Beautiful Things Die Too

Mmmm Mustard!

2011-10-05T14:27:00.001-07:00

fs-9977, a photo by akenisa on Flickr.

I'm in love with mustard colored sweaters and Oxfords.

A Vehicle for Emancipation?

2011-08-15T01:18:00.001-07:00

picnic, a photo by Bordons on Flickr.

Thanks for my new job, I was finally able to buy a bicycle! I ordered a Public C7. I ran into this quote today while searching for bike accessories:

Susan B. Anthony once said, “I think [bicycling] has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world.” A woman on a bicycle, the equal rights champion observed, presents “the picture of free and untrammeled womanhood.”

Read more about How the Bicycle Emancipated Women at Mental Floss.

Google Plus Circles

2011-07-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

21 Google Plus circles you can actually use by Happy Place

I recently started using Google Plus and I'm really in love with the whole idea of it. You can actually share things (or keep things from) certain groups of people in your life. I'm even considering buying a webcam so I can try out the group video chat feature. I wish more people would switch over from Facebook.

Work is For the Birds

2011-07-20T12:46:00.001-07:00

trapped #2, a photo by kestra_400 on Flickr.

I started a new job yesterday. I'm working at a home caring for the developmentally disabled. My first day was pretty easy. I wasn't expected to do a lot. I pretty much just chilled on the couch and watched several episodes of The Office. Suddenly, we hear one of the client's cry out loudly from bed. The woman who is training me runs into her room then runs out to tell me that the client was crying because she had a bird in her bed! So, a bird was loose in the house and the other employee was terrified of it. I had to catch it with a bowl and put it outside. It was a weird day.

Blame Your Beach Body Anxieties on the Bible

2011-06-15T23:50:00.001-07:00

озеро, Арона, a photo by roman.noven on Flickr.

From Take a Stroll… with Rob Delaney - Problem Areas

Hi everybody! How’s it going? If you’re a woman, I hope your answer is “I’m fucking starving!” Bikini season will be here before you can say “Jamochachino Surprise,” so you better be torturing yourself and focusing your meager intellect and out-of-control emotions on shedding those pounds, girlfriend! I saw an article in a magazine yesterday that highlighted “four problem areas” a woman can have. Are you shitting me? I’m assuming that article was written by a woman, because if you think you’ve only got four problem areas to worry about you’ve gone so deep into the “Red Tent” of feminine insanity you might never come back. I don’t have a dedicated bank of super-servers in rural Washington State to store a giga-list of everything that could be or probably is wrong with your body, so I’ll just name a few:

Saddle bags, upper-arm fat, cottage cheese thighs, midriff-bulge (aka F.U.P.A aka “gunt”), flat chest, asymmetrical breasts, butt-beard, bacne, pit-cheese, cankles, surprise tampon string cameos, eczema, ham spatula, ashy elbows, feet of any kind, hairy knuckles, beef knuckles, uncle’s knuckles, vaginal halitosis, bald spots, loaf latch, sideburns, flatbottom, creeping jimson weed, dowager’s hump, treasure trail, Pepperidge Farm, razor bumps, leakage, phantom dangle, and panty dandruff.

I know it wasn’t easy to read that list since you likely recognized between 22 and 70 items from your very own body. Jesus Christ, that’s got to be discouraging. You probably feel like some sort of crippled, cupcake-hunting whale, listlessly bobbing in the ocean off the western coast of Mexico, hoping some merciful Ahab will happen upon you and order his big black Queequeg to hurl a harpoon into your heart, ending it all. (Unless there’s some sort of afterlife situation, where women who didn’t subject their appearance to enough scrutiny are punished for eternity, which, if we’re being honest, is probably exactly what happens.)

“Why me?” I can hear you screaming. Well, if you’re not too ashamed to leave the house, head down to your local library and pick up a Bible. You don’t have to read too far to get to the part where Eve (the first woman to both perspire AND fart when nervous) pigs out on a massive fruit buffet, angering God. As a result, God calls Eve a “fat bitch,” orders her to “put some fucking clothes on” (Genesis 3:16) and decrees that henceforth, all women’s bodies will essentially be lumpy torture-machines existing to satisfy men, assuming they can keep their “crazy pussy hair” under control (Genesis 3:20-22).

