Not only has this 8-bit character become a generation defining figure, but his fame has grown to such an extent as to even spawn it's own religious sect. And the following examples can only illustrate a continued interest this video game icon.

To begin with, a video tribute to Pac-Man seems like the only fitting introduction to the many feats of this cultural behemoth. With some slick editing, the video cuts to the many cameos which The Pac has made in television and entertainment -- and even takes a minute to address the evolution of the simple game as video game technology advanced. The Simpsons clip always cracks me up and the video even features footage of the glitch which occurs on the 256th level of the game - freaky.

But in all honesty, one of the best things about the video above is the amazing sound track running under the sweet editing, none other than Aphex Twin's Powerpill from the Pac-Man EP. Relased in May of 1992, the remix showed that Pac-Man fever was going strong ... although it wans't an actual fever, thankfully, I couldn't even begin to imagine the horrific symptoms ...

As a neat side project for the breakbeat and hardcore electronic group Aphex Twin, this soundtrack contains some amazing remixes of the original song in all of it's video game glory. Links to the tracks below open the mp3 file in a new window.

01 Pac-Man (Original Edit)
02 Pac-Man (Ghost Mix)
03 Pac-Man (Choci's Hi-Score Mix)
04 Pac-Man (Mickey Finn's Yum Yum Mix)

YouTube is brimming with Pac-Man related videos, whether completely random or deeply rooted in cultural phenomena. Things like a 1982 commercial for 7-up, featuring a red Pac-Man hopped up on the sugary corn syrup concoction give a better understanding of the historical place of the figure - yet it isn't all that entertaining ... the following, however, are awesome.

College pranks at their finest, with a Pac-Man inspired twist. Based out of the University of Michigan through the UM Patriots. I just wonder how cumbersome those costumes were.

Stop motion re-enactments of Classic Arcade games: in this instance Pac-Man is a delicious pizza creature that appears alongside other legends - the asteroids one is pretty neat.

A classic Futurama episode, Raiders of the Lost Arcade, which realizes the hypothetical: what would happen if life were more like a video game? Keep an eye out for General Colin Pac-Man and Zoidberg's foray into the realm of Pac-land.

A cute commercial dubbed Pacman el victorioso, featuring yours truly in a south of the border puppet show. The language of Pac-Man truly is international.

Further projects based on the classic yellow creature have involved everything from a customized kart racers to a Pac-Man guitar, yet the artistic medium has remained the best for exploring the deep bond we share with our video game brethren. One such final outlet, the i am 8-bit art exibit out of Los Angeles, showcases various artistic interpretations of the many icons to have graced the 8-bit screen. The place of Pac-Man among such legends is firmly represented in the gallery of works.

Pac Man in Hospice by Greg "Craola" Simkins

Pac-Man by Peter Gronquist

If all of this hasn't gotten your Pac going then there is a whole lot more info on Pac-Man compiled all over the web by people way more wholly engrossed by this little yellow dude than myself. You can find tons of emulations of the game itself - the flash version being nicely updated. For those of you interested in the history of Pac Man, check out his Wikipedia entry. If you're in it for the memorabilia - there's an entire virtual museum devoted to collectibles. Or, if you'd simply like to find more random things that people do in the name of Pac-Man, there's a blog for that. Ooh, and don't forget the Pac-Man shirts!

But honestly, what could be sweeter than light-up LED animated Pac-Man bicycle wheels?

Technorati Tags: Pac-Man, Classic Video Game, Arcade Game, Video Tribute, Music Video, Aphex Twin, Power-pill, mp3, UM Prank, Stop Motion, Futurama, Animation, Puppet Show, I Am 8-Bit, Art, Gallery, LED, Bicycle

MyHeritage Celebrity Collages

2006-09-04T18:21:00.000-05:00

Ok, I know it might seem that I'm falling into some horrible spiral of internet fad-dom, but I couldn't let this one pass by. After seeing MyHeritage's Celebrity Collages posted on some other blogs I figured it was my chance to see what celebrity I most closely resembled - because, hey, when it comes to procrastination what's better than to implement potentially useful facial recognition technology for completely pointless pursuits? The layout of the website makes looking up your celebrity match really simple: after a quick bit of registration (no e-mail verification required) just upload a front facing photograph of yourself and the collage tool does the rest, cropping your face and running it through its database of celebrities. And the results? Well ... see for yourself ...

