the ¢ollective co

Disneyland: What will you celebrate?

2009-07-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

Its been awhile. But lets come back on something happy... Its summer. its hot! well atleast around these parts! and ive been wanting to go to disneyland.... now im a total cornball when it comes to this kinda stuff but damn... if you dont find this moving in anyway ... i would call you heartless...

enjoy!

I WANT GOEZ TO DIZNEYLANDS! whos with me!

Forever, Michael

2009-06-26T20:24:00.000-07:00

A little over 24 hours ago we were shocked as tweets, updates and queries overloaded Twitter, Facebook and Google with the King of Pop’s death. It was sort of surreal when I first read it in my Twitter timeline. Like many, I couldn't keep up with the "updates." I had heard he suffered a heart attack... and then was in a coma... and couldn’t believe it when the news broke that he had passed. I refused to believe it until CNN or NPR made an official statement and even then it seemed unreal. At the age of 50, the international superstar passed away after suspected cardiac arrest in his Los Angeles home.

24 hours later, the news is just now starting to sink in for me. It’s hard to explain, but in my mind it just didn’t seem possible that THE Michael Jackson could die. I had grown up listening to Michael. He sang the soundtrack of my childhood and adolescent life and in my twenties it’s his songs that get me on the dance floor every time at any club (you can’t tell me you don’t get the urge whenever you hear a hint of “Beat It” or my all time fave, “PYT”). I guarantee that we’ve all got some memory that involves a Michael Jackson hit (my memory? My very first junior high slow dance was to “You Are Not Alone” lol!).

Love him or hate him, you can’t deny his talent and the timeless influence he’s had on the music industry. The youngest member of the Jackson 5, he quickly out-shined his siblings at an early age. During his solo career, he went on to earn 13 Grammy awards, 13 #1 singles, and sell over 750 million records... tell me that don’t give the man some braggin’ rights!

In the early 80s he became a dominant figure in the pop world after his breakthrough album, Off the Wall, and the world's best-selling record of all time, Thriller. And who could forget his "mini-film" for "Thriller" that forever set the bar for subsequent music videos? Oh, and his dance moves? They've influenced everyone from Chris Brown to Usher, and even inmates at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in the Philippines.

But, as we all know, behind most musical geniuses is often a troubled soul. Michael Jackson, with his unorthodox lifestyle, was no exception. He was by no means a role model and for the last decade of his life, was the center of controversy and scandal. Anyone with his level of stardom would clearly have to battle some personal demons during his/her lifetime, which without a doubt would effect one's professional life and image too. Out of respect, I won't go into those details here. Besides, I'm sure all that-- and more-- will resurface elsewhere as the days go by...

However, despite all that, as we found out about his death, people of all ages everywhere flocked to music stores to complete their MJ collections, hundreds gathered in the streets to celebrate his legacy, and DJs played tribute to him all night long. And if you ask me, that’s a testament to his musical greatness. Although many may try, his legacy is unlikely to be surpassed (or forgotten).

May you rest in Peace, Power and Paradise, Michael Jackson. No matter what, we never can say goodbye.

Back to the Feature

2009-06-22T15:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, so my i'm-over-hip-hop phase is kinda over...

If you recall, I've been a fan of Wale for a while. I've been bumpin' his last two mixtapes for a minute and finally, the long awaited Back to the Feature mixtape dropped this weekend via twitter.

From an initial run through, it holds it's own against 100 miles and running, which was my fave. I still have to give it a really good listen, but so far so good.

Sharing is caring, so download it and let us know what you think.

Also, if you're in the Bay you can catch Wale live at PST tomorrow night.

AD NAUSEUM: Her Morning Elegance

2009-06-14T16:54:00.000-07:00

I've been going through my usual I'm-over-hip-hop phase. I'm currently uninterested in the new new that's floating around out there and have either completely immersed myself in other genres or gone back to the classic old love-of-my-life hip hop. Recently, I stumbled onto Oren Lavie's video for "Her Morning Elegance" and since then have been absolutely in love with both the video and song. Maybe it's due to my current state of mind, but the melody invokes a sense of nostalgia. "Her Morning Elegance" was featured in a Chevy Malibu commercial that first aired back in February '08:

According to Oren Lavie's bio, he's never owned a car in his life. Nonetheless, I thought the song was fitting.

Now peep the video, which was released on iTunes on January 20th of this year as the download of the week:

It's become one of my favorite videos. I've probably watched it a dozen times since finding it late Friday night.

The song is off the album The Opposite Side of the Sea (US released 2008). His website includes a brief yet entertaining history of the album, upcoming shows and a "bad reviews" section with Oren's responses to said reviews, which I thought was pretty cool.

Welcome Home Agent Mike: AIDS Lifecycle 2009

2009-06-13T17:15:00.000-07:00

(family and friends cheer the riders on as they ride into closing ceremonies)

Last weekend Dee, myself, and a ton of other people welcomed more than 2,000 riders from the AIDS Lifecycle ride into Los Angeles for the completion of the week long ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise $10.5M for AIDS research, aid, and education. Participating this year was our very own Agent Mike.

Watching more than 2000 people ride in on bikes was impressive and the ceremonies to follow were moving. Between the videos of the ride and the speakers speaking on the state of AIDS in the US, there weren't many dry eyes in the crowd. With the many other things going on in the world, we often tend to forget the things that aren't in our face all of the time. Although it is not often in the news, AIDS is still a big problem facing people all over the world. Hearing people talk about AIDS in a very personal way, seeing flags dedicated to those affected, and all of the HIV positive participants (the positive pedaler holding the flag to the right) helped to remind those at the ceremony how real it all still is, and how much more of a problem it is in these economic times (government is looking to cut AIDS funding as a way to save money). It seemed, from all of the riders, that the experience was a very positive one. In speaking with mike, and watching the closing ceremonies, it made me really want to participate in the ride next year.

So in short, congrats to Agent Mike, and the rest of the 2000+ riders in your 545 mile journey through california and in raising so much money in such hard times, the feat is impressive to say the least!

(Agent Mike makes it home)

Another Ozzy clip? Samsung Alias 2 X OZZY OZBOURNE

2009-05-21T12:58:00.000-07:00

Well everyone knows we like new gadgets... And well every now and then some voodoo... Thanks to Stacy Stace for this cool little clip of Samsung's cool new Alias 2 cell phone. And to those wondering.. yes we read every single email we do get!

what you want more?
ehh..

check out SAMSUNG DOT COMZ

Pacquiao's post-colonial knockout

2009-05-12T01:19:00.000-07:00

Although it's almost been two weeks since the big Pacquiao vs. Hatton fight, Pilipinos are still rejoicing and reliving the moment they saw the astonishing knock-out. Even from a hospital bed my dad, who doesn't follow boxing what-so-ever, gushed about Pacquiao's win when I came to visit him.

I can't even front-- I don't know anything about boxing either. However, I was born and bred in the Yay so if anything big goes down involving Pilipinos, I'll hear about it.

That said, I came across this interesting read on wiretap and wanted to post it since I couldn't have said it any better myself:

Why Pacquiao Matters
by Matthew Ledesma

I grew up in Turlock, CA. Born in Manila, Philippines, but I spent childhood and adolescence in a small suburban/rural city in the California Central Valley. During elementary and high school, I was able to count all the other Filipinos on one hand.

College and post-college life was split between San Diego and the Bay Area; both areas are demographically far different from what I experienced growing up. These two cities are political opposites, but have, among others, one thing in common: a critical mass of Filipino-Americans. Having lived in areas where faces were similar to mine, I was able to be comfortable in my own skin. There was no need to explain where the Philippines and what a Filipino is.

How does this all connect back to Manny “Pacman” Pacqiuao, who recently presented Hatton with a post-colonial knockout? Along with others, he has facilitated the process of making Filipinos a common face in the mainstream. He’s had two of HBO’s award winning series 24/7 feature him, and he’s been the topic of conversation on Sports Center numerous times. It’s cool to see Mickey Rourke and Mark Wahlberg be enthusiasts, but it’s even fresher to know that Diddy and Jay-Z threw after parties for him. With the cries of boxing’s decline, considering the current “post-De La Hoya” period, Pacquiao’s left hook resonates to boxing fans and casual observers and prevents the “____ is dead” discussions from inflating.

With all the success, he has been able to stay grounded and humble, fighting not for self-glorious reasons but for the people of the Philippines, the bayan. For a turbulent country that has had little in the ways of optimism, he offers the people hope. One just needs to be reminded of the mythical, yet true, anecdote that crime and gunfire stops in the Philippines during a Pacquiao fight. While he lacks what I wish he possessed, a consciousness of Ali, who spoke against racism and for social justice, Pacquiao sees the inspiration that he instills in the people of the Philippines and the Filipinos who have since been part of the diaspora.

For the Filipino American, the past couple years have allowed us to move away from the margins. A lot of work still needs to be done in terms of institutional change, but for the youth growing up today, the change has been seen within whom they are able to identify on television. Jabbawockeez and almost every other crew on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew has provided semblance of similarity. Cherice Pempengco, Arnel Pineda, and more recently, Rin on the Rox [sidenote by agent dee: Rox is from the Vee! w00t! Vallejo, stand up!] made names for themselves via YouTube, gained national attention, and appeared on various television programs. Additional names have also been making waves in other sectors of pop culture.

Growing up in Turlock, all I had was Rufio and Ernie Reyes, Jr. I remember having to argue with classmates that they were Filipino and not Chinese. But what is different today, is that today’s Filipino youth have individuals who are not forced to hide their identity to appeal to a broader audience. Rather, many of the Filipinos currently in the mainstream proudly wear their culture on their chest. We see flags being waved on MTV and t-shirts emblazoned with the eight-rayed sun.

Filipino youth living in pockets with a large Filipino community have been able to identify with people that look like them on a daily basis. For the youth living in the Central Valley or the Midwest and whose parents do not have The Filipino Channel, it is a more alienating experience. The alienation lessens when you see folks that could be your kuya, ate, pinsan, tito, or tita on your television set, offering themselves as a role model who wants you to be proud of your heritage and the country from which your parents had been pushed.

Currently, it would appear that it’s fly to be Filipino. Though, many Filipinos would say that we have always been fly. Whether or not this is a “Filipino renaissance” will remain to be seen, but it’s important to take notice that the margins are not a place where Filipinos plan to stay.

The Making of Lance Armstrong X OBEY X TREK Madone for Giro D'Italia

2009-05-06T00:27:00.000-07:00

Shepard Fairey’s Trek Madone being created for Lance Armstrong’s run in the 2009 Giro d’Italia by Trek artist Shane Siedschlag.

Lance’s artist bike series is curated by Jamie O’Shea/Supertouch (supertouchart.com) in an effort to raise awareness for the upcoming “Stages” art show to benefit the Livestrong Foundation that kicks off on July 16th during the Tour de France 2009.

Official White House Flickr: A Behind The Scenes Look @ OBAMA

2009-05-04T09:55:00.000-07:00

The Official White House Photostream's photostream

This Photostream provides an amazing look behind the scenes of President Barack Obama during his tenure of Presidency. Amazing what this photographer can catch with just 1 shot moments, no lighting, and no setup. Alot of these images are very powerful, and i think due to the improvisation of every photo it brings it that much more to life.

I can really appreciate all that Obama and his staff are doing to find new media outlets to spread the message. Its very effective in involving the people around America and giving us these type of insights on how our administration works. This type of marketing takes some of the edge off what was once known as the all powering Government.

Swine Flu - Bird Flu '09

2009-05-03T13:44:00.000-07:00

Well it seems swine flu (also known as influenza A(H1N1)) is all the rage on TV and internet news, this years bird flu. While some, like myself, are not really worrying much about it, others are flooding hospitals at the smallest sign of flu-like symptoms. If you are worried you might have it, check if you have it here before going to a hospital.

While there seems to be more any more cases popping up every day, it seems scientists might be on there way to pinpoint its origin and how to prevent it in the future:

On a more serious note, please realize that if you are going to catch swine flu, you are going to catch it from other people, not from eating pork, so go on, enjoy that lechon!

Mayer Hawthorne Breaks it Down

2009-05-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

Lately I've really been feelin' Stones Throw's newest artist: Mayer Hawthorne. His debut single, "Just Ain't Gonna Work Out"-- released on red heart-shaped vinyl-- has a charming retro/Motown vibe, similar to that of Amy Winehouse and Raphael Saadiq's latest album.

Hawthorne was featured on BBC 1Xtra with Benji B not too long ago. Peep the show to hear some of his upcoming tracks (my personal faves are "I Wish It Would Rain" and Love's Alright") and find out more about this soulful white boy from Motor City. Don't sleep.

MASH SF haz Vimeo Page On Cycling Vidz

2009-04-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

THE REVIVAL from morehartfilms on Vimeo.

.

our favorite renegade cycling bunch set up a video page to share all videos fixie/track related.. check them out.... lots of great ones on there..

http://vimeo.com/channels/mash

Bay Area GET DOWN! What's Jerkin?

2009-04-29T09:55:00.000-07:00

Well.. Another dance craze to report on. Now a few of us from the ¢ollective were in the bay area last weekend for SF BEERFEST, which was totally awesome btw. (Big ups to Agent Adrian for the organization of such a large crew from Los Angeles, San Diego, Irvine, all over CA.)

So here we were, a few of us in the Westfield Shopping Centre SF / Powell Bart Station Mall. and i was headed out of Bloomingdales with a good friend of mine on the way to check out Clarks or something, and i see a bunch of hypebeast/skater kids straight up just dancing in the mall...

I didnt think anything of it and thought it was just some random crazy stuff. But then i passed these two filipino kids on the escalator (they looked young) and i heard them talking about these other kids (the ones i saw earlier dancing in front of the Banana Republic. And as soon as we stepped off the escalator, he proceeded to attempt his dance moves, which was similar.

It was at that moment i was like WTF is going on... When it all hit me like a MACK truck... THEY WERE JERKIN...

Now here in LA my friends and I have this little inside joke about this song JERKIN by new boyz... One of the good homies would always bump this hard, and now in my car i bump this hard... My favorite Jerkin vid is still with the little kid in the playground on the kiddie slide, thats always funny!

So to all those SF kids i saw in the mall getting down... Go ahead! and get ya JERKIN on!

This is how we get down JERKIN in C-ARSON. South Bay Edition!

Im On A Bike! - Lonely Island?

2009-04-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

well many of you know about im on a boat feat. tpain and lonely island .....

but since most of us here on the collective dont own a boat.. .we really cant relate... but we sure as heck can relate to riding a bike!!!!

gotta love white people doing they thang!!!! here is another classic white rapper!!!
this one is for you mike..

We're Going To Have To Let You Go...

2009-04-23T02:27:00.001-07:00

(a photo of the area where I used to work, taken that day)

Two weeks ago, I walked in late to work on a Monday (I was weaseling my way out of jury duty) and found the rest of my company (all four of them) in the usual Monday meeting. As I walked in and said, "Hi" I received an odd response, one person choked out a good morning. I figured they were just surprised to see me so early as I said I would be out for jury duty.