The Bible is loaded with great advice, and it’s important we remember that makeup companies and the media and plastic surgeons are not foisting some made-up idea of what’s “beautiful” upon women. These laws come straight from the mouth of Dr. Samuel F. Godburgers Himself, issued as He shrieks across the sky astride His prayer-powered Truth Rocket. And the fantastic news is that God’s first “Message to the Ladies” appears in the Old Testament, a text vital to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. So don’t be acting like you ain’t heard, unless maybe you grew up in Asia, subscribing to some religion that dilutes its firepower among 330 million Gods (why so many Gods? With that many Gods, there must be Gods named like, “Rick,” or maybe a God of hot turkey sandwiches? Why not?). Or even worse; maybe you were raised in a religion that doesn’t even have a God to give a shit about what you look like in a bikini. It sickens me to imagine.

I can hear some of you women disagreeing with me. You think the Bible is a dusty, 5,000-year-old comic book written by men. You believe that today’s arbiters of tastes and trends are cash-vacuuming soul murderers who subsist on your fear. And you might even think you can hear the board members of Procter and Gamble and the bearded polygamists who wrote the Bible high-fiving through a hole in the space-time continuum and having a good laugh.

But that would be crazy.

Dads are the Original Hipsters

2011-06-14T14:26:00.001-07:00

LOUIS, a photo by Jwhoward1991 on Flickr.

I just happened upon the blog, Dads are the Original Hipsters. It's pretty amusing. I never realized that with his Volvo and Ray-bans my dad was living the hipster dream. Here's a sample post:

Your dad wore thick framed glasses before you did.
Hipsters, you’re probably looking at this photo and thinking,
“Holy shit are those original, vintage, classic Ray Ban Wayfarers. He better still have them because I’ve been fucking looking at every goddamn thrift store in the Mission for a pair like that.”
But hear me out.
He wore those when he was bird dogging honies [sic] down at the Tasty Freeze in his GTO. So hipster, if you want to be like your old man, just go rummage through his old boxes in the basement for your own pair (here is a hint: they’ll probably be next the naked Polaroids of your mom.)

Check out the site to view the vintage photos which accompany each post.

LOOK!

2011-06-13T23:12:00.001-07:00

LOOK!, a photo by Xelya on Flickr.

The Incomplete List of Things to Do in a Small Town

2011-06-09T23:01:00.001-07:00

362/365, a photo by jessieroth on Flickr.

Visit the public parks and have a picnic
Go to the movies
Go to the library
Walk (run or bike) the nature trails
Visit the local museums
Go to the lake
Wander through the mall
Visit the cemetery
Drive around aimlessly
Take up photography
Drink coffee
Go to local restaurants
Visit a dive bar
Explore abandoned buildings
Go get frozen yogurt
Climb onto the roof of a building
Play board games
Cook dinner with friends
Make a film
Read in the sunshine

Was pink originally a boys' color?

2011-06-05T00:25:00.001-07:00

Untitled, a photo by la_sendi on Flickr.

From The Straight Dope: Was pink originally the color for boys and blue for girls? by Cecil Adams

In the 1800s most infants were dressed in white, and gender differences weren't highlighted until well after the kids were able to walk. Both boys and girls wore dresses or short skirts until age five or six. Differences in clothing were subtle: boys’ dresses buttoned up the front, for example, while girls’ buttoned up the back. Why no attempt to discriminate further? One theory is that distinguishing boys from girls was less important than distinguishing kids from adults. Childhood was a time of innocence, whereas adulthood typically meant grueling physical labor. Perhaps mothers decking out their little boys in dresses thought: They’ll get to be manly soon enough.

By midcentury baby clothing in colors other than white had begun to appear, but gender-based distinctions were slow to emerge. In 1855 the New York Times reported on a "baby show" put on by P.T. Barnum, exhibiting "one hundred and odd babies" dressed in pinks, blues, and other colors seemingly without regard to gender. In a passage from Louisa May Alcott's 1868-'69 blockbuster Little Women, a female twin is distinguished by a pink ribbon and a male twin by a blue one, but this is referred to as "French fashion," suggesting it wasn't the rule over here. A Times fashion report from 1880 has boys and girls dressed alike in white, pink, blue, or violet, and another from 1892 says young girls were wearing a variety of colors that spring, including several shades of blue.

But from the 1890s onward, boys' and girls' clothing styles started to diverge, with boys dressed in trousers or knickers at progressively earlier ages. Jo Paoletti of the University of Maryland, a longtime specialist on the topic, reviewed more than 500 descriptions and images of children's clothing appearing in print between 1890 and 1920 and notes a rapid "masculinization" of boys' wear, for reasons that remain obscure.