While fun for a laugh and a bit of boredom busting I can't really say that my experience with the Celeb-o-matic validates the claims of this algorithm-based technology's amazing face recognition abilities ... see, in all actuality I actually don't have a trace of Asiatic genes in me, a shocker, I know. I can see how the glasses may have thrown off the results, but I'd like to think, or pray, it was a glitch that paired me up with that one guy who like he just slaughtered and ate a baby - I mean, I enjoy a dead baby as much as anyone else - but that guy just looks creepy!

And finally ... because this was waiting to happen, this technology will help validate, once and for all, every one of those late-night look-alike based jokes! Presenting, the Herman Munster's celebrity equivalents ...

What, no John Kerry? Well, maybe it's not the best - but it does slam Bush and Prince Charles - so it's a-ok in my book. Try it out for yourself at MyHeritage Celebrity Collage Page - enjoy

Technorati Tags: Website, MyHeritage, Celebrity Look Alike, Face Recognition, Collage, Herman Munster

Fodey Image Generators

2006-09-04T14:20:00.000-05:00

I recently Stumbled upon quite a neat little website that's staked out its niche in the image generator section of the internets. While websites like the Church Sign Generator and the ever popular Colbert Report on Notice Board Generator provide specific resolutions to your customization needs - leave it to fodey.com to create a plethora of generated image and animation goodness. If you're ever bored out of your mind, or would like to be comforted by the highly disturbing customizable creature animations available (reminiscent of those freaky Quizno's commercials) just take a gander at this site. See how much fun it is?

Uh, a squirrel?

Aw, a flower ...

It's mustachio'd ...

Technorati Tags: Website, Fodey, Image Generator, On Notice Board, Church Sign

Malapropism Fun: Take One

2006-09-03T12:54:00.000-05:00

Whether it be Dogberry in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing or our very dear, but linguistically challenged President George (Dubyah) Bush - it seems that the trend of attempting to use seemingly erudite vocabulary (or any string of words at all) to try and sound authoritative or a least intelligent, yet ultimately failing miserably, has been around as long as the English language itself. Malapropism, the term for this type of language abuse, is itself an annoyingly and ironically fiendish word ... but hey, when the results make lexicographers and wordnistas laugh in a haughty way, it can't be all that bad. But hey, no one really wants to be the guy making the flagrant linguistic gaffe, like the one below --

Update (Sept 19) -- A nice article through BBC World News addresses the wealth of political gaffes all around the world, in case you want o check out more political blunders: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5360412.stm

So yeah, here are some random words you definitely might not want to confuse, seeing as they regulate not only the salvation of your immortal soul but obscure pop culture and literary references.

Consubstantiation - the assertion that the body and blood of Christ only coexist in and with the substance of the bread and wine of the Eucharist

Transubstantiation - the process by which the bread and wine in the Eucharist literally turn into the body and blood of Christ

Transmogrification - that /other/ magical process by which Hermione turns into a cat

Anthropomorphization - your standard 10th grade literary analysis buzz word, through which one defines the attribution of human characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, forces of nature, the unseen author of things, and others ... like God, who apparently has a long white beard

Animorphs - a process by which preteens of the 90s turned into total geeks

Archetype - the underlying tenet of Carl Jung's theory which surmised that we're all tapped into a collective unconscious, which at it's core spawns the same trite storylines for fantasy/adventure novels whereby the characters are basically interchangeable. Like ... [Neo the intrepid young hacker] finds the guidance of a wise mentor named [Gandalf] to defeat a looming villain named [Lord Voldemort] by using [The Force] to ultimately triumph in the battle of [good] verus [bears]

Yeah, I think that's a good start - maybe I'll bring in some more installments later on - because, Thesauruses ... Thesaurii ... MAKE LANGUAGE FUN - Yeah! And in all honesy, who dosen't love a well placed Shakespeare reference?