I sat down, participated in the remainder of the meeting, as usual, and returned to my desk. I cranked out some work (I was very productive that day) until lunch time came around. I called in a Turkey Cobb from Con Pane (some of the best sandwiches in town) and got ready to go pick it up when my project manager suggested that I cancel my lunch order and he could take me to lunch. This seemed odd as we usually went to lunch on Fridays, and he never took me lunch, we went and got lunch together. This seemed odd but I didn't think much more of it.

As we were driving to get some fish tacos from Blue Water Grill (best grilled fish tacos, period) I noticed, in my peripherals, that my project manager was looking at me a lot. It seemed as if he was trying to gauge my mood or get some sort of feedback from me. I thought this was odd but just kept acting as I normally would.

I stepped up and ordered my food and so did my project manager and he pulled out the corporate card. I asked, "oh, it's on the company today?" and he responded with a simple, yet uneasy, "yeah." I walked over to use the restroom while he finished paying. I used the toilet, washed my hands, paused, looked at myself in the mirror and said out loud, "I'm getting fired."

I went out and joined my project manager at the table. We made a little small talk and when we hit a small lull in the conversation, he started in with, "I'm sure you know why we're here." It was pretty generic, but very fitting. We sat and talked for a long while, it was a very positive meeting and I took a lot away from it. I went back to the office, signed the paperwork with my boss, and then was asked to pack up my things and leave that day.

Overall this is a positive thing. I was looking to move on soon and this puts me in a better place financially than if I had quit. Positives aside though, it was a very surreal experience. For much of it (after lunch), I felt very detached from the process, it was as if I was observing what was happening, rather than being a part of it. For over two years they trusted me in foreign countries, a company cell phone, and a company credit card, yet, they spoke of my departure as if I was never trusted to return to the office (even if for a visit). If I forgot anything, just e-mail someone and they could get it for me. I understand they have to protect themselves, but it felt as if I was being voted off the island, rather then respectfully discharged.

Above all though, the oddest thing about it all is a loss of identity. I am no longer a Design Engineer for an environmental company, I am defined by the other things (volunteer, unemployed engineer, etc.). No matter how much you may not like your job, it is still a huge part of who you are and to lose that identity was probably the biggest adjustment of all.

That being said, here's to bigger and better things!

Lindsay Lohan X eHarmony X FunnyOrDie.com

2009-04-14T09:01:00.000-07:00

Lindsay Lohan's eHarmony Profile from Lindsay Lohan

my future ex baby momma... god i love you lindsay lohan.....

and yes to those know my type... lindsay lohan would be perfect for me.... gotta love her!

Leica M8 X Lumix DMC-G1 X Ricoh GR2 ?

2009-04-13T09:56:00.000-07:00

(LEICA M8 WHITE EDITION msrp: $8 or 9k)

well once again chatting it up with a good friend.. i got drawn in...
wanting more shit i just dont need but really really want.... actually i guess i could use it especially since i use a digital camera every day... however these are less or worker cameras.. and more of bling bling type cameras... and semi-unnecessary

ok...so what do these cameras all have in common??? well they are all digital cameras yea.... that is pretty obvious....other than that....well basically they are all cameras that i just want... why?? welll because they have the awesome ness.. they have the style... they have the name... they have the tech (ok maybe not the best tech but damn good enough)

*edit and to all the leica haters ... please leave the comments of leicas being over priced lumix's/panaonics (btw i added a lumix i also badly want)

ok so back to the cameras...well currently here are two very limited LEICA M8 DIGITALS... im not gonna bore you with specs..because there is tons of info on the LEICA M8... but just appreciate the awesomeness of these cameras.... the top is the special WHITE edt... and the bottom is the LEICA M8 SAFARI edition

(LEICA M8 SAFARI EDITION msrp: $10k)

i am currently a user of a canon rebel xsi ...AND NO... THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.... but its not a LEICA

nope... works great.. lots of lenses... great price.. yadda yadda yadda.....

well then... whats my problem??? well knowing that these other cameras exist.... and me not having any extra money to have them in my grubby little hands!!!!

now in addition to the leica m8.. i also lust for these other cameras listed below...

RICOH GR 2 DIGITAL
why ??? well the ever so popular mini do it all compact semi slr digital camera.... when i was last in japan the RICOH GR digital was everywhere!

and for very good reason... its sleek its sexy... it fits in you pocket.. and its expandable... you can get some great attachements and have some digital SLR power in a mini micro form....

very famous camera seen with the likes of DESIGN GURU HIROSHI FUJIWARA

PANASONIC / LUMIX DMC-G1
why??? ok well micro four thirds thats why... a new standard .. trying to unite cameras digital slrs and new compact cameras.... it seems like a good idea and hopefully it gets implemented... it currently is also compatible with other four thirds system lenses....

micro four thirds is just the newest system to try and unify this crazy camera world in finding a common standard... and i think its a great step in terms of innovation.. however photography is one of those hobbies with some serious retro grouches!!! who hate progress and think.. that if it aint broke.... then dont fix it!!!

the lumix dmc-g1 comes in great colors... and is technically the smallest full functioning slr on the market especially since this camera is without a mirror box... its truly a digital camera... which allows the body to be slightly smaller than a regular digital slr.... but its not really that much smaller...

OLYMPUS MICRO FOUR THIRDS
why??? because micro four thirds... and the way it was meant to be... this camera is the size of a normal pocket point and shoot..

but promising the features of changeable lenses and accessories and etc.. making your once small digital point and shooter a great contender for some serious photography power!!!

this is the ultimate baby.. and i cant wait.. these pictures are quite old so we should be seeing something soon from these guys... but lets just wait and see... if this stuff comes out.. im for sure switching over to micro four thirds... its pretty much what i wanted out of the RICOH GR 2 DIGITAL... but with more support and expandability....

Claremont 56 X OKI-Ni X Independent Music Label

2009-04-09T09:36:00.000-07:00

Claremont 56 is an independent label dedicated to releasing beautiful music that has been lovingly crafted and genuinely felt. The music is released in limited edition format and is collected around the world. Oki-Ni is the premiere fashion boutique from London Uk... what happens when you mix the two?

you get some good music! check it out here...

Claremont 56 has a really interesting blog going which can be seen here

the music mixes are also very nice to listen to while im working on the computer, having in the background, and just enjoying some great relaxing time.. those mixes are free to download on their blog...

i personally havnt had the chance to puchase any of their records, esp after having a talk with agent mike in regards to starting up a record collection....

but i just figure im just way to behind... and just even thinking about the money investment its gonna take to start a audiophile record set up and collection is just making me that more hesitant....

but if i had the time and scratch .... you best believe id have some claremont 56 in my collection! but if you are like me and downloading the mixes is all you have time for.. then do so!!! toss on a pair of great headphones!!! and ur ears will thank you!!!
happy listenings!

Kanye and co. on South Park

2009-04-09T08:33:00.000-07:00

left-to-right: taz arnold of sa-ra, fonzworth bentley, kanye, don c of sa-ra, and chris julian of fruition/undftd lv

In last night's episode of South Park, Matt Stone and Trey Parker didn't have to get very creative to be funny. Kanye and his people are already caricatures of themselves in real life so they just drew them exactly as they showed up to fashion week in Paris this year.

Peep the original photo that made its rounds on the intarwebz a few months ago, after the jump...

Rock the Bells '09

2009-04-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

Guerilla Union/Myspace: Rock The Bells 2009 Lineup Freestyle

spotted on NahRight

Another dope line-up for this year's Rock the Bells... and if you're on the left coast, perhaps the last time you can catch The Roots here live before their much deserved touring hiatus.

It's also pretty tight to see Supernat kick a free like that in person.

Ararat, Australia: Population 11,653

2009-04-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

If you have met my mom, you know she is from Australia. The common question that proceeds this acquired knowledge is, "where in Australia is she from?" I respond with "Ararat," which with the exception of about 2 occasions get a blank stare, and I follow it with, "about 2 hours outside of Melbourne."

At that point they are usually satisfied and that conversation is over. But now, thanks to the wonders of youtube and the internet, I can point them to the above video and let it do all the talking.

Thanks Chad, Steve, and Jawed!

(what's with the cheesy wannabe porn music during the hot tub scene?!)

Adult Swim April Fool's 2009... Damn you got me

2009-04-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

ok... so i guess last night i wasnt the only one confused when the clock struck 12am.... every year i get april fooled like a chump... and last year it was to 2 very good friends who tricked me into thinking one of my homegirls was preggoz... (damn you els and tes!)

and this year??? well ADULT SWIM... lets just say you REALLY caught me off guard....

so..... as i do every night before i sleep.. i switch the channel over to adult swim for some great late night entertainment.... however this time i was on my computer and typing away as the clock turned midnight and then something happened to my precious late night cartoons!

and apparently i wasnt the only one confused as hell!

SO WHAT HAPPENEND? well at about 12 or so im not quite sure.. adult swim changed their normal programming to showing some cheezy ass cheap terrible bad acting cult classic soft core porno.. entitled: "THE ROOM" and let me tell you i had no idea what the heck was going on! i never even heard of this movie before.. and its bad... real bad!!!

i mean you guys did not know what you were missing.. i was confused so bad that i was flipping between the two adult swim channels (east coast and west coast) thinking that my cable company messed up and showed some time... however after about 10 mins of watching this film i knew it was a joke from adult swim....

there was terrible dub overs during the sex scenes...

horrible placements of censorship when the sex scenes were happening...

and just the terrible acting all along had me laughing for a good 5 to 10 minutes.... and honestly i was pissed that someone already got me... on april fools... at 12am on the dot.... damn you ADULT SWIM!!!!!

and kudos... because i was seriously pissed i didnt get to see family guy, or morel orel, or robot chicken...

now off to the rest of my 2009 april fools....

ADULT SWIM WEBFORUM: THE ROOM!!!
SOME CONFUSED ASS GAMERS @ G4
PEOPLE CONFUSED OVER AT WORLD OF WAR CRAFT

Is Global Warming Really THAT Important?

2009-03-31T21:42:00.001-07:00

(Photo courtesy of NOVA's newest documentary Extreme Ice,
definitely check it out for the photography if nothing else)

To be honest, I never thought I would utter the words in the title...EVER. I am a self-proclaimed environmentalist and take climate issues (notice how I stay away from "climate change") very seriously. The title has to do with the front page article in the New York Times Magazine, The Global-Warming Heretic.

The article is about the background and global views of Scientist Freeman Dyson, one of the most liberal (he has an Obama sticker on his car), intelligent, and outspoken scientists AGAINST the threat of global warming being the biggest issue facing society today believing that "all the fuss about global warming is grossly exaggerated." He believes that much of what is conveyed in media like The Inconvenient Truth is propaganda that is blinding us from looking at the facts and information.

I won't get too deep into his beliefs (I do not know him personally and they are now 2 times removed as I am basing them off the article) but Dyson believes that Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere could actually be beneficial for the earth by serving as a nutritional source for certain plants and that any excess carbon could be dealt with using carbon hungry trees. He is concerned with the "enormous gaps in our knowledge." Much of our data (especially that used by Gore) relies heavily on computer generated models and calculations rather than known facts. His biggest problems with these models seem to be that they are over simplified, they do not take into account the biology and chemistry of the atmosphere as a whole. As an engineer who was worked with computer models, I know one of the downfalls is we (as people) tend to use computer models as fact when they are doing what we think they should be doing, and fiction when they are doing something we didnt expect (especially in the face of many unknowns).

The article in the times was well written and pretty long, it spanned the history of Dyson, where he had worked, and what experiences helped him draw his knowledge. But with all those words on the page, VERY few of them focused on what he thought was MORE important. They did grace over his views on coal, both as a horrendous polluter and a catalyst for movement from poverty to the middle class in developing countries like China and India. They also quoted him as saying that we would be "better to attack the real problems like extinction and over fishing." But those 3 things, as well as his views on nuclear weapons were about the extent of the discussion (and the brevity of the discussion was honestly lost in the word count).

I guess what I take issue with the most in the Times article is it treats the issue like a black and white situation, which is how the issue is generally treated. Much of this is probably due to the fact that this scientific issue has become a political one, and politics in America, in recent history, has moved from a "democracy" of open discussion, understanding, and working together, to one of being right or wrong, no in-between. Much time was spent on why Dyson didn't believe the facts and how he came to become a scientist, but little was spent on what issues he DID feel was important. By not spending a decent amount of time on Dyson's view of what IS important, it prevents us from opening up a dialogue that might lead to an understanding on what should be our priorities and how to move forward to fight global warming.

I myself believe global warming is happening and believe it is an issue that my generation needs to take very seriously. I don't often get into discussions about the facts because the truth is, I do not know them like the back of my hand and I will admit that a lot of my views are based on what I feel and the information I have received from sources I trust (Dyson would say this is one of the problems). I will however talk about the causes because whether or not you believe in it, the causes are all problems for everyone, no matter who you are. We can't drive SUVs for the rest of lives, hell, we can't drive hybrids for the rest of lives, because oil is FINITE. We need to move to alternative fuels so we can save oil for the things that can only be done with oil (until we come up with a better technology of course). Not only is oil a global warming issue, but it is a political one as well and sooner we rid our selves of our dependency on oil, we rid ourselves of out dependency on other countries.

We cannot continue to consume at the levels that we are consuming. We need to stop buying pallets of water at the store on a weekly basis (the only thing better than recycling or reusing is not consuming) and eating out as often. We have miles of open spaces across the globe, but there is no reason to fill them with trash. Not to mention many of the products we consume are also made from FINITE materials such as oil.

There is no one solution to any global issue we face, whether it be global warming or poverty. To take on something like global warming we need multiple approaches including education, regulation, a change of lifestyle, technological advancements, solid and reliable research, affordable renewable energy, an ability to prioritize, and more. It's not going to be easy, and it's not going to be quick. But until we can stop treating this like a right and wrong issue (and excluding the opposite side from the discussions at meetings and conferences) and opening up a dialogue among people with different, educated, opinions, issues such as climate change and its causes are never going to be solved properly.

SHAMPWN3D? Vince of Sham WOW caught punchin hookers?

2009-03-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

Damnit! say it aint so Vince !!! say it aint soo!!!!! ok... so according to the smoking gun.... my seriously favorite tv infomercial spokes man Vince of Sham Wow, was caught punchin hookers in the face... after this chick straight tried to kiss him and bit onto his tounge and wouldnt let go!!!

i mean damn Vince really? you had to punch her in the face?

well according to the cops they said that they immediately can tell that they were both quite intoxicated and then found about $900ish in the hookers purse.

now it looks like ill have to keeep a close watch on BILLY MAYS ... especially with the release of his gangsta remix .... BILLY MAYS BREAKIN YA BACK BITCH!

"ok you seriously didnt think id post about vince and not post his commercial as well ????

Mos Def: DOOM > Lil Wayne… duh.

2009-03-29T18:42:00.000-07:00

Mos: “I’d bet a million dollars on DOOM against Lil Wayne.”

The above clip catches Mos candidly just chillin’ and reciting favorite rap lyrics, a familiar scene for any hip hop head. I guess Mos is a DOOM fanboy just like the rest of us.