As part of this differentiation, there seems to have been an effort to establish characteristic colors for girls and boys. But it took decades to develop a consensus on what those colors were. For years one camp claimed pink was the boys' color and blue the girls'. A 1905 Times article said so, and Parents magazine was still saying it as late as 1939. Why pink for boys? Some argued that pink was a close relative of red, which was seen as a fiery, manly color. Others traced the association of blue with girls to the frequent depiction of the Virgin Mary in blue.

I’m not convinced, however, that there was ever a consensus that pink was for boys and blue was for girls. On the contrary, indications are the two colors were used interchangeably until World War II. Examples of pink as a mark of the feminine aren't hard to come by, one of the cruder being the use of a pink triangle to identify homosexuals in Nazi prison camps. After the war the tide shifted permanently in favor of blue as a boy's color. In 1948, royal-watchers reported Princess Elizabeth was obviously expecting a boy, since a temporary nursery set up in Buckingham Palace was gaily trimmed with blue satin bows. By 1959 the infantwear buyer for one department store was telling the Times, "A mother will allow her girl to wear blue, but daddy will never permit his son to wear pink."

How did pink get ghettoized as a girls' color? Nobody really knows. Professor Paoletti thinks the choice was largely arbitrary, but others credit innate biological tendencies. Research on color preference in monkeys has shown females prefer warmer colors like pink and red — supposedly an infant primate's pink face brings out its mother's nurturing instincts. A color preference study of Caucasian and Chinese men and women showed both Caucasian and Chinese women strongly preferred red and pink, while Caucasian men strongly preferred blue and green. However, the Chinese men showed a broader range, with many picking red and pink — possibly because in China red is considered lucky. To me that suggests the biology argument is pretty weak. Sure, my favorite color is blue. But it's entirely possible I say that because I was always told I should.

I Want to Ride My Bicycle

2011-06-02T21:23:00.000-07:00

Untitled by Gaby J Photography

I've been looking at bikes online so much lately. It all started with For the Love of Bikes, an adorable biking blog. I really don't know very much about bike brands and this blog has a lot of neat bikes that the author sees out and about. Also, if you happen to live in Redding, you should check out the Healthy Shasta site. Healthy Shasta has some useful bike trail maps and information about local bicycle events.

Unhealthy Hedgehog

2011-05-27T11:16:00.001-07:00

1301969445280, originally uploaded by .hillsy.heart..

Bradley is not doing too good. He has a swollen spot on his mouth. I know that doesn't sound too technical. They don't really know what is wrong. He has been on antibiotics for over a week and on Tuesday they are going to put him out so that they can examine him better.

Photography by See Through Fabric

2011-05-27T11:07:00.001-07:00

Untitled, originally uploaded by see through fabric.

Rodeo Wrap Up

2011-05-23T20:40:00.001-07:00

tender, originally uploaded by owlgardens.

On Saturday, my friends and I went to the Redding Rodeo. It was my second time going, but it was still just as ridiculous as the first. Here are the highlights:

We don't fit in at the rodeo and we probably never will. A group of cowboys said that J looked like a "douche bag." We might look like hipsters to them, but it's kind of awesome being made fun of by a bunch of men in Wranglers.
Throwing kettle corn down an old man's pants. This led to a kettle corn fight. Cover your drink and guard your cleavage!
I was showing off by slipping off my wristband that indicated that I am over the age of twenty-one. Then a huge employee of the rodeo came over and roughly ripped it off my arm! I was amused, but K wasn't so he told the police officers who were standing by chatting. They of course didn't care or even reprimand the employee who stood by looking guilty. Now, J and K refer to this as the time I was "manhandled."

Ski in the Winter, Ride your bike in the Summer

2011-05-23T20:32:00.000-07:00

Beg Bicycles

Retrovelo

Republic Bike

I want a bicycle so bad. I'm hoping that maybe I'll get one for my birthday. . .

Osama at the Wedding

2011-05-02T18:32:00.001-07:00

Untitled, originally uploaded by sergiok.

I'm sick of hearing about the death of Osama bin Laden. . . and the royal wedding!!! Is there any other news to report on?

Whitest Kids U'Know "Old Folks Home"

2011-04-23T18:56:00.001-07:00

A Novel Idea

2011-04-15T12:21:00.001-07:00

Untitled, originally uploaded by Anna Ristuccia.

I recently read a book that was written in ten days. Kind of ridiculous, right? Well, I'm pretty weird and I've decided to try it.

Emma Hack

2011-04-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

I generally think that body painting is lame, but the work of Australian artist and body illustrator Emma Hack may have changed my mind. Sorry, these pictures are kind of poor quality.

