moving essay

Lily from Lauren on Vimeo.

Al Kaprielian

The man who has been making weather fun for southern New Hampshire for 25 years. He studied meteorology in Lyndonville Vermont, and he knows a thing or two about "High Pressure." Enjoy - I know I did.

correction....

My best friend swears her and her boyfriend will own one of these things one day... good luck guys, they're highly illegal in the US and almost every other country I've researched. And not to ruin anyones fun, but apparently they are terrible house pets, they can't be trained and create an awful stinking mess anywhere and everywhere they so please. But... we can all dream.

oh and as a side note:

:

PANDA DOG!

the cutest thing I have ever seen....

THE MOST BADASS ANIMAL ON THE PLANET

I love octopi (octopuses, octopodes), I know they make a lot of people uneasy ("they have eight legs and a beak! that shouldn't be biologically possible!"-a friend... you know who you are... psshh hater) but I genuinely adore these creatures.
Things You May Not Know About Octopi: (graciously borrowed from about.com)
1. they have arms, not tentacles--Tentacles are longer than arms. Tentacles usually have suckers only at their tips.

2. There are three plural forms of the word octopus.They include octopi, optopuses, and octopodes.

3. An octopus has three hearts.Two hearts are used to pump blood to each of the octopus' lungs and the third pumps blood throughout the body.

4. Octopi are highly intelligent.They are believed to be the smartest of all invertebrates and show great skill at problem solving (instead of relying on instincts).

5. Octopi can fit into small crevices.Since they have no internal or external shell or bones, they can manipulate their body to fit into tight spots.

6. Octopi can annihilate sharks, and probably any other animal that tries to fuck with them.

I think they might be the most interesting animal on the planet; they are intelligent, beautiful and true badasses. You don't think so? Check out this video for further proof.



yes... that just happened.

mmmm... banksy

"when I was a kid I used to pray every day for a new bicycle. Then I realized God doesn't work that way, so I stole one and prayed for his forgiveness."
I'm not sure of the origin of this quote, but the first time I entered the website of graffiti artist Banksy this is what greeted me. I was sold before I even took the time to search through his extensive catalogue of graffiti art (divided by "outdoors" and "inside" which are both fantastic) and after looking through I was made a believer. Banksy is the man. An artist. A satirist. A true anarchist if there ever was one.
Check it. http://www.banksy.co.uk/outdoors/horizontal_1.htm

Football again... wooooow

So... I bet this kid feels dumb.

EDIT: Hahahha thanks for pointing that out Wayne. I didn't even realize this game included Vermont teams until just now. I guess that makes it all the better, and although I have my qualms with the University not having a Varsity football program... perhaps that's a good thing.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Tennis

I know this is really old news, but I wanted to post these videos here just in case nobody has seen them.

Video #1 proves Roger Federer is God of the Tennis Court. I mean, come on.



Was that insane or what? Just... WOW. The composure he keeps for the entire play... He doesn't even hesitate or anything. He just does what he has to do to win. Period. And Djokovic can do nothing but say, "Well, that was a pretty good play."

Videos #2 and #3 show us that even the greatest superstars.... well, let's say they have their moments.



And if that wasn't bad enough, look what happens later:



So... yeah. Tennis is cool.

DIY, single ladies.

where there's smoke, there's fire; where there's pop sensation, there's internet imitation. thanks to youtube, anyone can be an internet celebrity. thanks to beyonce and this talented musician, we have a lot of single ladies.

pretty cute/good:

Sultan Kosen

You may or may not have heard, but there is a new "Tallest Man on the Planet" walking around. Sultan Kosen, standing 8'1" tall, hails from Turkey. His growth is attributed to a tumor, which was removed last year. His abnormal growth left him with medical issues, particularly stress on his knees, and he now has to use canes to perform many physical activities.

Part of me feels sympathetic towards him - he has to have clothes specially tailored, his bed had to be custom made (3 meters long!), and of course, he will have lingering health issues for the rest of his life. However, Mr. Kosen seems to be taking it all very well. He hopes his newfound fame will help him find love, and ultimately, get married.