Let’s hope the flow-like-interstellar-wind never goes autotune. Or, starts thinking he can play the guitar. Fail.

(Yes, Mos is obviously high and rolling a J. Doesn't mean he isn't speaking the truth.)

Big Mac! Fillet O Fish! Quarter Pounder! Apple Pie....

2009-03-27T13:50:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when you are a superstar and act a fool..... i guess people in paris dont know who pharrell is?

git em skateboard p!

Another One Bites The Dust! Active Ride Shop Bankrupt

2009-03-25T21:29:00.000-07:00

Tough times... Bad economy... unpredictable stock markets.... crazy real estate markets.... etc.... just another one bites the dust! Active Ride Shop has filed for a CH 11 bankruptcy. Which actually means its not all that bad for them... just some good ol protection and reorganization of the company...

About Active:

Established in 1989, Active Ride Shop maintains its position among the top retailers and mail order businesses in the action sports industry. Awarded Surf Industry (SIMA) Men’s Retailer of the Year (2008), #1 Specialty Retailer by the Future Trade, #36 on DNR’s “top 50 most influential menswear retailers.” Active has locations throughout Southern California and delivers catalogs to action sports enthusiasts nationwide. Active Ride Shop sponsors the most elite skateboarders and snowboarders in the world, and is proud of its offering of the finest brands an hottest trends in the industry. For more information about Active Ride Shop, visit www.activerideshop.com.

basically its SO CAL'S premier HYPEBEAST super store!

read on!

Active has closed eight stores during the past few weeks, bringing its current store count to 21. The stores that have closed are in San Diego (downtown, Las Americas and Chula Vista), Mission Viejo, Lake Elsinore, Westwood, Irvine (Alton Parkway), and Simi Valley. Three more stores are on "the bubble" and will stay open if the company is able to renegotiate leases with landlords, Active co-owner Shane Wallace told me in an interview.

ACTIVE CEO Shane said many of the stores that closed did not have time to mature before the economic crisis hit and were "sucking cash from the company." He also said Active opened some new stores too near to older stores and that cluster strategy did not work.

Other new stores, such as Santa Monica, are doing well. "We found we do great as a destination, not as a cluster," he said.

Shane said that he hopes the bankruptcy filing, while painful, will allow the company, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, to begin the healing process and return to being a strong company with 21 stores instead of 29.

now for months i knew this was going to happen... but damn i didnt think that it was ACTUALLY gonna happen!!! ... 1st sign that i knew it was a wrap for ACTIVE was talking with a Burton rep asking why Burton wasnt being carried for the 08/09 season... just a quick simple answer...

ACTIVE doesnt pay their bills!

pretty much they built faster than they can earn... large pretty stores.... fully stocked... awesome locations.... but just not enough income to offset all those huge bills!!!

word on the street is that ACTIVE owes BURTON like over 2 million alone in unpaid bills.... so what they do? come in.. kick down the door... and take back their shit...Interestingly, only BURTON is on the list of secured creditors...Secured creditors get payment priority in a bankruptcy.

werd up BURTON.. handle biz.... i hope other clothing lines aren't seriously affected by the fall of ACTIVE... here is a list of who owes what

Annual Revenues
3/31/07: $58.9 million
3/31/08: $61.8 million
3/31/09: $59.9 million (projected)

Annual net income (loss)
3/31/07: $368,356
3/31/08: ($2 million)
3/31/09: ($7.7 million) projected

M83 x L.A. Philharmonic: Saturdays = Underwhelming

2009-03-23T22:29:00.000-07:00

French outfit M83’s Saturdays=Youth was easily one of the best albums of 2008, if not the best outright. The sweeping synths, layers of distortion, and dramatic vocals combine for an epic sound reminiscent of 80s Shoegaze a la Cocteau Twins. Basically, Saturdays=Youth is a full album of songs fit for final scenes of John Hughes films. When I heard that M83 was collaborating with the L.A. Phil for a show at the Disney Concert Hall, there was no decision to be made about whether or not to go. It was a no-brainer...

Having seen amazing L.A. Phil collaborations with modern artists before (including Air in ’04 [!!!]) and considering how well M83 songs lend themselves to orchestral accompaniment (strings ftw), my expectations were through the roof.

Not unlike post-rock contemporaries Sigur Ros and Explosions in the Sky, the best part about M83’s music is the slow build-up to an exhilarating crescendo. It feels wrong to criticize what most would probably agree was beautiful music (and it was beautiful), but the show was a disappointment. Don’t get me wrong… there were certainly some high points, but they were fleeting. Maybe they underutilized the virtuosity of the L.A. Phil. Maybe they didn’t play enough of the latest album (srsly, they didn’t even play "Kim & Jessie". WTF, right?). Or maybe I just expected too much. Whatever it was, something was missing that night.

That said, the L.A. Phil has def stepped their game up as of late with their shiny, new musical director, 28-year-old wunderkind Gustavo Dudamel. Also, to admire the design of the Disney Concert Hall was worth the price of admission alone. It’s as breathtaking on the inside as it is on the outside. Plus the acoustics in there are out of this world. If you live in L.A., DON’T SLEEP.

Anyway, here’s a Bloc Party remix that they played, 2 tracks off Saturdays=Youth that they SHOULD have played, and my favorite Cocteau Twins song for good measure.

MP3s:
Bloc Party – The Pioneers (M83 Remix)
M83 – We Own The Sky
M83 – Highway of Endless Dreams
Cocteau Twins – Lorelei

(edit: late pass on this. had a busy past couple weeks so kept forgetting to post this up. my bad.)

Bloomingdale's Men's Spring 2009

2009-03-22T19:27:00.000-07:00

The Bloomingdale's Men's Spring Catalog for 2009 came in my mail box in the past couple weeks and between the science nerd/engineer that I am, and the well-dressed fashionable person I wish I was, I enjoyed thumbing through this catalog a lot.

The locations for the photos included the Hoover Dam and the El Dorado Valley dry lake in Nevada. The locations provided a nice juxtaposition of the sleek stylings by the likes of Hugo Boss, Velntino and John Varvatos, and the old industrial technology of a hydroelectric plant built in the 1930s (as well as a dry river basin).

When the New York Times Fashion Magazine came out with the spring fashion recently and didn't do too much for me. Between the sport coats over shorts (never been a big fan) and the poofy dress-like shorts, I was not too excited by most of the styles or the possibility that some of them could make it to mainstream fashion. I do, however, respect the fashion presented in the magazine, I understand that while Bloomindale's is trying to make money, the NYT fashion magazine is trying to push the boundaries of fashion. Truth be told, many of these ideas have or will come to fruition in mainstream fashion (see sport coats over shorts).

Some highlights, product-wise, for me (a guy in jeans, t-shirt, and a hole-y pair of socks) have to be the Burberry brown wool suit, the selection of socks (step your small details game up), Theory grey suit, John Varvatos plaid convertible jacket, Aquascutum LTD aquamatic packable raincoat, and the Sutor Mantellassi Off-white/orange weekender bag.

Do I plan on dropping the money to buy this stuff full price as it comes out? No way, but it sure is nice to look at and appreciate none the less.

REMEMBER THIS!? Smiles & Southstar VS JaRule and Ashanti

2009-03-18T15:28:00.000-07:00

for some reason i cant stop playing these two songs.... i dont know if i hate both equally or it bugs me that both used the exact same sample and were released at about the same time....

if anyone knows where smilez and southstar are.. please have them holler at me.. haha..... i miss yall two...

ok not really...

Tweeters: Newsies Of The New Century

2009-03-12T20:44:00.000-07:00

I think people are too quick to judge Twitter. For most tweeters (people who use twitter), yes, it is nothing more than Facebook status messages. For news organizations, blogs, and websites, it is the Newsboy of the new century. In Newsies they had the time it took for someone to pass by them to sell a paper, in twitter, they have 140 characters. It was said by Jack, in the movie, "headlines don't sell papes, Newsies sell papes!" This holds true for blogs and news feeds on twitter as well. A publication's ability to generate traffic via twitter is based on their ability to generate interest in 140 characters or less.

People are so quick to jump on the next hottest thing in hopes of being on top of what's hot, and for a lot of people that's Twitter. But though there are people quick to jump on every new bandwagon, there's even more people just as quick to jump on the hater hearse (Officially coined CollectiveCo 2009, I googled it). I think that it is a little premature. While I agree with some points against the usefulness of a message conveyed in 140 characters and the lack of manners some seem to demonstrate in public (it's quite a bit like texting), they might want to ponder the importance of twitter as a tool to spread ideas. Yes, it may have been a flop as a tool to generate questions for Jimmy Fallon to interview Cameron Diaz, but it's a great tool to find out quick news headlines from the BBC, get music selections by the likes of Q.Tip and ?uestlove, or get pics from a friend.

Now don't get me wrong, do I want to shoot myself from boredom when someone tweets "eating"? Maybe, but hell, I think I am guilty of the same things and much of this is due to the fact that twitter isn't an established medium. It's not a chat program, it's not a social networking site, it's not a blog, it's not Posterous (I just learned about this one today from Rainn Wilson, it's perfect for you Crackberry and iPhone addicts). The thing about twitter is that it is so vague. The very basis and reason for many people's gripes (the brevity of 140 characters) is exactly what allows it to stay versatile. Twitter will be tough to define or confine into a category such as blog or social networking site. People complain about Twitter but what they should be complaining about is the people they follow. Because twitter is different things to different people, find people that use it how you use or find useful and follow them, if you can't find them, try to redefine the way twitter is used (or better yet, don't even mess with it).

As I mentioned in my post about my plunge into twitter, ?uestlove had coined twitter as the new blog, and in a way he's right. For many people who DO blog, it's the medium for things that are not blog worthy, the one sentence epiphany that's not worth flushing out into a post, the cultural observation while sitting on a bus, the quick message to a friend, or the outreach for another person's opinion (usually for a quick response). Due to the fact that the internet is almost everywhere now (including our phones), Twitter enters into unknown territory as a medium (I won't even say what type because I am unsure). Twitter is somehow information and communication all at the same time, all while not being too time consuming for our increasingly busier lives.

Art Galleries Are So 3 Years Ago

2009-03-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

A good friend of mine passed this along to me today and it reminded me a lot of something I remember from a while back:

While much of youtube's bandwidth is used on funny TV clips, clips from people with too much time on their hands, and random funny stuff, every once in a while you will find some really good original content on there. While, youtube is usually thought of as a giant waste of time, it also serves as an outlet for people without the connects, know-how, or, in some cases, the want to get their art or personal projects out for people to see them. While some will become internet phenomenons, others will just be shared with friends and enjoyed by the random passer by.

So maybe youtube isn't such a waste of time after all, then again...maybe it is..(ahhhhh white people...).

The Legendary Roots Crew... oh yeah, and Jimmy Fallon Too

2009-03-06T01:39:00.000-08:00

Like many Roots fans, I was shocked and a little disappointed when it was confirmed that The Roots were officially Jimmy Fallon's house band for the new "Late Night Show." I was shocked for two reasons: 1) word on the street was that The Roots were retiring (I honestly think I'd cry if this happened) and 2) if the thought that The Roots would ever transition to a late night show house band had ever crossed my mind, never in a million years would I have thought it would be for Jimmy Fallon. I don't know who would be a more appropriate match, but it's certainly not Jimmy.

If it weren't for The Roots, I probably wouldn't give Fallon's show a chance. I mean, alright, the guy's not terrible; he's cracked a few good jokes here and there on SNL (no examples currently come to mind...) but I wouldn't give him his very own show. However, the thought that I could actually watch The Roots perform five nights a week was kind of appealing. I've seen them live a handful of times and there's a definite reason why they are called "The Legendary Roots Crew." For this reason alone, I hulu'd Late Night with Jimmy Fallon...

So far, I've only seen one full episode (the very first one) along with snippets from the second and third. Dude has an amazing line up of guests for this week (Justin Timberlake, Tina Fey, Santigold & Spank Rock, Jon Bon Jovi, Serena Williams) which seemed kind of promising. His very first opening monologue was decent. He had one joke that I thought was exceptional. But as I got further into the episode, it become a little painful to watch. At times Fallon and his skits were so awkward I couldn't look... I even started to feel kinda bad for the guy. You could tell he was real nervous (I think he might have even said that 3 or 4 times) and his guests easily stole his spotlight (i.e. Justin Timberlake). At least his suit looked good.

I have yet to be convinced that this whole thing was a good idea. Yes, it's pretty damn cool to see the Roots do their thang Monday through Friday, but I wonder if Fallon's show will become something great (dare I say, legendary) or if he'll just end up buckling from the pressure. I mean, srsly, I've read way more blogs and boards discussing the future of the Roots after this move, not Jimmy, and I'm pretty sure his show wouldn't have been so hyped up if he hadn't snagged ?uesto et al. Watching the show, you kind of feel like you're watching "Late Night with the Roots." But then again, maybe I feel that way because I'm obviously biased. It's just difficult to think that the Roots will be taking a backseat (not to mention doing cheesy late night show bits)-- that this isn't solely their stage or their show... it's Jimmy Fallon's. I guess we'll just have to see what'll happen. Here's hoping that Jimmy can hold his own.

happy birthday j¢!

2009-03-05T00:26:00.000-08:00

HAPPY BORNDAY agent j¢! The ¢ollective <3's you... sometimes.

Here's to a night of drunken birthday debauchery and, in your case, a little bit of nakedness...

A Bright Idée

2009-03-04T22:06:00.000-08:00

So if you follow this blog you will know I discovered twitter a little while back (you know, like how Columbus discovered America). On it, I follow a couple artists and media people I admire and/or deeply respect, one of those being Jay Smooth. His tweets are all over the place at times but he has dropped some gems, one of my favorites being the Idée Lab.

Idée is a company that develops image ID software and visual search software. In a basic sense, it is the google of images. You upload an image and it will locate that image all over the internet and tell you where it is. This can be used recreationally by different users or it can be used by companies to find where their images are being used around the web as well as in print publications.

So while Idée has these advanced programs for image recognition, they have a couple of interesting projects in their lab.

Multicolr allows you to choose up to 10 colors and they will search all of flickr for photos containing the chosen colors (this is how I came to the image above)

Visual Search Lab allows you to type in a variety of tags and it will search Alamy for all photos containing those tags.

BYO Image Search will find images on Alamy that match an image you give it (uploaded or provide a link to). I found this one interesting because I gave it a picture of a cyclist that had very distinct lighting and it not only found photos of bikes, but it also found photos with the lighting that I had used on it, pretty cool!

So now you can search with words, music, and now photos, I can only imagine what's next, search by scent? It's really not all THAT crazy of an idea is it?

Mercedes x Brabus G-Wagon GV12 Bi-Turbo

2009-03-04T11:59:00.000-08:00

Damn its time for a new car! If Darth Vader had a kick ass car in los angeles... it probably would be this one.... or maybe even this one... (darth vader stuntin?)

anyways this car pwns too hard...and its pretty much agreed that darth vader is such a pimp that he'd be rolling pretty hard like on some hollywood stuntin... what recession im rich.... get outta my way cuz u bout to get hit kinda pimpin......

i have a soft spot in my heart for kick ass SUVs and the G wagon is my ultimate ... so when one of my favorite aftermarket tuners (BRABUS) announced this car... i nearly fell out of my seat....