"Shakespeare hates your emo poems" at Threadless

"Prose before Hos" at Busted Tees

Technorati Tags: Malapropism, President Bush, Language, Linguistic, Definitions, Shakespeare, T-Shirts

Senior Year Nostalgia

2006-08-30T01:48:00.000-05:00

With college approaching in about two weeks or so, it's been fun making the most of the time I have left -- not only has blogging been great, but I've had a lot of time to catch up on some of the perks of being a summer sloth. Hanging out with friends and reveling in favorite pastimes has definitely made my summer a restful one, yet the prospect of college, new experiences, and all of that great academia is so close by I can almost taste it. I can't wait to see what the future will hold - and while that sounds cliche - I'm glad to have had such great experiences in the past to warrant this surge of optimism/naivete.

So hey, seeing as I need to break in my new Compaq Presario V3015NR notebook, and I'm still too wholly captivated by a borrowed box set of 24 (season one) that I'm watching in the background -- here are some screencaps of the past year too keep me nostalgic enough to put aside my college woes and focus on what's important - Jack Bauer!

Fairchild's Advanced Computer Art Accelarated Class

EF Bell' Italia Trip, Spring Break with the Italy Crew

Maxwell's Eighth Period AP Themes in English Class

Prom Night (lookin' So Good!)

Senior Lock-In (Cruisin' Class of 2006)

D.C. National History Day (Sen. Barack Obama's office)

The Aca-Family at our regular Starbucks Hangout

Technorati Tags: Update, Photos, Album

Edu-tastic Video Compilation

2006-08-25T23:47:00.000-05:00

Even now, after having graduated from high school, I have to admit - it really is difficult for me to separate myself from the educational fun-ride that was k-12. Everywhere I look, it seems, I find benchmarks of my educational upbringing, from French dictionaries gathering dust on my bookshelf to one random elementary school spelling book that I should've definitely returned about nine years ago. It's been fun to rummage through old grade reports, laughing at awkward class photos, and sympathizing with elementary school teachers who racked their brains to try and impart some form of factual information to us.

Seriously though, an 'A' for all those spelling mistakes and random capitalizations? I would've deported myself outright for pledging 'alligance' to a 'republik' run by a lesser 'god' than He who directs the thoughts and actions of his progeny George W. Bush

Yet the internet has been the ultimate harbinger of memories connected to those nostalgic years - with the ability to simply Google old PBS educational shows I've been able to find countless reminders of the clever ways in which adults choose to inundate children with massive amounts of facts. And while giant purple dinosaurs perhaps are better suited for giving children an irrational phobia, one reoccurring technique has definitely stuck out for it's practicality - songs.

Since the dawn of time, it seems, as long as there have been core factual concepts (mathematics, science, history, language) people have always attempted to commit their base principles to memory through simple and repetitive forms. Things like mnemonic devices (SOH CAH TOA, Roy G. Biv, My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas*), rhymes, sayings, and songs have attempted to make the chore of pure repetition more mentally expedient. Sure, simply memorizing things through rote repetition is a staple hallmark of childhood (from reciting prayers or the pledge) -- yet songs have always added that extra bit of excitement that could ~~trick~~ entice a hyperactive child into doing some inadvertent learning.

But returning to the point, I don't think any sort of nostalgic post about the magic of song in education could be complete without a rundown of the very songs which permeate my subconscious mind, making me a slave to catchy jingles and quickly recited bits of information. Below is a compilation of the videos which I consider to have the most creative and powerful use of song to achieve that perfect jingle to fact ratio.

Ah, the Animaniacs - with their take on the nations of the world who could go wrong? Although, they did misspell Israel as 'Isreal' -- but I'll give Yakko a break, for a singing whatever-the-hell-it-is that's still pretty good.

School House Rock made my One Saturday Mornings notable (next to Doug, Recess, and Pepper Ann) -- and as far as this integration of the bill-making process to song I'd say it definitely has raised my political efficacy ... what person doesn't still secretly wish that the next bill passed could befriend them and after breaking out into song do a Kool-Aid man sort of "oh-yeah!" cheer?