The fame, however, may be the biggest blessing, or the worst curse he may encounter. Yes, he does hope that with fame, people will learn to understand him and not be fearful of his size, but my wishes go to his privacy. The previous record holder, Leonid Stadnik (who is actually taller, but was stripped of his title due to his unwillingness to be measured - he stands 8'5"), spoke in regards to the media attention towards himself; “I will agree if it makes me healthy or long-liver, but everything was on the contrary and damaged my nerves.” Hopefully Stadnik's response will be taken to heart, and if and when Kosen asks for privacy, he can get it.

Read the full story here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8259728.stm

These are Paintings (Not Photos)

ch-ch-check it

These are my two favorite paintings of the bunch.

The textures in the first one are so realistic and the subject material (dinosaur and marbles) are exceptionally nostalgic for me. I actually used to hide my marbles in this hollow dinosaur I once had. I wonder where that thing is...

FYI

These graphics divide companies by what political party they fund. It's particularly interesting (and for me, disheartening) when you look at the pharmaceutical companies and then take a look at our current health care debate




Right leaning:



Left leaning:



Media:



Transportation:



Pharmaceuticals:

oh and incase you needed more

to go along with laurax's earlier post:
this guy is unbelievable....

see kiddies doesn't this look fun?

CAMP BISCO: full of the kids your mother warned you about. Biscuits kids are bonkers, if you are ever unfortunate enough to run into any of these flat brimmed, rap wearing hooligans turn and run the other way. Retreat back into the world of sanity and well structured society, or else you might find yourself gtrapped on the other side of the looking glass; lost amongst the crazed creatures you find there. They are nothing but trouble, mom was right. But honestly, doesn't this look like fun?

SHPOOOONGLEEEE

Shpongle late night set was hands down one of my favorite sets of any show/festival of the entire summer. And I ain't exaggerating. Simon Posford and Raja Ram tore up that stage and put the entire crowd into a frenzy... everyone vibed off this one incredible energy and it was beautiful... to say we were shponglized would be an understatement. Unfortunately, they won't be back around on this side of the Atlantic anytime soon. So I guess I'll just be biding my time until next summer...

also, my girl Bailey won free tickets for this picture (she's the only girl right in the middle). Look at Simon in the background!

a word on Simon Posford, also known as Hallucinogen, he is "the twisted lone deranger that warped a generation." His first release; "twisted" in 1995 truly set the standard for the trance and redefined what it means to be a musical artist. He himself otherworldly, certainly not of our kind, and his music is from outer space. Maybe Jupiter?

LEGOS

click me

man, i remember when the bat mobile was a pretty big deal.

awesome video

watch this!

still in the oven...

here is a very rough draft of my digital essay. i didn't have access to a mac so i had to use windows movie. i want to redo it on imovie, add sound, and work on the transitions.

but for now:

Au Lait!: Burlington coffee, review

I’ve been drinking coffee in Burlington rather religiously for over three years. I fancy myself a connoisseur of coffee in this town. I’m a coffee lover but certainly not a coffee expert. I prefer the hard stuff (espresso) and the fancy (French press) but my favorite is an American creation—the iced coffee. But I’ve got a pretty good grasp on who has the best coffee—and the best scene—in Burlington.

In reviewing Burlington’s coffee scene, I hope to encourage those not familiar with Burlington coffee to explore the lattes, mochas, and americanos of their neighborhood. (I’ll exclude chains—Starbucks, Boarders, etc.—because you know what they taste like and because I hate them.)

The lowdown, au lait:

Uncommon Grounds:
Situated in the center of town on Church Street, Uncommon Grounds has the most affordable coffee in town. As you walk in to the narrow café, you will immediately spot a large coffee roaster; this is actually a working roaster and if you catch them at the right time, you’ll see—and most certainly smell—roasting coffee. However, beware: they often uncommonly burn their coffee. Still, Uncommon Grounds has a large selection of coffee and tea. They also have, in my opinion, the best iced coffee ($1.65) in town. And they have, also my (well-honed) opinion, the most attractive staff in town. The tables are conductive to doing work and the big windows are great for Church Street people watching. It’s cheap, cute, and I leave caffeinated. What more could I want?