World Debut at the Geneva Motor Show 2009: The World’s Most Powerful Off-Roader – BRABUS G V12 S Biturbo with 700 hp (690 bhp) / 515 kW and 1,320 Nm (973 lb-ft)

BRABUS G V12 S Biturbo: The world’s most powerful off-roader comes from BRABUS (www.brabus.com). It is built by hand based on the latest Mercedes G-Class. The exclusive five-door is powered by a BRABUS SV12 S displacement engine. Like all special models of BRABUS – recognized by the German Vehicle Registration Agency as a vehicle manufacturer – the BRABUS G V12 S Biturbo comes with a comprehensive luxury package. The ultra-powerful 4x4 starts at 379,000 Euros.

10 Design Rules of Dieter Rams: What the hell are some of yall thinkin!

2009-03-02T19:58:00.000-08:00

(hmm... is IMITATION really the sincerest form of flattery???)

10 Design Rules of Dieter Rams from Braun in the 60's:

• Good design is innovative.
• Good design makes a product useful.
• Good design is aesthetic.
• Good design helps us to understand a product.
• Good design is unobtrusive.
• Good design is honest.
• Good design is durable.
• Good design is consequent to the last detail.
• Good design is concerned with the environment.
• Good design is as little design as possible.

now what kinda self proclaimed "pretentious-cool-guy trendy-hip-new-innovative-design-tech-pop-music-political-social-super-blog" would we be if we didnt pay some type of tribute or homage to one of the great industrial designers of this century ..DIETER RAMS.... and his basic rules of design that every "so-called/wannabe-photoshop-fashion-intrawebz-design-nut" out there should memorized wait...no... scratch that.... they should have it tattooed on their foreheads! so that every it will always be on their mind!! and shall never forget!!!

now to truly join the elite ranks of those "blogs/websites" truly in the "kNOW" consider this blog entry as our official ... "We have arrived! Sorry we're late!"

more after the jump....

Ok i have a confession to make. I originally had this post geared toward a "design snob hater-ish" type point of view... But as i finished a few rough draft lines and constantly erased and re-written many sentences, phrases, lines, paragraphs etc..

i finally stopped and said to myself... this isnt the way i want this entry to go down...

and instead of just being the usual pretentious "I'm better than you and you suck" kinda blog entry... i want this post to be more of a tribute to great design and just a simple reminder to people that Dieter Rams had it right.... he broke it down very easily for anyone to understand...(KISS) and I believe that great design can come from anywhere and anyone....

I guess id go as far to say that i have a true design fetish... where my daily life is consumed with the obsession of deciphering and understanding what really makes a 'great design' a 'great design'. and only wish that one day the things i design have a spot in this great universe... and wether im at work or at home... i find myself looking at all the great ones who did it before me, sit back and think.. how the hell did they do that? and then look around me... and ask.... what the hell are some yall thinkin??!??

(enjoy some of dieter rams most awesomest things)

Mr. S - A - double - D - I - Q

2009-03-02T15:39:00.000-08:00

(photo cred: Fredric Reshew for AOL)

If you missed out on catching Oakland's very own Mr. Raphael Saadiq the last time he was in the Bay Area, be sure to step ya game up tomorrow night and go see him at the Fillmore in San Francisco. I personally think Saadiq is one of the most underrated singers/songwriters/musicians/producers out there. Trust, he will not disappoint.

For a little taste of his current tour and a brief interview check out AOL Black Voices.

Damn... Finally? The New Simpsons Show Intro?

2009-03-01T20:03:00.000-08:00

Wow... after 19 years? SRSLY? ok... im a cartoon nut.. every night i watch adult swim and the simpsons... its just how i roll.. and fall asleep actually.... Now im watching the new SIMPSONS episode (and if you lost count we are on season 20 episode 431 "How the Test was Won" currently on right now..

and its actually pretty good.
Now will i go as far as saying that the SIMPSONS are back? well.. ill just say that its alot better than i thought it would be... and i think that alone is pretty good for something that is 20 seasons and 400+ episodes in....

Im pretty sure for the rest of my life ill watch cartoons.... which may be good or bad.. who knows... haha..
its pretty trippy to see the simpsons in a whole new light, especially for a retro grouch like myself...

if it aint broke ... dont fix it....

but some may argue that the simpsons was "broke" and well deserving of some fixin". overall im very happy that they decided to go with new graphics, drawings, stories, and intro.... hell even as im writing this... the simpsons have announced some great fortune...

media outlets report that "The Simpsons," television's most famous animated dysfunctional family, is poised to become the United States' longest running prime-time show, US media said Friday.

After more than 450 episodes, the program's creators have been asked Fox, the studio behind the show, to do two more series of antics from Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart and Maggie, the Hollywood Reporter said.

That would make the series the longest running prime-time program, ahead of the western "Gunsmoke" which ran between 1955 and 1975, it said.

The yellow-tinged cartoon family debuted in 1990 and has long since surpassed "The Flintstones" as the longest running animated series.

Although many other programs have been running for longer, they are largely news and current affairs programs, or shows that air outside prime-time.

Fox said actors responsible for the characters' instantly recognizable voices have agreed to stay on for two more years.
The next series is to begin in September, with at least one more to follow in 2010.

In 2007 a feature film documented the family's exploits to great box office success.

True Audiophiles make their own cables! Mogami x Cardas x Calrad wire

2009-02-27T09:58:00.000-08:00

Ok... well maybe not... but as a true audiophile freak and hobbyist i thought hell why not learn how to solder and stuff like that so here is my first attempt at making my own audiophile quality wires for my new GRADO headphones..

now why make your own cables?
1) because Radio Shack sucks!
2) because true audiophile quality cables can be very expensive
3) well DIY is so "chic" right now... :P
4) DIY SUPPORTS AMERICA!
5) its fun to do and have that satisfaction that you made your own cables
6) well why the hell not...

parts used

MOGAMI w2528 wire
CALRAD stereo 3.5 plug
CALRAD mono 3.5 plug
CARDAS QUAD EUTECTIC SOLDER ( this stuff is seriously amazing... low melting point, easy easy easy to work with.... i wish i just had an unltd supply of this stuff)

way more info on diy audio stuff after the jump!

Now there are tons of great resources here on the web to get you started on little DIY projects like this... youtube has great videos , such as other websites like head-fi.... and personal websites/blogs such as mike from DIY MIKE...

assistance in my whole process was provided by the intrawebz very own DIY MIKE... thank you again mike for your awesome site and SUPER AMAZING personal help!

after a few more practice wires and or combinations of wires (such as pure copper stranded vampire wires or silver plated copper wires) i think my next project will be an amplifier at some point. a Millet "starving student" amp ? or even a PPA 2 amp?

now if i could just read schematics id be golden!

HERE IS A PIC OF A COMPLETED MILLET "STARVING STUDENT" HYBRID AMP... aka... millet mini amp.... or budget millet amp.....

HERE IS A POPULATED PPA 2 AMP BOARD.....

HERE ARE SOME MORE PICS OF MY COMPLETED CABLE

Sweet for Ma Dukes

2009-02-26T07:35:00.000-08:00

There’s nothing I can say that hasn’t already been said about J Dilla and the influence his life and work have had on a whole generation of beatsmiths, artists, and lovers of music. It’s a shame it took so long for him to get his propers but 3 years later the hip-hop community has shown time and again that they’ve been able to create positivity out of tragedy in their celebration of him.

This past Sunday, musicians and fans paid tribute to Jay (and his mother Maureen Yancey a.k.a. Ma Dukes) at the Suite for Ma Dukes, part of the Timeless Concert Series by VTech in association with Mochilla and ArtDontSleep. L.A’s hip-hop intelligentsia showed up in their funky Sunday best. The crowd consisted of a veritable who’s who of the L.A. hip-hop scene including folks from the Stonesthrow, Plug Research, Ubiquity, and Poo-Bah camps (to name a few). Houseshoes and J-Rocc, both close friends of Jay, got the party started with a couple of great Dilla-inspired DJ sets…

Arranged, directed, and conducted by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, the Suite for Ma Dukes was performed by a 40-piece orchestra and a host of surprise guests. The first half was essentially a live performance of their E.P. which includes beautiful renditions of Find A Way, Fall In Love, and Nag Champa. The second set was closer to the classic hip hop show format, which I sensed was a welcome change from many in the crowd that were itching to throw their hands up and say “ohhh!” Some highlights: Karriem Riggins (!) nailed Dilla’s trademark delayed claps on the drums. Ma Dukes, Illa J (current torch-bearer of the Yancey family musical legacy), and Common (in a tux, probably from the Oscar’s a few miles away) came out to share some words with the crowd. Amp Fiddler, Dwele, and Bilal KILLED it on vocals. And for the finale, the orchestra broke into “Stakes is High.” I joked with a friend that De La would come out… then, sure enough, Posdnuos ran out on stage yellin’ “THE INSTAMATIC FOCAL POINT BRINGIN’ DAMAGE TO YA BURROUGHS…” and of course the place went off. As if that weren’t enough, Talib Kweli came out and handled verse 2. Yeah… it was nuts.

For the last few years, there has been something of a musical renaissance in the eastside of L.A. Though this movement is hard to classify because it draws from so many different sounds (genres are sooo 2003), you don’t have to listen hard to hear Dilla’s influence. Those that frequent the Low End Theory and the summertime Do-Over know what’s up. For the uninitiated, the From L.A. With Love compilation and Flying Lotus’ Los Angeles and L.A. E.P.’s are a good primer. This community has coalesced in large part during their mourning/celebration of Dilla and this event felt like the culmination of that.

Like most Angelenos, I have a love/hate relationship with this city. On Sunday night it was all love.

Here are some songs that were played that night including one of my favorite Dilla samples, Saudade Vem Correndo, but please PLEASE cop the EP (available now on iTunes) and DVD (when it drops) by Mochilla. Trust me.

MP3s:
Miguel Atwood-Ferguson & Carlos Nino - Find A Way
Stan Getz & Luis Bonfa - Saudade Vem Correndo

RIDE REVIEWZ: Collective Co @ AMGEN Tour of California 2009

2009-02-25T01:14:00.000-08:00

two of us from the collective co. and some friends went out to support lance armstrong on his return to pro cycling and the tour of california... check it out...

yes this was my first attempt at video editing and recording... not bad from an iphone and standard mac software right?

camera: apple iphone 3g
recording software: cycorder
editing computer: apple macbook 2.4 core 2 duo
editing software: imovie / ilife 09 / itunes

All Your Base Are Belong To APPLE!

2009-02-24T12:09:00.000-08:00

i may be late on this.. but this pic is so awesome i just had to add it here.... i think most of us here at the collective are also slaves as well!!!

im sure most colleges around america look like this ... so next time you are sitting in soc 101.. take a look around... and see if your face just gets a little more tanned from those little glowing APPLES...

ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!

(TIME FOR A FLASHBACK!!!)

Filipino War Veterans From WWII Getting The Credit They're Due

2009-02-23T23:44:00.000-08:00

If you live in San Diego (especially South East SD), there is no hiding the Filipino presence in our armed forces, but some might not be aware that this has been the case all the way back to WWII. In WWII, veterans from the Philippines helped the U.S. defeat Japan in the Pacific. These veterans were promised citizenship and veterans benefits for their aid but Harry Truman (in 1956) signed a law stripping these brave men (and their families) of their citizenship and thus their benefits.

Though some were able to fight for their citizenship back, it wasn't until this year (over 50 years later) that they have received any money or compensation for their bravery. Written into the Stimulus Bill is $198 million for these old fighters from the Philippines (I bet they are throwing some great parties to celebrate!). Although the actual pay off is relatively insignificant ($15K for citizens, $9k for non-citizens) compared to the hardships they have faced in the past half decade, what's almost more important than the money is the long overdue credit and acknowledgment for the brave people of the Philippines who helped Americans in their time of need.

While many are arguing that this has nothing to do with stimulus and shouldn't be in the bill, I might argue the opposite. While it is important to stimulate the American economy at this time, it is equally important to stimulate the American spirit, whether that spirit be black, brown, white, orange, green, or rainbow.

Sony Releases New Stupid Piece Of Shit

2009-02-23T21:07:00.000-08:00

Sony Releases New Stupid Piece Of Shit That Doesn't Fucking Work

old... but good... and still exactly how i feel sometimes when marketing hype just takes over ....

Anthony Bourdain in the Philippines... finally!

2009-02-22T14:23:00.000-08:00

The much anticipated No Reservations: Philippines episode aired on the Travel Channel not too long ago. Sadly, I wasn't up on it and missed it (I don't watch much TV and although No Reservations is definitely a show I'd sit down for-- hell, Anthony Bourdain has one of my dream jobs-- I don't watch enough TV to know when it's on). A few days after it aired, however, it became evident that I was the only Pilipino with a late pass.

Still suffering from being bit haaard by the travel bug, I surfed the net today for a travel-fix. Seriously, this guy has THE best job e-v-e-r, IMO. Sh!t, what I'd give to say, "I write, I travel, I eat and I'm hungry for more" whenever people ask what I do for a living.

So anyway, I plop down with a cozy blanket and a cup of chamomile citrus tea and finally find a forum that's posted the episode in it's entirety. I've always wondered why it's taken so long for Mr. Bourdain to make his way to the homeland, seeing that he's basically been to every country nearby. I was really curious to see what dishes would be featured on the show. I know Bourdain is no stranger to "questionable" foods that the average eater wouldn't dare touch with a ten foot pole, but there's long been a stigma towards traditional Pilipino cuisine. Even Americanized Pilipino spots are frequented mostly by Pilipinos unlike, for example, Chinese or Thai restaurants.

That being said, I was impressed with how things went... and happy to see that balut didn't make it onto the table. Not that I've got anything against a chicken embryo appetizer, it's just that that would have been a major cop out considering the diverse food that different regions of the Philippines have to offer-- delicacies that most people don't even realize are actually traditional Pilipino dishes.

Aside from the mouth-watering menu, the side story was pretty interesting as well. Bourdain finally decided to hit up the islands thanks to a young Pilipino-American named Augusto. Sprinkled in between shrimp, crab and bone marrow are Augusto's stories of the difficulties of being raised Pilipino-American, which ties in really well with Bourdain's number one question (as well as mine): "why is it that Pilipino cuisine is a blank page; why doesn't it have a higher profile in the states?"

I've had this conversation numerous times and it was somewhat... I don't know... validating, I guess, to see the issue being addressed on the Travel Channel. Friends and I have always concluded that the reason is because Pilipino food is just ugly. We're not big on garnishing our dishes; we don't add chives for a splash of color; and we don't really know how to describe the food in a very appetizing way (at one point, one of Bourdain's food guides said, "here's a gelatinous rubbery skin dish" [srsly? lol]). It's just not a good look. It's damn good, but definitely not good looking.