The Amplifetes - Whizz kid

2011-04-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

The Pleasures of Living

2011-04-08T16:06:00.001-07:00

Couch Jumpers 01, originally uploaded by Tanner Almon.

In Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl writes that:

"...The pessimist resembles a man who observes with fear and sadness that his wall calendar, from which he daily tears a sheet, grows thinner with each passing day. On the other hand, the person who attacks the problems of life actively is like a man who removes each successive leaf from his calendar and files it neatly and carefully away with its predecessors, after first having jotted down a few diary notes on the back. He can reflect with pride and joy on all the richness set down in these notes, on all the life he has already lived to the fullest."

Inspired by this, I've challenged myself to write one short positive reflection about each day. I don't really use my Twitter account, so I thought I would post them there. We'll see how long this lasts. Check it out or try it yourself.

Baked Tofu Sandwich

2011-03-31T15:44:00.000-07:00

This is a delicious sandwich I made based on a recipe at Selfish Vegan. My sandwich of course isn't vegan because I used cheese. This sandwich is easy to make and tastes great with sweet potato fries.

Ingredients
Extra Firm Tofu
Olive Oil
Minced Garlic
Pesto
Dijon Mustard
Lettuce (or fresh basil)
Tomato
Yellow Onion
Havarti Cheese
Fake Bacon (I used Morning Star)
French Bread

Preparation
Drain the tofu, then place it between several paper towels. Put something heavy on top to squish out the liquid. I've read that you should leave it overnight, but I only waited a couple hours and this worked fine. Slice the tofu block into four thin pieces then marinate it in olive oil and garlic for two hours. Bake the tofu for 30 minutes at 425 degrees. The tofu should brown and the edges should be crispy. Then simply cook up the fake bacon and assemble sandwich!

Enjoy!
Save any unused tofu for quick sandwiches later. Also, if you like this sandwich try experimenting with different marinades next time.

WWZDW?

2011-03-30T20:08:00.001-07:00

Zooey Deschanel for Oliver Peoples SS09, originally uploaded by LeeLeeLu.

I'm not very good at picking out clothes or getting dressed in the morning. When attempting to dress cute I ask myself, "What would Zooey Deschanel wear?" A dress with tights. Hats and cardigans are optional.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2011-03-17T21:17:00.000-07:00

It's St. Patrick's Day and regrettably, I am not allowed to go to the Squire Room anymore. I'm not sure exactly why, but I did come up with a few possible reasons.

Falling on the ground then proceeding to lay there and stroke the carpet. It seemed so soft and not at all dirty or disgusting while I was down there.

Getting a lap dance from a man and loudly proclaiming that it was the worst I've ever had.

Throwing a lit cigarette at a car. The couple in the car were just discussing the lap dancing incident so I feel like this was justified.

Using the phrase "He has more money than Jesus!" This led to an uncomfortable conversation with the bartender in which he explained that Jesus didn't have any money and that he was loved by everyone. Well, except maybe me and J. Also, that K has the features of Jesus and a soft voice so you know he's a good person. I was also told that I "lie every Friday" whatever that means.

Dancing badly to "Banquet" by Bloc Party. I generally avoid dancing, being seen dancing, and drinking so much that I start dancing.

Showing up an hour before closing after drinking too much at another bar. Discussing the Animal Collective in a loud obnoxious manner. Swearing continuously. Rubbing people's matching short hair.

VHS

2011-03-17T00:50:00.001-07:00

VHS, originally uploaded by Hollis Brown Thornton.

While browsing through some videos

H: Do you have a VHS player?
C: Yeah.
H: Wait, VHS player. . . that's not right. What are they called?
C: A VCR.

Just in case anyone else forgot.

Night time

2011-03-15T23:25:00.001-07:00

little yellow bird, originally uploaded by keels..

I feel sort of sick right now. I don't know if its from grinding my teething and thinking self-deprecating thoughts or from reading a few local blogs.

Peter Bjorn & John – “Second Chance”

2011-03-15T18:19:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure that I need to get Peter Bjorn & John's new album, "Gimmie Some", as soon as it comes out. I feel slightly reluctant about it though because every time I go to Old Navy they play "Second Chance". First of all, yes I am there a lot. Secondly, Old Navy? C'mon Peter Bjorn & John!

In Portland, you can put a bird on something and call it art!

2011-03-07T19:10:00.001-08:00

Prints for sale on Etsy!, originally uploaded by acoate.

While walking by a cocktail waitress wearing a thong.

H: Put some pants on!
C: Put a bird on it!