Sesame Street always had tons of innovative clips presenting letters, colors, and numbers - so what better way to convey the concept of '6' than with a psychedelic pinball machine countdown?

Ok, this isn't necessarily an aide for conventional knowledge - but it sure did work for brainwashing me into being aware of the dangers that evil villains pose to the environment. But man, captain planet was a tad creepy himself, at least the cute South American boy with the pet monkey made up for it. We're the planeteers, you can be one too - cause saving our planet is the thing to do!

While I couldn't find an embed-able version of this next one, the Periodic Table of the Elements song by Tom Lehrer has been a standard for Chemistry teachers across the nation since 1955. If you've never encountered this song in class then you've missed a chemistry hot-topic that's almost as fascinating as the idea of the mole (Avogadro's number, equal to 6.022 x 10²³ atoms or molecules). You can however find a flash version of an animation done to the song at privatehand.com/flash/elements.html

And a treat, perfect for Pi Day! An amazing parody of all of the above, with the perfect dose of humor tossed in -- no Steve, not Pie, Pi (and in case you were hungry for that pi goodness, or just insane, you can find pi calculated to a million digits at piday.org)

* Note: seeing as Pluto has been demoted to the status of a dwarf plant (or trans-Neptunian object) alongside Ceres and 2003 UB313 as of August 24, 2006 ... I guess elementary school kids can go with something like My Very Educated Mother Just Said Uh-oh No Pluto (here's a visual).

Technorati Tags: Video, Music Video, Educational Television, YouTube, PBS, memorization, Animaniacs, Nations, School House Rock, Bill, Sesame Street, Captain Planet, Tom Lehrer, Periodic Table of the Elements, Pi Day

Music: The Spinto Band

2006-08-20T01:45:00.000-05:00

The Spinto Band is an immensely catchy indie power pop band that I happened upon quite a while ago. It's songs - as brilliant and captivating as ever - have continued to pique my interest with each passing through my indie play lists. With imaginative lyrics matched by assorted vocals (at times powerful, at times wavering) and an upbeat pop-rock feel, the powerful sounds of this East Coast band will definitely stick with you. The layers of sound, woven through with unique instrumental elements (like kazoos featured in the song Brown Boxes), ultimately create the perfect mesh in a series of musical masterpieces. Each song in their repertoire remains distinctly different -- yet, if one song should be crowned their piece d'oeuvre, their latest single release Oh Mandy would take the honor.

While songs like Crack The Whip and Did I Tell You? from their album Nice and Nicely Done have emphasized their definite rock out quality, Oh Mandy has become the breakaway hit of the album. With a ghostly ambiance to the vocals and guitar, yet the propulsion of a strong beat and the band's pop roots, this song has captured a synthesis of sounds unlike anything I've heard before - undoubtedly lending to it's staying power on my mind and play lists.

The music video for Mandy is equally as haunting, employing stop motion animation combined with photograph cutouts for some really neat animation work.

You can check them out at spintoband.com or spintonic.net

Spinto Band - Oh Mandy (mp3)
Spinto Band - Brown Boxes (mp3)
Spinto Band - Crack The Whip (mp3)
Spinto Band - Look At The Floor (mp3)
Spinto Band - Baby Nerd (Part 1) (mp3)
Spinto Band - Tractor (mp3)

Songs available are from their album Nice and Nicely Done

Technorati Tags: Music, mp3, Music Video, The Spinto Band, YouTube, Indie, Pop Rock, Power Pop, Oh Mandy, Brown Boxes, Crack The Whip, Look at the Floor, Baby Nerd, Tractor

TED Conference Videos

2006-08-15T20:45:00.000-05:00

If there's one thing that Google Video can claim in it's ongoing struggle against YouTube's size and interface - it's the amount of professional resources, documentaries, and otherwise inaccessible video footage (see C-SPAN's White House Correspondent's Dinner) that it provides for the everyday, Google-browsing, John Q Public.

This effort, while seemingly dwarfed by the amount of content available on YouTube, has a striking advantage in the quality of video made available. And that is probably why, on my last traipsing through the Google Video hallowed grounds, I happened upon a treasure trove of sorts - a collection of presentations that were not only informative, but actually interesting ... a shocking discovery to say the least.

The TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Conference videos, sponsored by BMW and Google Video, host an amazing roster of individuals who are not only passionate about their fields of study - but can express themselves in a way that leaves you inspired by the potential for the future. These "trusted voices and convention-breaking mavericks, icons and geniuses" really are a pretty neat bunch, and Google Video presents their various talks on one easy to access page with the suggestion "plan to listen to at least three, start to finish. They have a cumulative effect..."

After watching the presentation of one man specifically, Hans Rosling, a public health expert and director of Sweden's world-renowned Karolinska Institute, I was truly enlightened. Rosling's presentation revolves around opening individuals to the current state of the world and debunking the myths floating around concerning the relative status of life in different countries. Fundamentally, the point that really resonates throughout the presentation is the fact that such stereotypical mindsets continue to prevail in the face of data that is screaming the opposite. Watching the presentation I was forced to confront beliefs about world health that are not only outdated but generalized. If you get the chance, watch it below and see if it affects you as much as it has me.

Ultimately, the goal of Rosling's presentation simply underlines the greater goal of his non-profit organization, Gapminder. With an initiative to 'gap' the bridge between global statistics and an accessible view of the health situation in the modern world - the impact of this work could lead to not only a more educated public, but viable changes in public policy and the means through which global problems are assessed and solved. Having e-mailed Mr. Rosling after watching the performance, he responded by noting "do use, download and spread what we have on www.gapminder.org" -- Will do.

Update -- You'd better believe that I've snagged these conference videos for my Video iPod. iTunes offers free video podcasts subscriptions to the presentations, which you can access at itunes.com/podcast?id=160892972 (note, this will request to run iTunes)

Technorati Tags: Video, Google Video, Ted Conference, Presentation, Hans Rosling, Gapminder, Global Health, Statistics

Reddish Studio Designs

2006-08-14T15:11:00.000-05:00

Having seen some of their work on various other websites, I decided it was finally time to check out the entire portfolio of the Design Firm, Reddish. Their website reddishstudio.com features a wide collection of work, from furniture to clothing, all with a unique take on the balance between functionality and art.

The X Table, for example, takes the premise of a simple coffee table and adds a detail that is a reoccurring theme in Reddish design - embroidery.

The description found on the website probably describes the studio's intentions in the best way: The genes of ... two products were mixed together into a new combination of Materials, shapes and traditions.

Reddish studio focuses on keeping its designs clear and intriguing , and spends most of the time helping objects feel better about themselves.

The Reddish line of tabletop items, specifically the cutting blocks, take on a very unique character that transcends the simplicity of a wooden block and strives to infuse the mundane with a unique design sensibility.

Make friends with your winged neighbors. After dining, place this bread stand on the window ledge so birds can feast on the crumbs. Celebrates coexistence and the joy of sharing.

An offspring of a bread stand and a small tablecloth. The delicate embroidered wood enables the anonymous bread board to leave the kitchen and become a respected center piece.

With a protfolio of items that should definitely not be missed, Reddish takes the idea of home aesthetics to a new level - redefinig the relationship of the owner with their belonings

Technorati Tags: Art, Design, Reddish, Studio, Furniture, Embroidery, Cutting Block, Table, Bead

Find Me: Billion To One Man

2006-08-13T20:35:00.000-05:00

Think there's anything more to this photograph?

Well, this seemingly unexceptionally photograph of one man, a so called "Satoshi" has such a captivating story ... or rather, lack of story, that he is now in the center of a global man hunt.

No, he's not a criminal, but through the efforts of hundreds of participants the discovery of his identity has become synonymous with a massive reward. One gaming company, Mind Candy, based in England, but now sporting a worldwide following, has created a global search for the so-called Receda Cube - a prize attainable only by solving sets of puzzle cards in the hottest new alternate reality game - Perplex City. As more cards are released, 256 in total, players strive to answer questions of varying difficulty in the hope of uncovering more information behind the nature of Perplex City, it's characters, and most importantly - the location of the Cube. With his photograph featured prominently on one of the most challenging cards in the series, Satoshi challenges Perplex City participants to go all lengths to fulfill the card's message : 私を見つけなさい = watashi o mitsukenasai = find me. And the response has been startling.