However, after watching the episode I realized there's probably more to it. Pilipinos easily assimilate to whatever culture is around them and a lot of the time disregard their roots in order to fit in. Although that can be a good and bad thing, simply put it's just something we do and do well. At times we're so disconnected-- how could we possibly introduce and successfully promote a foreign cuisine in the US when in most cases it's foreign to us ("us" being Pilipino-Americans) as well?

Anyway, it was a good episode, but definitely DID NOT scratch my travel itch-- instead I've just moved the Philippines up on my list; not only for the food, but also for the culture I've been missing out on.

Now go out and find some good eats!

GRADO LABS PS1000: Dear John, Stop Ur Killin Me!

2009-02-22T13:48:00.000-08:00

Dear John Grado.

As a kind note from a now sick and helpless audiophile... please ... please stop making things that just make me want to send every little dime i have to you.. with the announcement of your greatst work yet... the GRADO LABS PS1000 series headphones have caused me nothing but anxiety, pain, and suffering...for i cant sleep eat or think without knowing that i am existing on this planet without these headphones playing back my favorite music tracks.... please accept this open letter and realize that i am just a humble and poor ol fool already smitten by the fact that (a) these are the best of the best you make (b) limited edition [and yes a true hypebeast will love anything with limited edition on it and (c) well just simply a great GRADO headphone...

oh and btw.. these babies will set you back just $1695

more after the jump!

ok lets back things up here... first off...i would go as far as saying that i am now a true "self-proclaimed" hobbyist audiophile...

(as wiki would define as: An audiophile, from Latin audio[1] "I hear" and Greek philos[2] "loving," is an audio reproduction enthusiast, who typically listens to music on high-end audio electronics.)

the thing is ... yes i do have a thing for true hi fidelity.. however... in particular headphones... and even more specific ... a little factory inside brooklyn.. which makes (in my opinion and many others out there) the world's best CANS!!!! and when i say cans i mean audiophile lingo ... not drunk fraternity college boy party time cans.... however those kinda cans are also good :)

Grado has been manufacturing audiophile quality headphones for many decades... with a few releases of limited edition and special edition headphones released to the public.. some models attaining legendary status among the hi-fi crowd, and with the release of these new headphones im sure they will easily become just as popular

Review from Gradolabs.com - Zanth from Head-fi

Never one to stop innovating, Grado has set out to create a new flagship and it is these new headphones, the PS1000's, as I hear it, are the very best headphone Grado Labs has ever produced...................

<<<<>>>>>

The PS1000's are finally, (and for those that upgrade often or think the grass is always greener, they know what I mean by finally), finally, the first set of headphones that would motivate me to sell all the rest, because these PS1000s do it all and do it as flawlessly as I've yet experienced. They give me everything that I've been searching for in headphones and do it in such a way that I can honestly say I'm not hoping for anything more. If more can ever be given, GREAT! But I've stopped looking. I've stopped thinking that a single phone can't do it all. Hyperbole be damned, this phone had me at hello.

Please visit http://www.gradolabs.com for the full review.

also they brought back the awesome wooden boxes !!! i must cop for my grado modded headphones.

Valentine's Day FAILZ

2009-02-19T14:23:00.000-08:00

(image cred: likecool.com)

The ¢ollective is a little late on this, but hope you all had a blissful saint valentine's / singles awareness day!

So the other day, I came across this. Perhaps it's just the womyn in me, but for a moment my jaw dropped because, of course, it had to be a woman in the product detail photos.

srsly?!

A Kid Tells You How WWII Really Went Down...

2009-02-18T20:07:00.000-08:00

gotta love the kids!

yes, that outfit makes you look fat

2009-02-12T08:49:00.001-08:00

yeah you...america. this is why you're fat features audience-generated photos of some of this nation's most coveted and creative treats.

a few of my own personal favorites:

a tantalizing donut sprinkled with succulent bacon bits

a crispy french-fry encased sausage on a stick

and agent mike's personal favorite, the krispy kreme (TM) bacon cheeseburger

**in the works, a collective co-sponsored 'this is why you're fat' potluck. we mean business. (polysaturated fats, velveeta, high fructose corn syrup, bacon, deep fried __________, donuts of all varieties, white carbohydrates, potatoes, any filipino dish, are all encouraged). details coming soon.

This Charming Mixtape.

2009-01-25T22:32:00.000-08:00

What better way to break the monotony of studying and working than by listening to some new music? As a poor grad student, I like it even better when it's free. And when it comes from a guy from NY named Theophilus London, you know it's gonna to be interesting.

You can download This Charming Mixtape here.

And you can get his previous offering, JAM! over here.

OK, back to the books...

COLLECTIVE CO. X MARK NICHOLAS CLOTHING X TALIB KWELI

2009-01-13T13:59:00.000-08:00

TALIB KWELI X COLLECTIVE CO
SPIN NIGHT CLUB
SAN DIEGO
JAN 17TH 2009

PLEASE COME IF YOU CAN....

MENTION THE COLLECTIVE CO! GET ON THE GUESTLIST!

... and another one

2009-01-12T13:45:00.000-08:00

It's just non-stop!

Another big HAPPY BORNDAY to our agent jano! Yeeeee!

welcome to the quarter century club!

2009-01-06T03:15:00.000-08:00

The Pied Piper of R&B and the ¢ollective would like to wish our trooper, agent Adrian, a big HAPPY BORNDAY! Welcome to the quarter century club... it's about damn time!

May you eat, drink and be merry alllll weekend looong. Live it up; you definitely deserve it!

video cred: trackademicks

Done with 08!

2009-01-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

I don't know about anyone else, but 2008 was NOT the year for me. That being said, I will say that there were a few things that were awesome about 08 for me (in no particular order) that I can look forward to in 09 as well.

The Co was Created
What most people don't know, is that if it weren't for a group of people sitting through a tremendously long taping of the new American Gladiators, the Co would most likely not exist. It was during the hours of sitting in chairs, eating passed out snacks, and laughing at the ridiculousness of the whole thing that some of us met and planted the seed for a blog, though nothing of this size was planned at the time.

Obama was Elected President
If you haven't figured it out yet, we kinda like Obama around here so to say 08 was a good year, politically, might be an understatement.

Kanye Killed it With The Glow in the Dark Tour
Love him or hate him, Kanye finally reached stadium status this last year and he took concerts to a whole new level. Kanye continues to impress and surprise everyone constantly, it will be interesting to see what comes in 09 on top of his already announced rap album.

San Francisco Beer Fest Celebrated 25 Years
2008 was my second year going and it was even better than the 1st year. As if SF isn't awesome enough on it's own, it hosts this amazing event. Amazing beer, great vibe (no fights, everyone seems to be happy drunks there) and good times to be had by all, I have been counting down the days till Beer Fest 09 since the minute I stepped out of Beer Fest last year

SNL if Funny Again
Sarah Palin Skits, Justin Timberlake Skits, The Blizzard Man, Andy Samberg, need I go on? For all the fans from SNL's golden years saying it'll never be as funny as back then, get over it, the golden years were hilarious but humor has changed and moved on and so should you. SNL had some crappy years but it's officially funny again. The viral skits floating around the internet have me rolling on the floor every time, they are utilizing guests well, and the show is more and more consistently funny.

Out With the Old, in With the New

2009-01-02T23:16:00.000-08:00

image cred: designboom.com

As the second day of the new year comes to an end, I'm realizing how different things are for me compared to this time last year... and I mean that in a good and bad sense. It's been one crazy roller coaster ride, but looking back on everything I now know that I wouldn't change a thing.

Seeing as this is not my own personal blog, I'll keep the self-reflection to a minimum. I'm sure that all of you can relate when I say that this year has been full of major setbacks, but also significant growth. This can obviously translate to an individual level as well as to the grander scheme of things.

Yet, despite all the hardships that I've faced (on my own and as a ¢ollective) I remain grateful for the many lessons learned and hopeful for what lies ahead. I've never really been one for new year's resolutions; probably because I've always had trouble seeing them all the way through. However, after getting through a year that I never thought I'd see end, I now fully understand how important it can be to set new goals in an effort to find a new beginning... or maybe just a little balance.

So instead of leaving you with a list of things I want to personally change or improve about myself or habits I want to get rid of, I'd like to leave you with this challenge for 2009:

Promise Yourself
Christian D. Larson

Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best and expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large to worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

I wish you all peace & progress in the new year.

Let's shine in '09.

Twitter? Let's see

2008-12-30T12:53:00.000-08:00

SEMTEX TV - ?UESTLOVE BREAKS DOWN THE HOTTEST MC'S FOR 09'.

Social Networking is nothing new to the internet but ever since the sale of Facebook and Myspace for more money than I would EVER know what to do with, next to buy a country, everyone wants some of that pie.

I've been hearing about Twitter for a while now but never though much of it (as if a facebook and myspace weren't enough). Then, while listening to Talk of the Nation: Science Friday on NPR, they were talking about how they were twittering and people were asking questions via twitter. This made me a bit more curious, but not enough to join. Then a couple weeks back I was watching the video above and when asked what 2009's big blog will be, ?uestlove responded with Twitter is THE blog for 2009 because of the ADD society and people needing everything quick and right now.

Then just this last weekend I'm at my homegirl's house and notice she has twitter so I open it up to take a look and basically it is facebook updates....THAT'S IT. You can post no more than 140 characters, no pictures, no embedding, no hyperlinks, no bells and whistles, it's just news feeds from whoever you choose to follow. Depending upon who you follow you can get anything from the news (NPR shows are on there), to a link to a funny video to "I just worked out" (from one of your friends).

On top of that. Twitter can be done from your mobile phone. Twitter was actually the first source to know that the roots tour bus got in a wreck a while back (?uest twittered from the ambulance). So I figure, what the hell, let me see what this is all about, if it's whack I can drop it. So if you care to join in, create and account, find me, and let's see what's up!

Happy B-Day Agent Dee

2008-12-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

A BIG Happy Born Day to Agent Dee, a girl with GREAT taste in music and possibly the most preserverence of anyone I know. Will we ever forget the bike ride from hell?! These are what memories are made of right J¢?

So enjoy your exteneded weekend of festivities Dee, thats what birthdays are good for! I'm sure your husband (pictured above) is bummed he can't make it.

Doesn't It Look Nice?

2008-12-11T12:34:00.000-08:00

The Max Planck Institute, a well respected research institute in Germany, wanted a Chinese poem to adorn the cover of their newest journal. So what did they choose for a beautifully hand-written piece of literature? A brothel Ad.

Sort of makes you wonder what was really on the shirts of all those white kids in High School...

Wait Wait Don't Tell Me-An NPR Reality Check

2008-12-10T22:10:00.000-08:00

Wait Wait Don't Tell Me is probably the best radio show on the weekend (at least in San Diego). For those of you who don't know what it is, think of it as The Daily Show meets Jeopardy meets Real Time with Bill Maher. You have got the quiz show of Jeopardy, the humor, wit, and sarcasm of The Daily Show and an intelligent, humorous panel of people like in Real Time.

By listening to the Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, you can learn a good amount of what went on in the world over the past week (some of it you probably didn't want or need to know, but it's funny none the less) while laughing almost the entire hour some shows. Besides providing an hour of infotainment, this show (and the other shows like it) provides an important service to it's listeners, SARCASM.

I might be a little biased (I got a crash course early on in Sarcasm and the like due to my mom being Australian and my dad being the King of BS) but I believe Sarcasm is an important tool for someone to posses. While it can provide entertainment at someone else's expense, possessing it also creates small voice of doubt in our heads, a useful doubt. This doubt causes us to question anything that doesn't sound plausible, or anything that might be too good to be true.

It used to be that on April fool's day, newspapers would go to great lengths to publish satirical stories of aliens landing and the like (think terrible tabloids but more believable) that would be sprinkled in with the rest of their news. As time has progressed, this tradition has become less prominent as people have become more and more dependent on being fed information without question. We, as a general public, tend to take the information that is fed to us without question, especially if we decide a source is trusted. Even growing up in the intelligent, sarcastic household I did, I find myself guilty of this more often than I would like to admit. This belief and following of information closely mirrors the partisan politics we have witnessed in recent history, and our overall rejection of the unfamiliar and outright acceptance of the comfortable can be dangerous.

The ability to question ourselves and others is an important ability to have in life and it is shows like Wait, Wait, Don't Tell me that help to not only lighten the mood of the news and world around us, but help put into perspective the information that we receive on a daily basis.

single ladies

2008-11-18T00:22:00.000-08:00

can't get enough of it:

"dance biscuits..." LULZ

Barack Obama. That's My President!

2008-11-08T16:24:00.000-08:00

Yes. We. Did.

I couldn't agree more Dee. There is not much more to be said that hasn't been said by every person the media. On November 4, 2008, I witnessed what was the most significant event of my generation. Electing an African-American as President of the United States was truly historical. It forever changes how we talk about the impact of the struggle for civil rights. While it does not come anywhere near ridding the US of the ugliness that is racism, it does change the meaning of "you can be anything you want when you grow up."

While the historical significance of this election is huge (1st black Presidential elect, 1st woman to come that close to being the nominee, 1st Woman Vice-Presidential nominee, most uneducated person to ever be nominated for Vice President, l-o-n-g-e-s-t e-l-e-c-t-i-o-n r-u-n EVER), what was just as important was how the election was won.

Obama revolutionized the way a campaign is run. Early on he described how he would run his campaign and he was told he would fail with his tactics. Through his experience in grass-roots organizing, and understanding of the younger generations, he was able to organize support in ways no one had before. Obama was able to take a generation with apathetic tendencies and get them excited about a candidate and a cause. He utilized the internet, facebook, youtube, and most importantly, the energy and support of the people who believed in him.

Obama raised far more money than had ever been raised and he did it in ways never done before, through a lot of small contributions. I, who never thought I would give money to a politician, gave more money than I thought I would ever be willing to and it was the best investment I ever made (so far it's doing better than my Roth IRA).

Obama branded himself early on. His message of change was so powerful and effective, that every single candidate on the left and the right adopted it and abused the hell out of it all the way till the end, everyone was all of a sudden "the real change candidate." Using simple words such as "change," "hope," and "yes we can," while never dumbing down his message or his eloquence, allowed him to speak to a a diverse country of people and be received well.

While he might have wavered on his policies or changed his view with the changing times (he WAS running for almost 2 years), Obama never changed his message. With so much money and so many opportunities to attack the right, Obama refrained (for the most part). He stayed true to how he believed a campaign should be run and it paid off. Obama showed that not only could you win an election running a positive campaign, but that you could win a campaign having expectations for the ctizens of the United States. Rather than appeal to the lowest common denominator, he appealed to the ideals and goodness of the American people. He promised to work for the people if they would work for themselves.

Obama proved that a black man could become president. He also proved that a young, intelligent, educated, respectful, idealistic dreamer could also become president. Not only did he win the election, he killed it. No one I talked to could remember an election being decided by around 8pm pacific time. He used his knowledge of the electoral college and ability to move people, young and old, to show the world how you not only win an election, but get people excited to work for you and with you, and move forward during these trying times.

Congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama, I have never been so proud to say that I am an American. While I am proud of you and the way your ran your campaign, I am equally proud of the American people, WE did it.

Now stop reading this blog and go do something for your community, he may not be president yet, but it's never too early to start helping out.