Muddy Waters:
Muddy Waters, on Main Street, is the heady who’s who of Burlington. Walk in to the rustic coffee shop and you’re sure to find plenty of beards and (Mac) books. But you will also be hard pressed to find a seat. Perhaps it is because the interior resembles a woodsy cabin, but people do not leave this café. Still, Muddy Waters takes pride in its coffee. The staff is incredibly friendly and since it’s popular with the college crowd, you’re sure to run into someone you know. Try the Muddy’s Shake: Espresso, coffee ice cream, and chocolate. C’est yum.

New Moon:
Located on Cheery Street, New Moon is arguably the most cosmopolitan coffee shop in Burlington. When it opened in the summer of 2007, I spent many a delicious dollar on their artisan sandwiches. But we’re talking about coffee and theirs is superb. The espresso will make you feel like you’re in Italy (or, at least, it make you feel very caffeinated). Their lattes are a must-try. It attracts yuppies and the older lunch crowd but with its dark walls, high ceilings, and plentiful seating, New Moon is a great place to spend an afternoon doing work. Catch them while it’s still warm—on nice days they open their large garage-style window.

Viva Espresso:
Viva Espresso is located ‘off the beaten path’ in Burlington’s North End. However, for the best coffee in town, I implore you to check out this coffee shop on N. Winooski Ave. With its charming exterior and interior, Viva Espresso is the epitome of Burlington’s local scene and, most importantly, of coffee. Viva espresso takes coffee very seriously—so much so that you are not permitted to take espresso shots to go. The owner asks that patrons sip their espresso in store, as it is traditionally supposed to be enjoyed. A must-try is a Chai latte—Viva makes their Chai from scratch, not a mix, which is very hard to find. Because they use almost exclusively local ingredients, Viva can be very expensive. Still, even for this thrifty girl, it’s truly worth it.

There are also a host of others—Speeder & Earl’s, Radio Bean, August First, and for smug tea drinkers, Dobra Tea. Wherever you go, check out your local coffee shops and see what all the caffeinated buzz is about.

Spike Jonze

I don't know about you, but I'm very excited about Where the Wild Things are--not only because of the nostalgia attached to the book but because Spike Jonze is directing it. What a wonderful, wonderful thing.



Now I am a huge Spike Jonze fan-- if you're not farmiliar with his work, I highly reccomend checking out films such as Adaptation and Being John Malkovich and his music videos (which he is known better for) for artists including Beck, Weezer, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bjork, Kanye West, The Beastie Boys and many more. He's also come out with various ads for Ikea, the Gap, and adidas to name a few. He was nominated for outstanding achievement in commercials by the Director's Guild of America in 2005. Below, you'll find his gap commercial "pardon our dust."




He's a breath of fresh air-- giving a new perspective and artistic eye to concepts and artistic ideas not usually seen in mainstream cinema. Being John Malkovich, a cult classic, is a movie unlike anything I've seen before-- Charlie Kaufman succeeds in writing a completely out there movie about the discovery of a portal to John Malkovich's mind. Seeing it as a business venture, one of the main characters, Craig, wants to exploit it and charge people to experience "being John Malkovich." A series of strange situations present themselves, a character becomes obsessed with the experience of Being John Malkovich, the audience must wonder what does it mean for John when someone else is occupying his mind? Who do his actions truely belong to?

He went on again to collaborate with Charlie Kaufman on Adaptation. The two movies being somewhat of philosophical anomalies-- distantly referencing themselves and on screen material so as to be kind of post modern in a way. It's definitely a challenge to be able to successfully direct movies of this subject material-- depicting the constant questioning and conflict in an understandable way is hard enough but Jonze does it in a unique and original way.

Though Jonze has put out some pretty awesome movies-- hopefully including Where the Wild Things are (which some people are skeptical about), he is really more well known for his wide success with music videos. If you haven't seen the video for Fat Boy Slim's Weapon of Choice, you are seriously missing out. Christopher Walken has to be on my list of like.. the top ten most awesome people, if i ever had one... so why not just take him and put him in a hotel alone to display his sick dance moves? I see no reason not to.