By consolidating their efforts, participants have created a grassroots search that invokes the power of the six degrees of separation principle to flood the internet with e-mails and weblinks to this man's image in the hope of finding someone who recognizes him. Websites like haveyouseenhim.info and billion2one.org have sprung up in the hopes of expediting this search. And progress is being made, with a lively forum discussion and a positive match on the location where the photo was taken (Katyserberg, Alsace, France) - following the progression of the hunt definitely makes for some pretty bizarre yet fascinating entertainment.

The most interesting thing to come out of this project, however, is the wealth of advertising being done on behalf of Mind Candy and their new brand of gaming. This business approach, which spreads word of the game through the wide reaching impact of it's challenges, not only captivates and individual's imagination, but lets them follow along with the story and become potential participants themselves by buying cards and amassing points through the main website. With the success of the Perplex City project, I look forward to future Mind Candy ventures - and, for the sake of the challenge, here's my contribution to their campain.

Still Perplexed? Here's More:

Unfiction Card Discussion Thread - Follow the Search
Official Perplex City Website - Join the Game

Technorati Tags: Website, Perplex City, Mind Candy, Card, Billion To One, Satoshi

Music: Hotels

2006-08-10T23:47:00.000-05:00

For the past couple of days, I have to admit, I've been almost unequivocally mesmerized by the music of Hotels (and if anything gets me to bring out the vocabulary like that, you'd better believe it's good). With a mellow indie-pop vibe, interspersed by electronic accents, the music of Hotels definitely has a unique feel to it. While it carries an almost spacey vibe it can at the same time get across a more reticent feel. For me at least, that can be best summed up as a kind of nostalgic return to now a faint dream of having been abandoned on the docking station to the third moon of Jupiter. But hey, I've found it welcome, especially as my insomniac tendencies keep me up past a decent hour working at the computer. I'd definitely recommend Hotels as an addition to any music library, discovering them in your play list is truly a wonderful treat.

You can check them out at hotelsmusic.com

Hotels - Atlantic (mp3)
Hotels - Farewell to Love (mp3)
Hotels - Cinemascope (mp3)

The songs available are from their album Thank You For Choosing...

Update (Aug 20) -- I was checking my e-mail when I happened upon an response note from none other than Blake of the Hotels (one of the mystery men pictured to the right). I've gotta say, it's discovering the energy and amazing individuals behind these unique groups that encourages me to keep on scouring the web for such great music! Thanks for the encouragement!

Check out Hotels at their myspace home for more photos.

Technorati Tags: Music, mp3, Hotels, Indie, Dream Pop

The Cutest Conflict: KittenWar

2006-08-10T16:10:00.000-05:00

The internet is known for spawning many a furious, yet utterly frivolous war. Whether it be a hypothetical battle to the death between fictional and legendary characters (as illustratred vy Grudge Match's legendary Mr T vs Mr Clean face off) or a fight to determine the victor in an Instant Messaging popularity challenge (Aim Fight) - the internet allows almost any conflict to be resolved with the sophistication of a global audience. Honestly, where would the provincial conflict of Pirates vs Ninjas be today if not for it's escalation to internet-dom, surely not on ninjapirate.com!

But, if I may, I wish to bring to light a new war - one whose implications are so far reaching that they threaten to redefine the very tenets of cuteness!

Featured on The Colbert Report, kittenwar.com seeks the input of it's internet audience to decide which, in a paired set of kittens, is cuter - ultimately allowing a given kitten to become a 'winningest' or 'losingest' bastion of cuteness.

Is Mula cuter, or will Aoong take the lead?

Ultimately though, is trivializing war in such a manner, by making it accessible to millions online and changing it's meaning to connote a thing of perference or pasttime a signal of the degeneneration of our society as a whole? Have our values have become so enmeshed in the instant-access and triviality of the web that they no longer carry an attachment to the true weight of war and conflict? Has ... oh ... wait ... what? Bitsy isn't the winningest cute kitten yet!? This is outrageous! Egregious! This means war!

and Bitsy makes 5 !