Yes. We. Did.

2008-11-06T13:22:00.001-08:00

Well, damn... isn't the ¢ollective a day late and a dollar short...

I'm on my way out, but our blog definitely needed to be updated with Tuesday's monumental moment:

I'm still at a loss for words. We still have a long road ahead of us... but damn, didn't this moment feel. so. damn. good?!

Check this out too.

Lil' Wayne Takes Home BET's "Joke of the Year" Award

2008-10-24T21:17:00.000-07:00

So after a long day at work, the Bus ride home, some visiting with my incredible neighbors, and dinner, I sit down to watch TV before dinner. As I flip through, I find myself watching the BET Hip Hop Awards just in time to see Pharrell and Common perform Universal Mind Control. I'm absolutely hooked on this song. Does anyone else think they should do an album together right after Common does the Album with Q-tip and CRS finally drops an album?!

So as I am about to shut the TV off and go to bed, they announce the "Lyricist of the Year." The nominees are Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne, Nas, Kanye West, and T.I. The winner you ask? Lil' Wayne, officially making the award, not necessarily Lil' Wayne, a joke. Lil' Wayne is a great many thing but a lyricist, at least in what I would consider the classic sense, he is not (especially when you're against the likes of NAS).

Now I'll say what you're thinking, "HATER!"

On a lighter note, it was great that BET focused on voting and giving back to the community. They also had some DOPE world wide cypher sessions which you can see below

Don't Sleep...

2008-10-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already copped it, you. are. missin. out. Get up and get the new Foreign Exchange album, Leave It All Behind. Seriously, don't sleep on this one.

Check out the video for the first single off the album "Daykeeper" featuring Muhsinah.

spotted on okayplayer.com

<3.

Q-Tip Update

2008-10-17T17:39:00.000-07:00

The blog needed something fresh and new so here's a quickie before I finally leave work.

A new Video from Q-tip entitled Move. With a beat by J Dilla and a video reminiscent of Michael Jackson's classic Rock with You, what's not to love?!

Enjoi your weekend everyone!

I Prefer No Reservations

2008-10-04T18:51:00.000-07:00

About a month ago I got into a nasty accident that has resulted in me being on a liquid diet for about 2 months and unable to work for the time being. This means 2 things: I have gotten pretty creative with smoothies and soups, and I watch more TV than I would like to admit.

On the surface, these two things seem completely separate, but after 2 weeks of eating through a straw, even Homer Simpson chowing down on some fried chicken can make your mouth water. Around this same time, you begin having what I call SNACK ATTACK!! This is the complete yearning for something crunchy, sweet or savory, and all too satisfying. By week 4, an ad for a "complete pot roast" microwave dinner that doesn't look fit to be sold at Walmart can begin to look like a gourmet meal.

Knowing this, channel flipping can prove to be an excruciating task but Vicodine gives me a short attention span so I don't have much of a choice. One thing is for sure, the food network is off limits. Personally I have never been big on the food network or travel channel which is surprising since I love to cook almost as much as I like to travel. I think the reason is because I don't like cooking like Rachel Ray and I don't like travelling like Samantha Brown. But channel flipping through different times of day has led me to discover many new shows I wasn't aware of. One which I have become a big fan of is No Reservations.

No Reservations is a travel and food show by Anthony Bourdain, a long time cook, writer, and traveller from New York. What sets this show apart right from the start is its parental warning at the start (at least for some shows). If this doesn't set the tone of "This isn't your average travel show" (or show how conservative US TV censorship is), I don't know what does. What I enjoy the most about this show is that it focuses on the local life and the unbeaten path. Bourdain goes to many countries that most people wouldn't, such as Laos, and when he does go to a big cities, he ventures into the backstreet local markets and small towns just outside the big cities. He talks with a variety of people, from local film makers and musicians, to researchers, to cultural icons, to local icons. While the show is a travel shows and he talks about things to do and places to go, the focus is on the food.

While I have been sitting at home and healing, this show has been a blessing and a curse. While I enjoy watching the show with his witty and insightful documentation of far off places I wish to visit someday, my mouth can't help but water as he wanders down the spice market in Egypt, downs fresh oysters in homemade hot sauce on the beach in Jamaica, or chows down on a spicy local taco after a night of drinking in South Beach, Florida. Bourdain gets hope from the locals in finding the best places to eat, but what I enjoy the most is when he is invited to eat a meal with a local family. He is able to see who in the family cooks, what they eat, and their local dining traditions.

Bourdain shows an appreciation for the cultures and people that are different than his own and is genuine in the way he interacts with each human being he meets (or atleast acts like it on TV). His ability to show the inner beauty, if not, simply, the beauty that most pass over, in a country along with his knowledge of food and willingness to try new and differeent things makes this show great. While I am not one to sit down and follow a show, I always check to see if No Reservation is on when I sit down to watch TV.

(How can you not be envious of a spread like that?!)

Art For Obama

2008-10-03T21:08:00.000-07:00

Without the ability to make, what they thought to be, a significant individual contribution, 5 artists (Ahndraya Parlato, Elizabeth Moy, Gregory Halpern, Whitney Hubbs, and Dru Donovan) came together and formed Art For Obama.

Art for Obama is an online auction of photographs from over 50 artists. All proceeds go to MoveOn.org to support the Obama campaign as there are limits on proceeds to an individual candidate. The above shot is one of the shots for sale. You can peep a couple more after the jump but check out the website for all of the photos.

Shout out to Mike for the heads up

I Can't Handle 4 More Years Of The Same...

2008-10-02T22:59:00.000-07:00

Tonight was the Vice Presidential Debate between Senator Joe Biden and Governor Sarah Palin. I thought Joe Biden was Strong and Palin held up better than I expected. Random ramblings of off-topic talking points and inappropriate winks aside, the thing that got to me the most about Palin was her use of the word "Nucular."

As a person who works in the science field and would consider myself half-way intelligent, I have cringed every time, in the past 8 years, that Bush has used the word "nucular" instead of the proper word "nuclear." It doesn't help that Bush seems to give a stupid grin whenever he mispronounces a word or misspeaks, but every time he says the word "nucular" he appears even less intelligent (if that's possible). It's one thing to pronounce a word like "potato" differently because of your accent or drawl but when you begin saying "nucular" you are cognitively changing the word and it makes you sound ignorant.

Now while Palin is trying to appeal to Joe 6-pack with her winks and referencing her middle-class status, which is questionable, I strongly believe that it is possible to do this without sounding ignorant. I believe you can be elite enough to run a country and still be able to empathize and understand what the lower-middle class American goes through, whether or not you were in their situation or not.

With Bush, it's been 8 years of no science (in government or schools), actually, more like 8 years of an eradication of any scientific consideration or thought. For me, "nucular" was just the icing on the cake of why I didn't like Bush. 8 year's has been plenty of scientific ignorance, I don't know if I can handle 4 more, the only positive thought that I can think about McCain getting elected is that at least he pronounces the word correctly. That being said...

Furniture Findings: The Random Light by Bertjan Pot (2001)

2008-09-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

Alright.... ima start presenting some of my furniture findings/recent purchases.. if its something i love as much as great bikes or random fashion... it's awesomely (yes thats a word) designed furniture pieces.. i got a really cool light to add to my collection... its the Random light by Bertjan Pot presented by Moooi. this piece is beautiful... its fun its lively its random! The way it was constructed is by strands of fiberglass wrapped around and hardened with an epoxy resin.... the area where the light fixture attaches to the globe was hella sketch.. so i added two sheets of fiberglass cloth and resin and sandwiched the globe between the sheets.. then sprayed it white with acryillic gloss white paint.... drilled out a whole and re attached the entire light fixture back together....

yea i know on some bob villa shit rite there.. but i love it... looks awezzommee.. and yea.... enjoyzzz..

thanks to my girl HILARY for the love for the light!!! ima love it... cant wait to find a spot to put it up.....

Sunday Quickie

2008-09-28T11:05:00.000-07:00

SF got first ever "Bicycle Only Traffic Light". I love the concept, but have big qualms over the symbol. It looks like some bird between two glowing rocks...

Read [via sfist]

Seriously people, big concepts require big graphic translations...But in the end, it marks a progression towards a "bigger" velo-destrian addressment in the city of velo-love. There are tons of weird intersections in this city and I am quite interested in seeing where there will be the next implementation. Anything like this happening in your hoodz?

Q. Tip is Makin a Comeback!

2008-09-25T22:49:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been falling back in love with music (especially hip hop). Some of it is slowing down and enjoying the things I used to love and some of it is the recent purchase of these cans (there's thing I never heard before!) Regardless of what music I've been into in the past, one thing has stayed consistent, if I couldn't decide what to listen to, Tribe ALWAYS sounded fresh to my ears. Their use of timeless Jazz samples mixed with their command of the English language created classics that, fiascogate aside, continue to influence all styles of music today (and don't think fiascogate was anything more than internet bull, peep the Paris, Tokyo Remix).

As Tribe's prominence slowly died out and music trends changed, many of the individuals tried to make it on their own, most successfully Q-Tip (If you don't remember Breathe and Stop, don't TELL me you don't remember the bass line from Vivrant Thing!). Tip's solo excursions were not as successful as his days with Tribe but he has been staying around and producing ever since.

Lately though Tip has been making a comeback. A couple months ago while listening to Giles Peterson's radio program online he dropped a new Joint from Q. Tip called Gettin' Up

I think I replayed it 3 times that night and have been doing so since. Then along came Rock The Bells in August and Tip came out and did a 30 min set of solo stuff, new and old, with Mos Def as back up and absolutely killed it (can we say Blackstar 2? A guy can dream...). Long story short, Q-Tip is droppin his new album The Renaissance on election day so I know what I'm doing right after casting my vote for Obama!

I'm sure we will be hearing more from the Abstract Poetic but until then, here's some vids to keep your interest

DIESEL X CREATIVE MEDIA: SFW XXX PORN!

2008-09-25T18:59:00.000-07:00

Not really much to say here.. thanks to the homie for sending me this greatness.... Diesel and their ad company teamed up to continue celebrating Diesel's anniversary with a totally wacky video and insane party all over the world..... i want to goez....

looolz

creativity media
diesel xxx

SLACKER UPRISING - A New Film by Michael Moore

2008-09-24T09:13:00.000-07:00

Author and Documentary Film maker Michael Moore (best known for his controversial films Faranheit 911 and Sicko) has come out with a new documentary film called Slacker Uprising. This film is about a national college tour he put on in 2004 to get young people to vote Bush out of office. The film is about his tour and the problems that came up (the show was canceled at a dozen or so campuses).

Moore has released the film for free download to anyone in the US and Canada as thanks to his fans for their support over the years and to try to get more young people out to vote for this years election. Moore stated on the website:

"You have my blanket permission to share the movie with your friends, to set up screenings in your communities or theaters, to show it on your campuses -- all at no charge. I encourage you to rally voters with it, to raise funds for your favorite candidates, to air it on your local cable access channels or web broadcasts."

I encourage you to download and check it out but most of all, register to vote, get your friends to register, and then get them to register THEIR friends. This is not vote or die but as a young person, your decision to vote this year will effect your quality of life, quite possibly, more than any other decision you have made in your life thus far.

"I'm scraping on my Scraper Bike!" - Scrapers and Stereo Bikes

2008-09-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

This isn't anything new actualy.. its been floating around the intrawebz for a while now... and i was reading on NPR's site and i found this neat article on it.... CLICK HERE.... The article reminded me of "Alternative Bike" cultures and todays youth so i figured why not and blog about it here to the ¢ollective.... i love bikes obviously.. and SCRAPER BIKES are just as bad ass...one could pay homage to the scraper bike which originate from the mean streets of OAKLAND where hyphy, going stupid, dumb, and thizzing is a way of life.

Now as we go from the west ... we gotta represent the east.. .and in NEW YORK... they answer the Scraper bike with their very own "Stereobike"...This leads us to the documentary ive seen a while ago called "MADE IN QUEENS" about the east coast and their "alternative" bike culture...With the main focus being about "Stereobikes" and their influence on a group of Trindadians from Queens and their life growing up on the streets of New York. These bikes are basically bikes with crazy ass sound systems that would post most cars to shame. read on!

click here for more info on MADE IN QUEENS!

If its one thing that links the two coasts, its street culture and this bike movement we are seeing from all around the world. from your hipster fixed riders, to your scrapers in oakland, to booming systems in new york... it is obvious that biking and bike culture and its influence on todays youth is a force to be reckoned with, people have really taken something that is really considered timeless and historic and incorporated it, influenced it, and evolved it into their very own lives and culture which is relevant to their everyday life.

now im not in the middle of building anything like a scraper or a stereo bike.. but i do applaud the efforts these kids are making in trying to do something positive and fun with their time and friends, rather than to be out there running the streets and causing ruckus, drugs, etc.....

now i feel like buiding a new bike....

oh wait i am ;)
more on that later!

No one on the corner has SWAGGER LIKE PUFF!!!!!

2008-09-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

ok ima keep this going... i went from great rapper to wack rapper... and now i go from sampled beat to sampled beat..... so here we go.... SWAGGER LIKE PUFF.... i ripped this song a few days ago.. and then see that my homie BIG C had the same shit in his away message...so why not.. lets share this with the world..... why is P DIDDY so awesome?!!?!? because of shit like this... keepin shit on top since you were baby boys..... foreals...

hahah seriously i love this man.. no homo... this dude is great..thats why hes on "forbes top 100 while you are on forbes top nothin!". and because of just recklessness like THE VIDEO REMIX PART 2... makes me love him even more.. no homo.... in true diddy fashion this is the remix (video that is).... and also the track for you to download and bump in ya whipppp.....

ps. on a side note.. how legal is it to drive around town with no doors on your car?!

lulz.... he duz it for the lulz.....

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD SWAGGER LIKE PUFF!!!

He Who is Lil Wayne

2008-09-20T14:39:00.000-07:00

Now lil Wayne's success is nothing new, he's been well known for almost a decade now (remember Cash Money Millionaires?) but let's be honest here, the man is HUGE right now, larger than life. Personally, I am not a big fan oh his music (go ahead and hate) but I have to admit that it is oddly infectious. There are more people rockin out to A milli than you would ever expect (not to mention everyone and their mom is remixin over the beat). When trying to sum up Lil Wayne, my homie put it best, "he doesn't rap about anything, but he does it so well!"

Now I didn't doubt Weezy's album was gonna be big, but I did not foresee the influence and success he would have (with one song alone). It's one thing to have Jay-Z hop on a remix (that's big), but when you have countless remixes including one about Obama, you are the musical guest for SNL's first episode of the season AND the daily show finds a way to work you into one of their reports, you have transcended "urban music" and become a mainstay of pop culture (if not for just a couple months). Hate him or love him, you can't hate his hustle, and I have a feeling he's gonna just get bigger and bigger.

(Go to the 3 minute mark to skip to the scene)

Kobe Shaq and Mellloooooooo..... The Lebron James Rap

2008-09-20T14:01:00.000-07:00

ok to keep my rap posts going i had to ofset the good with the bad..... i made post about how great NAS is... now how about a post of how wack this dude is.... just watch the video and see what im talking about.... This damn song had me and agent mike singing random lines all weekend.... maybe is great in a werid way.... whatever the case... his crossover still sucks....