Fatboy Slim - Weapon of Choice
Uploaded by 103clips.

I could probably fill this whole page with Spike Jonze videos, but do your self a favor and go to youtube and watch all the spike jonze you can get-- among my other favorites are: da funk- daft punk, praise you- fat boy slim, y-control- the yeah yeah yeahs, big brat- phantom planet, and flashing lights - kanye west.

Jonze's work becomes more and more recognizable as you become farmiliar with it and on this topic I'd like to present a question. You know how once you've become farmiliar with an artist, you may expect certain themes, moods, appearances or just commonalities between his or her works? Is this what it means to be an author and more specifically a director?-- since film is so collaborative, it's hard to give one person credit for it all-- however, as a director, the "author" of the film (not the writer)-- is it your style that marks you as author or is it something else? Is it what we come to expect or is that too restrictive? I'm very interested to hear what any one has to say about the issue of authorship in this respect.

Jonze will be showcasing an exhibition in the Museum of Modern Art on October 15th-- an "Evening of Skate Videos"-- so if you're in the area, CHECK IT OUT!

p.s. Jonze was married to Sofia Coppola for a while-- though they are now divorced, I give him additional points for dating another awesome director-- who you should also check out if ya know whats good for you.

Lets take a little laugh at Jay Cutler

Jay Cutler, the drama-mama's boy QB of this past offseason in the NFL, has proven, time and again, that he is relatively dim-witted for a so-called "elite" player in the league. Over the winter, he whined his way into a trade out of Denver into Chicago, and threw 4 interceptions in his debut as a Bear against his new division rivals, the Green Bay Packers. Although he performed admirably this past Monday night in a win against the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers, he managed to again show his incompetency - though this time through neither his play nor his crying. Good catch though, Jay.

lady in the water (i love sylvia plath)

Contusion
Color floods to the spot, dull purple.
The rest of the body is all washed out,
The color of pearl.

In a pit of rock
The sea sucks obsessively,
One hollow the whole sea's pivot.

The size of a fly,
The doom mark
Crawls down the wall.

The heart shuts,
The sea slides back,
The mirrors are sheeted.

Vulture Stalking a Child

Seen here is "Vulture Stalking a Child," a photograph by Kevin Carter.

For those of you who have never seen this picture before-- it shows a starving Sudanese child being stalked by a vulture.

Carter won the Pulitzer Prize for this image but ran into some moral dilemmas. Should he have helped the child in the photo? Was it right for him to strictly stick to being a photojournalist and not interfere with his subject?

This image is extremely disturbing to me. We see a hardly recognizable child crouched in ball, bones clearly visible-- thin as ever and then a vulture right behind it. I wasn't aware it was stalking the child until reading the title. It just says so much about the condition this child was living in-- the fact that a bird could even consider this person as prey. I mean even thinking about the person in relation to the size of the bird, they don't even seem that much different. On top of that, seeing a person in such a state of malnutrition is even more devastating. Imagine all of the other people who were slowly deteriorating because they didn't have anything to eat. It's almost unimaginable but this photo really speaks volumes.

It's such a powerful picture-- and maybe this could be one of the arguments in support of the picture-- that it brought attention to just how severe conditions were.

Much of me feels like the photographer should have helped this child-- seeing as she looks very close to death.

The photographer committed suicide 3 months later-- much of which people think was due to how much scrutiny he was under for the photo.

yay for girl power!

10 Reasons You Should Listen to Amanda Blank (right now)

1. She defines girl power. Her music is incredibly empowering. She gets right in your face and doesn't make excuses for herself and never monitors herself for other peoples benefit. I think every girl can take a page from her book.

2. Her beats are siccckkkk-- working with the likes of Diplo, Switch, Spank Rock, XXXChange and David Sitek of T.V. on the Radio, how could they not be? If you don't know the aforementioned names... well... I'm not really sure how to help you.

3. She just released a new cd (only 8 bucks on itunes!) and she's touring heavily (she'll be in NYC Nov. 14th, Boston Nov. 16th and Montreal on the 17th). There is not better time to start listening.