I Don't Love Anyone

2011-03-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

I Don't Love Anyone, originally uploaded by meera lee.

I wish I was in love. I like when things are easy and carefree. When people treat each other with respect and strive to be good human beings. What happened to that?

Thai Restaurant Rundown

2011-03-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

Shrimp Pad Thai, originally uploaded by fakeginger.

A Review of Thai Restaurants in Redding, California

5. Five Thais
Interestingly enough, Five Thais comes in at number five- bottom of the list. This is not only the worst Thai restaurant in Redding it is just a disgusting restaurant in general. It's located in the old TCBY and very little has changed inside. Seating and ordering is awkward. The food was beyond nasty. I ordered Pad Thai and it tasted predominantly of red pepper flakes. I was starving when I went otherwise the food would be pretty much inedible.

4. Racha Noodle
I had heard a lot of good things about Racha Noodle and was eager to try it. The restaurant itself was nothing special. It sort of reminded me of a laboratory in college. Institutional pink painted walls, exposed pipes, and travel posters from Thailand. I feel like the food was slightly off. Everything that usually tastes sweet was just not very sweet. It wasn't terrible, but I don't have any desire to return there. In addition to the mediocre food, they only take cash and checks. Who takes checks?

3. Thai Cafe
I haven't been there recently because they have weird hours, but this was an okay place. A lot of my friends really like it. I've heard some people complain that they don't like how the tofu is cooked. This is the sort of place I would probably go to if my friends really wanted to, but I probably wouldn't take the initiative to go on my own.

2. Kanya Garden Thai Cuisine
I really like Kanya Garden. It's pretty small and located close to Racha Noodle. I think that it's a good place to take people who haven't had Thai food. The food is delicious! The waitresses are really nice and always have good recommendations.

1. Nipa's Thai Cuisine
Nipa's is my current favorite. It's a bit more expensive that Kanya Garden, but I think it's worth it. They serve a vegetarian soup along with the entrées, everything I've eaten was amazing, the people that work there are great, and they have exotic birds outside to look at. I mean, really what more could you want?

Glasses Crew

2011-03-03T20:03:00.001-08:00

sleepyhead, originally uploaded by BƛƬƲĐΐƧƮƐ.

I think I'm too trusting. I wish men would be more straightforward and laid back. You wanna date? Let's date. You don't want to? Well, don't pretend like you do and don't make things complicated. Does it really have to be more difficult than that? Apparently it does.

I watched "The Social Network' the other night on the insistence of a couple of friends. I had been trying not see it because I'm not really a huge fan of Facebook. I found it entertaining, but I feel like I almost like Facebook less now. I also realized I have a strong dislike for college kids.

"Dark Allies" - Light Asylum

2011-02-13T11:31:00.000-08:00

I've been super lazy lately and not writing any actual posts. My friend showed me this song the other day and I'm obsessed with it. The video is kind of crazy and I didn't realize that the singer was a woman. On a side note, I'm convinced that everyone is a contralto. Or at least, the internet claims that everyone is a contralto.

Say Hi – “Devils” Video

2011-02-10T15:06:00.000-08:00

I'm kind of obsessed with this song right now.

Even Wolves Hate Creed

2011-01-23T10:10:00.001-08:00

, originally uploaded by pony wolf.

From Stereogum:

Here is the story of a 13-year-old boy from Rakkestad, Norway, who found that the music of Creed saved him from a wolf attack. By inspiring the animals to saunter off in disgust. Via NME:

"Eikrem was listening to Creed’s Overcome through his mobile phone and decided he’d try and utilise the band’s music to scare the wolves away. He reportedly removed his headphones and turned the volume up to maximum, at which point the wolves turned and walked away.

Eikrem said that when the wolves heard Creed they “didn’t really get scared, they just turned around and simply trotted away”.

Scientists have long known they have a highly refined sense of hearing, but this new info proves finally that wolves have better taste than the year 1999. Today, we are all wolves.

Your Favorite Feature

2011-01-22T18:04:00.001-08:00

, originally uploaded by Simon Filip.

I'm so sick of listening to people talk about their features. Oh you love your eyes and hate your nose? That's great. Apparently, everyone else does too. . .

Marooned - Dream Cop

2011-01-22T11:53:00.000-08:00

Marooned - Dream Cop from benjamin brewer on Vimeo.
I kind of love this video, but then again I've been watching a lot of fantasy movies from the '80s.