Pedobear is coming...

2008-09-19T19:52:00.001-07:00

Pedobear is coming..... stay tuned...

National PARK(ing) Day

2008-09-19T13:32:00.000-07:00

(rebargroup.org)

~~It's~~ It was one of those rare sunny and warm days in the city of San Francisco-- why not enjoy it at the park (forget about work because obviously I have)? Today marks the third annual National Park(ing) Day so get out there and reclaim some urban space. Follow me after the jump for participating cities, maps and a little history.

Dates of the first Park(ing) Day are a little varied, but here's a little background info . This day is an opportunity to celebrate parks in urban cities and also to promote the need for more recreational and relaxing spaces. Living in a city like SF you tend to forget how important these public spaces are. Now that I'm lucky enough to live in a part of the city that's surrounded by parks (Duboce Park, Buena Vista Park, Dolores Park and Golden Gate Park), I've come to appreciate this movement.

Even if you don't plan on participating at least check out your nearest park. Folks have got some interesting ideas.

Nas : The Jones Experience (feat. Talib Kweli)

2008-09-18T14:01:00.000-07:00

Sup people. its been a while! First off... Thank you Nas for making me love hip hop again. could it have been because ive been faded off my ass or you are just the bomb... id like to think just a mixture of the two and being in the beautiful House of Blues of Chicago. Im not gonna lie, ive been rather dissapointed as of lately with hip hop shows. but seeing Nas live changed that all. i do remember seeing Nas a few years ago but nothing like when i saw him at the House of Blues.

I always said that i wouldnt spend any money on any hip hop shows ever again. Actually i didnt even pay for this ticket as well... as i was a guest of Mr. Kweli and his manager (Thanks Big John) but what a treat! Talib opened the show doing a VERY brief 20-30 min performance of course hitting all his hits and some blackstar stuff.. etc....to tell you the truth it was ok... but then Nas came on and made me remember what hip hop was all about... its very hard to explain what i witnessed but if you have a chance go see him live.. and just see the range of hits he has.... he did it all.. and he was an amazing performer.... and when you are ultra faded to the max you gotta see ONE MIC performed live.... its something to see before you die.... SRSLY...

Chris Brown, WTF?!

2008-09-16T22:28:00.000-07:00

So as I was looking around on amazon for some things and I typed in Chris Brown, not realizing that I was still in Health and Personal Care. So What pops up you ask?!

This:

It's no wonder women love Chris Brown!

(And don't go thinkin' I photoshopped it, not my thing)

a friendly reminder...

2008-09-15T22:23:00.000-07:00

from an artist who left this for me as i turned the corner after a pleasant lunch out.
49 days left...exercise your right. get registered. get your friends, significant other, neighbor, coworkers, enemies, suitors, facebook contacts, parents etc. registered.

Career Change?

2008-09-10T16:23:00.000-07:00

I always told myself that if I got shot, I would start my rap career. Considering the credibility of much of the mainstream music produced in recent years is based on such an event (and lots of bass, don't worry Carlos, I got you), I figure my race and social status is pretty irrelevant.

Recently though, I have found myself at a professional crossroads. Last weekend I fell on my bicycle which resulted in a fractured clavicle, a bruised up knee, a broken tooth and my jaw broken in 4 places. So where am I going with this? To fix my jaw, they clamped it shut...can we say the next Kanye?!?

My first joint would have to be called "Through The Rubber" (I'm rubber banded shut, not wired) and like Kanye not being too cool for the safe belt, I wasn't too cool for my helmet, I even got a hook on some beats. This is where the problems start. First, falling off a bike just isn't that hardcore. If I based my career off of being shot, I could seamlessly move into music based off of money, and then misogyny, and then I could finally move to duet "love" songs (a la Ja Rule) and alternate between money, misogyny, and "love" duets for many years.If I tried to be the next Kanye, I would have to base my career on lyrical ability, amazing beats, over the top style, and a confidence that I could not possess if I tried. And this is not taking into account the fact that my 1st single sounds like it should be about finding the morning after pill as opposed to starting my rap career. So after taking it into account, I think an engineer I will stay but while I am on music, you peeped the new T-Wayne video?

Can`t Believe It Video

Not big on the song but the video reminds me of Smashing Pumpkins Tonight, Tonight meets Kanye's Good Life

The End of an Era

2008-09-03T23:37:00.000-07:00

For longer than I have been alive (33 years to be exact), Don LaFontaine has been a part of most people's movie going experience, yet they probably have no idea who he is. For the past 33 years, Don LaFontaine has been the voice of over 5000 movie trailers, most noticeably for the line "In a world where..."

He has been parodied by many people including Pablo Fransico:

And more recently himself:

While being one of the least visible people in Hollywood, he has stayed one of the most prominent and well known (whether you were aware of it or not).

So after 33 years of service to the movie industry, here's to you Don LaFontaine, the trailers will never be the same!

Waiting...

2008-08-29T20:56:00.000-07:00

I realize I get a late pass for this one, but I personally think it's still blog-worthy:

FE-LIAB-2

(www.theforeignexchangemusic.com)

Need I say more? me thinks not.

EDIT: it's official! word on the street is that the album drops digitally on October 7th with the double album (w/ instrumentals) hard copy on October 14th

Gay Marriage and Beyond

2008-08-20T23:04:00.000-07:00

(Ronaldo Schemidt / AFP - Getty Images file)

It's been a little over 3 months since California lifted a ban on gay marriage and guess what, the world isn't over! (surprising isn't it you conservative you). The world hasn't exploded, the oceans haven't caught on fire, and last time I checked, the sanctity of marriage has not been lost. My parents still love each other and their marriage has not lost any of its meaning in the past 3 months. While conservative groups fight to reverse the decision of the courts, they fail to realize that by saying that marriage is between a man and a woman and that a family is man, woman and child (or children), that they are alienating a large group of people and also taking away the rights to and, if nothing else, the title of "family" from many single parent and alternative households.

Many studies have shown that kids growing up in same sex households are no worse off than those who grow up in more traditional families. Look at the Tanners for instance, they did a fine job raising 3 young women in a house full of men! Even with the research (and 8 seasons of proof), the various organizations against Gay Marriage have come up with Prop 8 which would amend the CA constitution to ban gay marriage.

The original title of the Proposition was a "limit on marriage". The Attorney General Jerry Brown changed the title to "eliminates (the) right of same-sex couples to marry." Although the opposition to Gay Marriage has fought against this title saying it's biased, after losing two appeals, they have dropped the challenge. Although they would argue the title goes too far, I would say it's just right. I think the original title is an absolute farce. Now that I am 21, I really enjoy drinking beer. I can drink as many as my body can handle but there is a limit on how many I can drink and still drive home. Limits like this are imposed so I don't kill anybody or myself. While my rights as a citizen have not been taken away, I am limited in my actions while intoxicated. So while I can't drink and drive, I can still go out, I can experience all the same rights and responsibilities as everyone else. I think this is the most important point, a limit suggests one gets to keep their rights and responsibilities. By banning Gay Marriage, you take away a large group of people's rights and responsibilities. You take away their right to be treated equally among their peers, to be with the person they love legally, and for the child to be taken care of by the second parent if something were to happen to the other.

It's all nice and good that some companies are recognizing and supporting long term partners or that civil union status is being granted so that certain benefits can be shared, but as long as we prevent a group of people from being able to experience the same quality of life and rights as from the majority, we will continue to perpetuate the "separate but equal" stance that America seems to have been built on (from the physical slavery we enforced in our past, to the economic slavery so many Americans experience on a daily basis today, to the blatant laws that prevent same sex couples to marry).

I am personally very proud that I live in a state that has gone against the norm to provide rights to a greater majority of its citizens. My hope is that California's willingness to do this will rub off on other states and eventually the US as a whole. If we can keep providing rights to all citizens in the US and treating each other respectfully and equally, we can start moving towards a way of life closer to the American Ideal. What troubles me the most is how so many people don't care. It doesn't seem to bother them that the person sitting next to them in class, the good friend they have had since high school, or the cook at their favorite restaurant, will never experience the same rights that they have. Empathy aside (because a lot of people don't seem to have it these days), a lot of people fail to see the further reaching implications of such legislation. The same people who are trying to end or prevent gay marriage are the same people who are trying to end the sexual and health rights of heterosexual individuals. As Dan Savage so bluntly (and MAYBE a little vulgar) puts it at the end of one of his articles:

"The GOP's message to straight Americans: If you have sex, we want it to fuck up your lives as much as possible. No birth control, no emergency contraception, no abortion services, no lifesaving vaccines. If you get pregnant, tough shit. You're going to have those babies, ladies, and you're going to make those child-support payments, gentlemen. And if you get HPV and it leads to cervical cancer, well, that's too bad. Have a nice funeral, slut."

In that same article, he references an excellent article written by Russell Shorto that details the conservatives' war on contraception. There are many more freedoms that we, as heterosexuals, stand to lose if these groups against gay marriage start to gain more ground. It's easy to not care about gay marriage if it doesn't affect you or someone you know, but how would you feel if they began to take away a woman's right to choose? How would you feel if they took away the morning after pill, the HPV vaccine, birth control or Condoms? This may be a little extreme but if it was up to some of these "family" groups, that's the way it would be. Imagine where we would be if abstinence only education was the only thing offered in schools? If you don't think your vote counts for president or that it doesn't matter who it is, remember who appoints judges and other high ranking officials, as well as the "experts" to work for them. Under Bush, we spent $204M on abstinence only programs in the U.S. and we also put a clause on the money that we sent for AIDS relief for other countries that a certain amount should be spend on abstinence only education as opposed to condoms, drugs, and safety education.

This concept may seem a little farfetched and a little off topic to some but the two are more related then you think. So if you don't vote or voice your opinion for the rights of others this November, do it for yourself!

"WHY AMERICA IS F*¢KED" - The Draplin Project

2008-08-13T14:47:00.000-07:00

America Is F*cked.......(Graphically at least) from Jess Gibson on Vimeo.

Aaron Draplin is my new hero! for all graphic artists, designers, pretenders, wannabees and everything else in between... this is for you... With art and design and time and technology constantly evolving... hell...especially at such an alarming rate... its very easy to forget about tradition, classics, and history and its importance/influence in present day design and art and even leading into the future.

As a fan or timeless design, i applaud Draplin in this little trailer he calls, "Why America is Fucked", and he addresses the current "tragic" state of art and design... pretty much everyone including their momma and any kid armed with a laptop and photoshop ... heck even ms paint... is now a webdesigner... clothing designer... artist..... etc.....

well just check out the video.. get a laugh here and there and see the severity of the situation...i feel that Draplin's video does provide us with an interesting discussion to a bigger story... is our world is doomed not only in just graphical art??. as people and technology goes forward and moves on and expand into the future... it seems that to make room for progress we simply rip anything down that has any historical or cultural content and forget about our past....

btw....
"looooooll at blippo bold.... remind me to use that font in something soon!!!! LULLZZZ"

for more information check out their site by clicking the pic below

Gumball 3000 Does San Diego

2008-08-12T11:04:00.000-07:00

On Sunday Afternoon, the Gumball 3000 rally rolled through San Diego for it's 3rd stop on the Rally. Most of the cars were exotics which makes sense since the entry fee is $100k+ (seemed to be a lot of snooty British people). Because there were so many nice cars, even the two Prosche Carerra GTs got lost in the sea of money. The cars that stuck out were the different ones such as the 5&A Dime car (above) which they are racing WITH the bike on top, and the skater Sal Barbier's car (below) which was beat to hell, complete with the Mexican blanket across the back seats. I wish I had caught a picture of the whole car and I wish I could have seen what was inside the hood!

Among my other favorite standout cars was the super stealth Ford GT40:
Some Crazy European Import (the center one)
And this chromed out (yes the whole car, not the wheels) Lambo that some Sheik was driving, hopped out in robe and everything.
And of course Symbolic Auto in SD had to bring some heat so they dropped of a Bugatti just to show off
All in all, it was an interesting spectacle to ride down and see although the Juxtaposition of a a homeless person digging through the trash right next to the chromed out Lambo was a lot more interesting to look at and think about.

A Slice of Bacon a Day...

2008-08-11T13:49:00.000-07:00

Matty Sallin, a (what looks to be) multi-medium designer out of New York, has come up with a new alarm clock design. Not content with alarm clocks that only use sound to wake someone up, he has come up with the Wake n' Bacon.

You put a slice of frozen bacon in the alarm clock the night before, you set your alarm, and 10 minutes before your alarm is set to go off, 2 halogen lamps turn on and begin to cook the bacon. From what I have gathered, there is no auditory alarm that accompanies this, you are just woken up by the sound and smell of crackling bacon.

Possible safety issues aside (I would hope they put a timed cut-off for the lamps or something on it so that fires don't start), the design kind of reminds me of some of Furni's creations (mainly just because it's a wood alarm clock). Although my Jewish friends will probably not be big on the design, I bet the hog farmers of America are hoping it takes off!

Nipo-Brasileiro or Japanese Brazillian... YESS PLEAZE!(NSFW)

2008-08-10T00:39:00.000-07:00

Ahh yes. Brazil and Japan... Two very different countries...Far apart, many thousands of miles away from each other. On different continents...But...Two very great countries...each with tons of great contributions to our world/life/planet/mankind/etc... you get the picture... For example, Brazil has blessed with pleasures such as us with lush rain forests, great soccer, and Carnival. And Japan providing us with fuel efficient cars, Nintendo, and Ninjas.

So where am i going with this? Well lets just imagine for a second... What if we take two great countries such as Brazil and Japan and take their people and mix them together? What would we get? Well guess what... You dont have to imagine any longer... I am here to show you what we will get... first off we would get a whole new category of great food... Japa/Brazil cuisine....

but more importantly ... Some of the most beautiful women to ever grace this earth..... ahhh yesssss....
click for more ... and yes of course pics....

(NSFW...well kinda... i had to blur out the naughty bits... but just play it safe...and proceed with caution)

Ok so whats so special about all of this? well let me break it down... I know there are tons of exotic mixes in this world... of course... but i would never thing that there were so many Japanese people in Brazil... actually i didnt even know that the largest concentration of japanese people outside of Japan is in Brazil... thats right!!! not the united states!!! wow!

and when i think of brazil.. im sorry i just dont think of japan.... i think brazil.... and booty.... and i dont think japanese and booty... well sometimes i do... ok fine.. i just think about booty... but here are some pics to show you how great this mash up can be...and dat booty... and trust me its alot better than your mommas meatloaf.....

and i could just sit here and explain to you more about Japan and Brazil and how their cultures etc collide.. but let me not bore you with regular details... read that crap for yourself... ima just let the pictures do the talking...

Talita Y Tamires (twins... yes twins..)