4. The girl knows how to party, and who doesn't like that?

5. She is the perfect blend of sugar and spice; she can be downright disgustingly dirty in one breath and in the next be lamenting about needing someone to truly love. She can be just as dirty as the boys, but with a feminine energy that's both innovative and refreshing.

6. She has taken a lot of shit for overt sexual nature of her lyrics, but has never let any one's opinions phase her. She doesn't care what people think of her, as long as shes being true to herself and getting her voice heard. If you like her, that's great, if not, that's fine too. Take it or leave it; I'd suggest taking it.

7. She "rides like Kelly Bundy, keeps that shit nasty." (check her out on Bump off Spank Rocks 2006 album YoYoYoYoYo. There are very few rappers alive who can claim to rap as fast or as nasty as this girl)

8. She can count Santigold and M.I.A. as two of her closest friends; how many people can say that?

9. She always looks fierce. Her personal style is glamorous and fun, but at the same time really natural and beautiful. She rocks 80's style shades and crazy long nails, leotards and acid wash jeans, silver face make-up and leather and somehow makes it all look damn good.

10. This song:

Grizzly Bear, "While you wait for the others"



For those not familiar with Grizzly Bear (indie darlings du jour, albeit with definite staying power), this video will give taste of this Brooklyn quartet. I saw them live this summer and they simply charmed me with their their melodies, energy, and earnestness.
"While you wait for the others" is my favorite track off of their latest album, Veckatimest, released in May of this year. I'm not a huge fan of music videos; I'd prefer the music to speak for itself, particularly when it's actually good music (I'm looking at you, Britney Spears). Still, this video is intriguing...

The Walkmen

I'd like to introduce all of you to The Walkmen. Easily my favorite band, I like almost every single one of their songs. This is pretty rare for me, there is usually a song worth skipping on most albums but I feel like since this isn't a desire while listening to them-- thats good enough reason to call them my favorite.

Their first album, "Everyone Who Pretended To Like Me is Gone" received an 8.7 on pitchfork. Preeeeeeetty damn good for a first album. Their most unique and distinguishable trait is that they incorporate an upright piano into a lot of their songs. Now I know very little about the nuances of making music or what the appropriate terms for things are so I'll give you the laurax lowdown. hmmm that could definitely be some sort of sweet title for a news column or something.... (wishful thinking) ANYWAYsss... The Walkmen are a bit rough but very composed in that way-- they don't sound like something new and when I say that, I mean they don't use much technology in their music. They stick to the basics (for the most part, + upright piano) bass, drums, guitar and an extremely talented frontman who can really push his voice at all the right times.

** Please listen to "The Blizzard of '96"-- a friend of mine said it made him feel like it was snowing. They have this way of inviting you inside their song and creating a kind of climate to be in for about two and a half minutes.

They went on to make "Bows and Arrows" which featured "The Rat," which became pretty popular. A little more fast paced, this album has some more drums but is still distinctly recognizable as The Walkmen. I must admit, the first song I really wanted to play while learning the drums was "Little House of Savages" which turns out to be pretty easy-- a pretty simple beat thats repeated throughout the song.

I think... well.. I know that I have a pretty big crush on Hamilton Leithauser-- he is an amazing vocalist and one of those musicians who sounds almost identical to his albums in concert, which I was seriously impressed with.

Their third album, "A Hundred Miles Off" was not received as well as their others but I thought it was great nonetheless. Listen to "Brandy Alexander" and rock out to some Carribean sounding drum beats. This album is definitely different and not as tightly one style as their others but in this way, I definitely appreciate it and can still identify it as being The Walkmen.

Anyways, since this is pretty much just a ramble-- I IMPLORE you to check out The Walkmen, listen to their music, look at some pictures, watch some videos. I'll leave another one from their latest album "You and Me" (which you should download).

oh and here's one of the only pictures that came out when I saw them play in NYC:

sweet thing.