"Portlandia" Premiere

2011-01-14T16:51:00.000-08:00

"Portlandia" is a new show that playfully mocks Oregon's lefty metropolis. It springs from the minds of "Saturday Night Live" cast member Fred Armisen and Sleater-Kinney/Wild Flag member Carrie Brownstein. Check out the premiere of "Portlandia" while it's still on Hulu. If you can relate to it you'll probably like it.

Waking Up

2010-12-21T01:14:00.001-08:00

Love poem, originally uploaded by meera lee.

Johnny's Makes Me Want to Puke

2010-12-19T12:47:00.001-08:00

Cavalier_Sept1965_Vol15_No147_010, originally uploaded by it's better than bad.

The other night, my friends and I were down the street at the Squire Room. We were having fun and drank a little too much. K suggested that we go to Johnny's. This is one bar that I particularly dislike. I've heard that it is inspired by the film, "Coyote Ugly." Originally there were women dancing on the bar. I'm pretty sure they lost their liquor license once because of it and had to stop. I'm glad because, these stripper-rejects were embarrassing to watch. Now, on a busy night most people just stand around looking bored watching middle-aged people dance to a bad 90's cover band. Oh, jealousy! Despite all this, Johnny's is one of the newer bars in town and everyone always wants to go there. C had never been there and K coerced us into going by promising to buy us shots of Patron if we went.

When we got there the place was dead, which was unusual and sort of nice. We got a seat at the bar and shots were ordered. We were so drunk that there was some confusion about how to take tequila shots. Of course, now it seems so obvious when to use the lime, but that night we had to rely on the knowledge of the bartenders. Almost immediately after taking her shot, I looked over to see C who was sort of hunched over with her hand curled open in front of her delicately as if she just sneezed. C had just vomited onto the bar! Apparently, this is nothing unusual for Johnny's and the bartenders grabbed a towel and some water for C. Poor C is mortified while K and I are triumphantly amused.

The bartenders really should have seen this coming. Take that Johnny's!

All Work and No Play

2010-12-18T12:21:00.001-08:00

The Overlook Hotel, originally uploaded by PegaPPP.

M: Do you want to be a caretaker?
H: Like at the Overlook Hotel?
M: Yeah, there's an estate in McCloud that needs someone. I saw it in the paper yesterday.
H: Can live there and go crazy?! I totally want to do that!

Kathleen Hanna reflects about "Smells Like Teen Spirit"

2010-12-17T16:20:00.000-08:00

Is this true? I don't know. Is this entertaining? Yes!

Word de Jour

2010-12-14T16:35:00.001-08:00

Beefalos having lunch, originally uploaded by organicvision.

Beefalo
A fertile hybrid offspring of domestic cattle and the American Bison (generally called buffalo in the US). The breed was created to combine the best characteristics of both animals with a view towards beef production.

Job Aptitude

2010-12-14T13:01:00.001-08:00

gatitos, originally uploaded by elgranpacheco2.

I need to find a job. I'm not really sure what sort of thing to do though. I'm really good at naming cats. People should pay me to name their cats.

I'd give some examples, but hey, I don't work for free.

More Ryan Gosling

2010-12-13T23:04:00.000-08:00

Movie Trailers - Movies Blog

Insight for November

2010-11-24T14:37:00.001-08:00

, originally uploaded by lovemyashby.

Have You Considered That:

♥ Guys that aren't very compassionate probably don't score with ladies who are on the rebound.

For All My Pregnant Friends

2010-11-08T10:00:00.000-08:00

I saw this and thought of you.

We are Les Savy Fav

2010-11-07T09:37:00.000-08:00

We are LES SAVY FAV is the band's new photo blog on tumblr. They definitely have some interesting photos for their fans.

"Nightmares" by Vells

2010-10-24T12:20:00.001-07:00

125/365, originally uploaded by KatieOak.

I have nightmares
Battles bury me
Fiends are glancing over
I see bad dreams
Coming true for me
Ways to normal closed now
I have nightmares
Suite with orders poised
Warsome tools stand waiting
I see bad dreams
Done by telephone
One madman says, "now please"

There is a time
When everything goes
There is a place
Where nobody knows you

I have nightmares
Cars are tumbling
Sky is dark and early

I see bad dreams
So much jealousy
Fills the heart with hatred
I have nightmares
Air as still as death
All the voices stifled
I have nightmares
No more music plays
What's been done's eternal

There is a light
Shines from our minds
But darkness comes
And there is no time to...

Let your light shine through

(I wanted to post a video or link but couldn't find it. I suggest you download it and listen for best results)

Handjob, Bland Job

2010-10-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Handjob, Bland Job, I Don't Understand Job - watch more funny videos

Sorry guys, I had to post this.