ANNE MIDORI

SABRINA SATO RAHAL

Be sure to eat your (TOKYO) veg

2008-08-05T20:48:00.000-07:00

Ever since architecture school, the questioning of the urban fabric is something me and my cohorts do on a daily if not minute basis. What if human kind took a different route to populate square acres of land? Underground? Underwater? And what if we had somehow failed to maintain our quality of life, and let it decay into some sort of magical forest of metal & concrete...oh, let me introduce you to Tokyo Genso...

[Official Tokyo Genso Blog] By showing a present/future/past of the urban Japan, Tokyo Genso suggests a point in time where something has taken over--other than humans. Shibuya, Shinjuku, Akihabara, are not spared this horrible future, but are portrayed with vegetation, vines, and decay--and done so beautifully. Nuclear Bomb? Fuel shortage? Zombies? Believe it or not there are places in the world as strange as this, and the web urbanist is a great place to start exploring the eeriness of a world devoid of the human soul. Something about the mix of j-pop, art, manga, architecture & disaster makes this so f-ing cool. Reminds me very much of Tekkon Kinkreet, Akira, and all those damn Macross series' that were spliced and mashed, into what we know as Robotech stateside during the 80's.

Oh, and who doesn't like a little green taking back what it lost. It's so hip these days.

(this blog post is recyclable & biodegradable)

[via boingboing and pinktentakle ]

The Lightning - The Supercar Of The Future

2008-08-04T14:33:00.000-07:00

The Lightning Car Company, recently revealed what could be the super car of the future. With the rising concern of global warming and the success of the recently released Tesla, electricity might be the new direction for super cars to go. The Lightning sports new battery technology that can be recharged in as little as 10 minutes and has a battery life of 12+ years. With an efficient electric motor powering each wheel independently, it means fewer moving parts in the car. Few moving parts results in less energy loss and significantly less need for servicing (the dealerships will hate that).

The styling is clean, undoubtedly British, and beautiful if you are a fan of the likes of Jaguar and Aston Martin. Boasting a bhp equivalency of 700+ and a 0-60 in 4 seconds, this will be an excellent car for the people who need more car than the Tesla, or the collector who want another pony in the stable. With a release currently planned for UK only, it will be interesting to see if it ever hits our shores.

The International Yo-Yo Open is coming!!! Aug 8-9 2008 NYC!!!

2008-08-03T23:01:00.000-07:00

The INTERNATIONAL Yo-Yo OPEN is coming to USA . It's August 8th and 9th and it will be held in New York.. Ok so im prolly the only one in the world who cares.. but Yo-Yos are awesome! so kiss my ass! So if you are in the area and have some extra free time or (have no life) i highly suggest you switch it up for a bit and go check it out..ok so now with that said these guys are totally insane and are my idols.

Now when it comes to Yo-Yo's... Whos the man you ask? One name... Hiroyuki... or Paul Han... well ok fine maybe two names... check out the video above to see how godly Hiroyuki is and how women all around the world just drop the panties and wanna jump his bones...

..... DAMN.. you want more seriously? this freaking post was about YO YOs... aint nuthing really more to report.. ok fine.. you wanna step your YO YO game up? here check this website out.. and cop one for like $100+ not your ghetto around the corner liquor store yo yo huh....

http://www.yoyoguy.com

AND check out TEAM ANTI-YO also.. because they PWN3Z when it comes to the YOz!
http://www.anti-yo.com

5&A DIME Does Gumball 3000

2008-08-03T21:30:00.000-07:00

5&A Dime is a street wear store in downtown San Diego's East Village. They have come a long way since being a small store focusing on the likes of vinyl toys to become one of the best clothing boutiques downtown.

The owner, who I have had the pleasure of meeting, and some of his people have been presented with the opportunity of a life time. They are going to be racing a car through 8 cities in 3 countries (US, NORTH Korea, and China)on 2 continents in the Gumball 3000 Rally. The race is $120K to enter and ends at the Beijing Olympics. They got hooked up with a sweet new Lancer Evo MR which they are adding some slight Mods and some dope gfx to.

(Pic Courtesy of 5&A Dime)

Unfortunately, the sponsorships were not enough to cover the full expenses of the trip (shipping a car from China to the US is a GRIP) and so the team has been forced to give up for auction some prize possessions such as a vintage track bike built by the homies over at Veloculture, some limited run toys, and an ultra rare pair of Wu Tang Dunks. The race starts Friday in San Francisco and should be nuts! From what I have heard, there will be daily updates from the 5&A Dime crew on their blog and word is that there will be daily updates of the race from Hype Beast. So check out the nice cars and nutty race path online, and if you're ever in San Diego, drop by the shop, they carry what's hot, the people are chill, and the owner went above and beyond with the design and concept of the store.

Is Hip Hop Going Back To Its Roots?

2008-08-02T16:04:00.000-07:00

Not at all, but there has been a recent surge in socially conscious and political hip hop lately. It's not that odd that NAS's new album is full of some good joints like Hero, Sly Fox, and Black President, especially when you have production and writing help from the likes of Dead Prez. But yesterday as I was flipping through the channels, I caught a new Big Boi music video ft. Mary J. Blige, Somethings Gotta Give.

Not that I don't expect Big Boi to put out good and thoughtful music, but I was surprised to see BET giving it some air time and trying to push it on 106&Park (granted the people were cheering more when they heard who he was doing his club joints with). It really shows a difference (no matter how long it might last) in the music industry lately, musicians in the mainstream are starting to actually care and try to take action about the state of America

We saw something similar 4 years ago when diddy started the Rock The Vote campaign, but that was pretty useless. More people were interested in picking up a shirt than actually voting. I think the difference now,besides the fact that our situation is even WORSE than 4 years ago, is that there is a presidential candidate that our generations can believe in. In 2004, many people were voting for Kerry because he was the lesser of the two evils, not because he was n amazing candidate. Now, with a new "hope" for "change" (with Obama), many people see the opportunity for a better future. Even thought I know Marco Polo will beat out Big Boi's new joint on the charts, I just hope that the good music keeps coming!

Step on the stars while you're reaching for the sun,
But never burn the bridge,
Each one teach one,
If you lend a helping hand,
You may never need one

Why I like Obama

2008-07-31T13:00:00.000-07:00

I’m not gonna talk like I have been down with Obama since the start. I had been hearing about Obama for a while and then I finally started to learn about him in his article in GQ (September 2007). Not that he was my man then, but I definitely took an interest.

Once the campaigning began and sides were beginning to be chosen, I had a decision to be made (for me it was between Edwards, Clinton, and Obama). I’ll be the first to admit I don’t know the ins and outs of Obama’s policies but my choice was Obama for many reasons. I think Obama is charismatic and has the ability to move people into action more than any other candidate. I like that he’s young and that he IS more in touch with my generation than any other candidate (you can’t hate on that, there’s a lot of people who like McCain for the same reason). Obama has worked for community organizations and understands the importance and impact of individuals and grass roots organizations on the community. Overall, I think Obama has the greatest ability to infect change, to inspire people to live up to their potential and to try to make the change they want to see, as opposed to waiting for someone else to do it.

Now since becoming the presumptive nominee, Obama has been far from perfect, hell, he’s even been quite human. He has tripped up a couple times, misspoke and there are certain policies I don’t agree with (of all the things you choose to highlight in keeping from no child left behind, a useless program, you keep standardized testing?! Really?!). But through it all, I still see the man I supported from the beginning (I sound like I’m writing wedding vows). The reasons I stated before are still the same reasons that I support him to this day, regardless of how he messes up.

I think, as Americans, we are hoping to elect a president who will step up and make all the change we will need. While we sit back in Starbucks and talk on our iPhones, somehow the President will solve the credit crisis, pull the country out of debt, pull out of Iraq while keeping the peace, provide health care for everyone, end our dependency on foreign oil, and give us $600 every time we’re down. America has become too complacent as the “world’s greatest nation” and we, frankly, have gotten lazy. The truth is, no matter who we elect, it’s not going to get your friend out of debt, keep your neighbor in their house, or give your baby cousin the education they need to be successful in life.

We, as Americans, need to start caring again. We need to protect our own, and by that I mean our communities, both on the local and global level. We need to think of the impact of our decisions when it comes to things such as education, dividing up city spending, and speaking out against injustice; Get out to vote! On the global level, we need to think about our impact on global warming, the drinking water supply, implementing legitimate green energy (forget ethanol, it does way more harm than good) and reducing the amount of waste we have. We need to start being proactive in our decisions, taking some time out of our busy lives to slow down, appreciate what we have, and give what we can to those in our communities. Volunteer our time and money to local organizations and global issues.

I think Obama has the greatest ability to move people. I think he’s a positive person to have in charge of this country that might allow us to rebuild the international bridges we have burned over the past 8 years. What we need to realize that if we want to be the world’s greatest nation, “we the people” are going to have to work just as hard as the guy we elect.

OBAMA ‘08

Marco Polo: A Dance For All Ages....And Dancing Abilities

2008-07-28T11:35:00.000-07:00

So in case you don't follow the "wonderful" music that makes it onto the radio and TV, Bow Wow just released a new song with Soulja Boy called (not much of a surprise here) Marco Polo. As is necessary (I guess) with all of the songs Soulja Boy is on, it has a corresponding dance. The video was released recently and can be seen here (but be warned, no research has been done, but I am pretty sure watching this video causes brain damage)

Now in case you were wondering, as I was, "How on earth did they come up with a such complex, interesting, and fun dance routine?" Bow Wow released a video on youtube with a little teaser of the song asking for people to submit a dance for the new "joint" of the summer and they would pick the best, as you can see in the following video.

2 months and a very thorough selection process (I am sure) and they came up with.....Peek-A-Boo. I could go through the whole video and pick out the ridiculousness of this video but I think the result would be on the scale of a masters thesis in Neuroscience so I will keep it brief. Not that the Superman dance was that much better but Bow Wow promised that the person who created that dance would be in the video and I am pretty sure that explains why there's the random shot of the baby girl running over to grab the beach ball back, that right there is the creator's 15 seconds of fame.

Bow Wow dropped "lil" a while back to try to appear older, probably to reinvent himself in the game, make it so he could rap about "adult" things....and to date Ciara. I am sorry Bow Wow, but you have now officially regained the lil. Sorry Lil Bow Wow, but throwing yourself on a track with Soulja Boy and playing Peek-A-Boo doesnt gain you street cred (last time I checked) and it definately doesn't make you appear any older. Yes, you will probably make bank off this, and yes, you probably bought a nicer car than I will ever own before you were old enough to drive but man, what a career choice.

Now I can't hate on Soulja Boy really, I mean the guy is worth more than I will probably ever make and the kid just got out of his diapers I think. He went from nothing to something with just a computer, youtube, and a dance that had everyone from girls in the club, to ballet dancing kids, to middle aged math teachers doing it. If that's not the American Dream (sans a lot of work), I don't know what is. I will however hate on you (no, not YOUUUUU!!!....it's just you), the fan. I can't hate on the person who listens to the song and laughs, I mean, it's pretty much is like a clown for adults, just a lot less scary to most people. I hate on the people who call up the radio and request it, the people waiting for it in the club, and the people who pay for his music. I will not get into an argument about what is good music and bad music, but as anyone can tell, the music airwaves are already pretty slim on diversity, and to have it saturdated with songs of this calliber is just dissapointing to me.

So I won't hate on Soulja boy but man, Ice-T will do it! (Peep this, this, and this)

The Master of Complications... What is a Tourbillon???

2008-07-26T19:00:00.000-07:00

(The $500,000 ZENITH ZERO-G)

TOURBILLONs have become something of a horologists wet dream and the mega rich man status symbol. And only the best watch makers in the world can even attempt to make them and at costs that are insane due to the intricacies involved in making such complicated mechanical parts... And more importantly they are rare and also they are very damn pretty to look at....

Now how much is one? Well... The 3 I'ma show you here are like $250k+ yes thats not a typo.. 250,000$ USD.. and up... like your house and some...for a wrist watch...

Now whats funny about Tourbillons are that they are completely unnecessary and just prove that "hey my watch has more moving parts and was a pain in the ass to build... so take your rolex and go die!" Why? Well because the original intention or design of a tourbillon were more for pocket watches. (click and read more)

By definition a Tourbillon is ( a type of mechanical clock or watch escapement invented in 1795 by Abraham-Louis Breguet that is designed to counter the effects of gravity and other perturbing forces that can affect the accuracy of a timepiece.) haha.. ok what the hell is that right?

Well its a type of watch complication (basically for mechanical watches functions besides timekeeping are called complications, while for quartz watches - just simply functions.) that was invented because of pocket watches back in the day... think about it ..before batteries and all that electonic stuff.. they made watches out of all mechanical moving parts... pocket watches are a prime example.... they would sit in a pocket or something for hours and well since its sitting and just doing nothing... the effects of gravity would mess up the accuracy of the pocket watch.... thus the necessity for a TOURBILLON and its countering effects on gravity...

See its all good for pocket watches... but now think of a regular wrist watch.. its mounted on your arm, and you are constantly moving and shaking your wrist, thus negating any negative effects of gravity, thus not necessarily requiring a need for a complication such as a TOURBILLON....

but of course.. like anything else completely expensive as fuck and totally unnecessary.. why not... if you can.... check out these other fine examples of MASTER COMPLICATIONS...

(The $250,000-$900,000 FRANCK MULLER REVOLUTION)

(The $275,000 Jaeger-LeCoultre Gyrotourbillon)

Royal/T in the Porta-Party

2008-07-24T09:40:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you mix a warehouse art space in Culver City with a cafe staffed by French-maid outfitted Asian girls- Royal/T. Royal/T has created quite a stir amongst Japanophiles and Asian art enthusiasts alike as it stands to be Los Angeles's first version of a cosplay cafe. Now don't get too excited yet fellas...these ladies aren't gonna play hide and seek with you, feed you, or cater to your every whim. What Royal/T DOES offer is an open and welcoming space to enjoy a cup of tea amongst some of today's most talented contemporary artists.

Current exhibit: "Just Love Me is the opening exhibition at Royal/T. Selected from the Susan Hancock Collection, Just Love Me explores the complexity of cuteness, and the yearning it reveals in artistic expression today. Cuteness is a gesture expressing an innocent desire to obtain unconditional love from someone who gives one's heart. Cuteness is not always sweet and jovial. It can also be monomaniac, enigmatic and obsessive accomplishing the craving under its optimistic surface-to be loved. Just Love Me is the title of a neon sign in the collection by Tracey Emin. This exhibition juxtaposes works not only by Japanese contemporary artists but also by various international artists who explore obsessive human desire." (Royal/T) Featured artists include: Takashi Murakami, Yoshitomo Nara, Keisuke Yamamoto, and Izumi Kato.

One of my most favorite and alluring pieces at Royal/T was Nick Rodrigues's Porta Party- basically the collision of a porta-potty, iPod, discoball, and camera. The sculpture is part of Rodrigues's 'Human Interaction Series'- an exploration of how human relationships cater to and sometimes conflict with technology and innovation. You can literally walk into the porta party, choose a song off the bright pink iPod nano inside, have the flashing lights dance with the spinning discoball, and the camera inside will capture all debauchery which is then projected onto the iPod screen for outsiders to gawk at. According to Nick Rodrigues's site, the Porta Party is available for rent for your next house party, debut, or bbq.