My sister makes magnets in Portland, Oregon. This one is a nod to Van Morrison's very lovely 1968 album Astral Weeks (check it out on a cool fall afternoon). My sister has had success with her mini-business which gives me hope for the DIY movement even in 'these economic times' which is seemingly all anyone--from your mom to the talking heads on the 8 o'clock news--can talk about.
Still, despite the poor economy (of perhaps because of it), the DIY (do it yourself) movement is experiencing a renaissance. 'Customer confidence' is down and for the first time in decades people are beginning to question corporate America. And, perhaps, because in 2009, we are so far from our roots, people are anxious to get "back to the earth" by making things for themselves.
Burlington is a hotbed of artists and crafters which shoppers can unearth at the weekly Farmer's Market every Saturday in City Hall Park or at stores and galleries around town. The Burlington community is anxious to embrace small and local business and I can only hope that will sustain and spread, as Van says, in another time/in another place.

oh and,

high five!

9.9.9 a tribute to Tim Burton

Though Tim Burton didn't direct "9," it's clear in it's appearance that he had a hand in it. Co-Producied by Burton and Timur Bekmambetov, Directed by Shane Ackman, "9" is an animated movie about a "stitchpunk" named (numbered may be more appropriate) 9. He is part of a group of stitchpunks, who seem to represent most of what is left of civilization. They must find out how to survive and potentially save what's left of society while also fighting off "the machines" who seem to be destroying what life remains. The whole synopsis is a bit hazy, and seems like one of those things you just have to see to understand (or not).




I'm gonna go ahead and rewind back to 1985 when Tim Burton put out "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure." Now if you haven't seen this movie, you're truely missing out on something uniquely special/ weird/ slightly creepy and pretty funny. I think it's safe to say that a lot of Tim Burton's movies have become big cult successes-- "Edward Scissorhands," "Beetle Juice," and arguably many of his others. He wrote "The Nightmare Before Christmas" which has won 3 saturn awards and been nominated for an oscar.

He is an inspiration to me-- seeing that he not only comes up with a compelling story line but also presents it in such a way that is completely his own. Burton seems to take an interest in stories about social outcasts/ social deviants with both "Beetle Juice" and "Edward Scissorhands" and arguably "Big Fish" as well.

A not-so-random fact about Burton: He grew up right near a cemetary. When I read this, it kind of clicked to me, he deals with themes of death often in his movies; after-death beings, skeletons, and there is something very reminiscent of cemeteries in his artistic style.

A question for you: What did you think of his remake of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?"
Is it comparable to the original? Maybe their both good in very different ways... let me know what you think.

As for this brief Tim Burton spat, I think I'm going to end it on how excited I am for his remake of "Alice in Wonderland." I think it was the perfect movie for him in that there are so many opportunities to stylize and just have fun with the story as a whole. There are such a great variety of characters too, and I kind of have a soft spot for Johnny Depp, yeah how unoriginal of me. Oh and it's in 3-D. (Thoughts?)

Blahhhg for thought

Have you ever heard of the theory that the color I see as green could actually be your blue, and someone else's orange, but we all know it as green? What I want to with this blog is to make people see my green. I think text and graphics are really the best way to convey not just what you think, but the way you think. Hopefully I can provide ways to do that. If nothing else, it just might be some interesting reading material.

blaghhh away!

i hope this blog is a diverse collective of blahhhgers. writers and readers alike, we all come from different points of view & perspectives. i think we often live and think insularly(i am guilty of this). i want this blog to open minds and challenge views. mostly, i'd like this blog to be witty, smart, & fun.

i have a love/hate relationship with the blogosphere, but i hope to love this one.

the BLAHG spot

I want this blog to be entertaining. A place where people return to for some clickable goodness. Music, movies, current events and not so current events-- anything that may be interesting in some context or another.

I'm kind of an internet nerd so expect some gadgety, youtubey posts along with the occasional post on things that are so bad their good (Point Break anyone?)

Hope you find this at least somewhat entertaining.

i'll leave you with one of my favorite videos--

and so it begins...

THIS BLOG IS GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT.

Or, most likely, it'll just be full of witty anecdotes, interesting videos and pictures, and intelligent insights into every day life. Hopefully the rants will be minimal and the stories entertaining. I'll try my best enthrall and intrigue the average reader, but if you have no interest in jam bands and the degenerates that are into that sort of thing, I'd stop reading now.