Day 44

2010-10-19T19:16:00.001-07:00

Day 44, originally uploaded by jess_leclair.

Enjoy this artwork from Jess Leclair.

If you haven't noticed, I've been too lazy to blog for a while. I've been stressed out with college and unnecessary drama in my personal life. Now that it's all over (for the time being) I'm sick. I'll try to keep posting so keep checking back and leaving comments.

Indispensable Advice from Women's Magazines

2010-10-05T20:33:00.001-07:00

III, originally uploaded by A.Denomay.

From The Frenemy:

Women’s magazines are expensive. In this economy, I can’t just throw 5 dollars out the window to read 8 discreet ways to have sex in public or what Lauren Conrad’s doing with her hair lately. I know you guys get it. Luckily, I’ve read enough of these gems in the past to describe every issue ever being released this month and the next. Read on and YOU’RE WELCOME:

1. Jennifer Aniston is really hot but she is also very pathetic. We want to have her hairstyle and her arms, but only to carry on her legacy when she dies alone.

2. Red Lipstick doesn’t make you look like a whore. It makes you look like a Southern grandmother, a mid-twenties hipster, or an elegant whore.

3. Know your face shape. Face shapes include: oval, slight oval, circle, and Tyra Banks. This face shape will help you determine the correct sunglasses to buy, haircuts to get, and how many ugly children you might have.

4. Metallics are back this season!

5. When going out to dinner, you must order grilled chicken with dressing on the side. You may have one bite of dessert and only one. But don’t restrict yourself or anything. Now, here is a 500 calorie cocktail called “THE CARRIE.”

6. Buying a stupid little throw pillow is a cheap sexy way to decorate your shitty apartment. Throw some glass marble shit in a vase, too. That’ll help.

7. There are four ways to dress: Romantic florals, Urban Chic, Classic with an Edgy Twist, and wearing your boyfriends t-shirt is sexy.

8. You need to eat salmon. Eat some fucking salmon! It’s full of healthy fats! Come on, eat some egg whites for breakfast! Peanut butter? Only if you measure it!

9. This one time, I wore an embarrassing shirt to work and it was see-through and my boss saw it! Mortified!/This one time, I was “getting it on with my man” and his parents walked in! Mortified!

10. Sending a sexy text to your man will surely get him “fired up” for later tonight. Also getting him fired up? The 86 sex tips we will now tell you.

11. However, all of these 86 sex tips are just variations of: Reverse Cowgirl, something that you need a pillow to prop you up on, or an impossible angle that promises to hit your G-spot.

12. Reason #346 you should be on the pill has nothing to do with the fact that you might have unprotected sex. A lady never has unprotected sex. However, the adjacent advertisement is for Plan B.

13. Buy some fucking boots. Wear them with all the sundresses we encouraged you to buy and a ‘chunky’ sweater and BAM! Summer to fall wardrobe! Jazz hands, statement piece!

14. A great place to meet men is at sports bar. A great place to meet a man is in the park. Don’t ask men out. Don’t be afraid to approach men. Be confident. Be coy. Wear heels. Don’t be overly sexy. Bring girlfriends with you. Don’t bring too many girlfriends with you. A great conversation starter is ____. Be yourself. Here are smoky eye tips. What are lesbians?

15. Bikini waxes really hurt, but if you take Advil before it’s only as painful as getting hit on the face with an icepick. Not getting a bikini wax? Not an option, Chewbacca.

16. My boyfriend looks through my shit/never calls/is secretive/has job stress/sex issue. Should I break up with him? Here is my incredibly nice way of telling you you’re completely fucked, while also assuring you that your Prince Charming is totally out there.

17. Here’s another terrible STD you can die from. There aren’t any symptoms and absolutely no cure. Don’t worry, though. Only 1 in 4 men have it.

18. This is a somber photograph followed by a girl’s story about how a terrible, awful thing happened to her. Here is another story about a congress woman that made it in a man’s world! Here is a 28-year-old with a fashion business! Women don’t get paid as much, and third-world women have it harder. Because these are our serious pages! Followed by raunchy sex tales!

19. HA! You’re going to marry somebody just. like. your. dad.

20. To work out, all you need to do is squat with some pink weights, get a big ass exercise ball and do some half crunches. Don’t forget your kugels, and especially don’t forget your expensive workout sports bra.

21. Quiz: Are you too needy? What’s your first impression? What kind of ice cream are you? Which Vampire hottie is meant for you? What’s your sex position? When will you die?

22. Gratuitous pictures of All-American rugby players with their shirts off.

23. Horoscope shows you will be assertive at work and get some tail.

24. A reference to a Starbucks drink.

25. No fat chicks! But you know, love yourself.

Indie Playlist

2010-09-28T22:10:00.001-07:00

originally uploaded by youretheocean

I spend almost nine hours a week commuting. I don't listen to the radio, so that means I spend a lot of time trying to find new bands and uploading music to my iPod. A cool site I just discovered is Blalock's Indie/Rock Playlist. A new playlist is made each month and you can download all the tracks for free. Maybe you won't love every song, but it's a quick and easy way to get some new music.

Check it out and let me know what you think!

The Fiery Furnaces - Ex-Guru

2010-09-21T23:26:00.000-07:00

I ♥ The Fiery Furnaces

Shirts

2010-09-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

"Two Turntables and a Homophone" shirt available at Diesel Sweeties

My computer has been broken for a while now and I've been having to use my mom's ancient beast. So, instead of working on blog posts (or homework) I've been shopping for shirts online. I've also been singing up for bumper stickers. . . just saying that makes me feel really unproductive. Seriously though, how can you resist a free anti-Sarah Palin or anti-Fox News bumper sticker?!

I got some great shirts from Threadless the other day. Of course, today they are having a sale and all shirts are $9, but I'll learn to forgive them eventually.

Doctors Blog About the Weirdest Stuff They've Removed From Patients

2010-08-24T15:52:00.001-07:00

realclose, originally uploaded by _asphyxia_.

From Gizmodo:

Sermo, a members-only website for doctors, asked its doctor users to post about the strangest things they had ever pulled out of their patients. Then, they published some of the weirdest on their public blog. They are very weird, and probably mentally not safe for work. Here are some noteworthy ones, in ascending order of how much they disturbed me:

Allergist & Immunologist:
I once retrieved a plastic helicopter from a child's nose.

General Surgeon:
5 pens, 2 permanent markers, 3 straws, 2 toothbrushes, 4 Oreo cookie wrappers. All at the same time from the stomach of a patient.

Urologist:
At our hospital recently the general surgeons removed from the stomach a bound and gagged barbie doll that the patient had swallowed.

Pathologist:
Large zucchini (rectum). The spiral from a spiral-bound notebook (male urethra). Pencil (male urethra). Cigarette lighter (stomach).

Broken Window

2010-08-10T23:12:00.001-07:00

, originally uploaded by TeresAdoraphy.

The window in Mercy's ICU is broken.

An Illustration About Neighbours

2010-08-08T22:56:00.001-07:00

an illustration about neighbours, originally uploaded by Camilla Engman.

I thought I'd post something funny after having several bad days. . .

A Town Called Panic

2010-08-04T13:33:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Alt Film Guide

A Town Called Panic (2009) is a French film that was created with toys. The main characters are Cowboy, Indian, and Horse. Thinking that it would be a Western themed movie, I was initially reluctant to watch it. I was pleasantly surprised. The characters are somewhat like a family. The talking horse plays a father figure to Cowboy and Indian, who are like two hyperactive children.

In the beginning of the film, Cowboy and Indian realize that they have forgotten Horse's birthday. They scramble to think of a gift and end up deciding to build him a barbeque. The two accidently order 50 million bricks from the internet and it leads a series of strange events.

This movie was not just entertaining, it also was strangely satisfying. It wasn't like watching Robot Chicken. I felt like was actually playing with the toys. The subtitles and frantic characters may turn off some viewers though.

Overall Rating: A

How to Dress for Hot Summer Weather

2010-07-29T16:51:00.001-07:00

Me, Rüdigerhof, originally uploaded by Christian Pitschl.
Some excellent tips from Max Read's article on Gawker:

Wear shorts. Shorts are like pants, but shorter. If you're not supposed to wear shorts to work, tattoo the bottom half of your legs the same color as your favorite pair of shorts. You'll thank me later! When you're wearing shorts, at work.

Dress in white. Snow? Polar bears? Refrigerators? What do they have in common? Think about it. One possibility: A wedding gown.

Wear lightweight fabrics. Cotton? Is cotton a light fabric? I dunno. Wool? Try paper. Paper seems pretty light.

Don't wear any clothes at all. I know what you're going to say: "I'll be fired!" "I'll get stared at on the street!" "I'll violate my court order!" But did you ever think: Who gives a shit?

Buy a personal air-conditioner. I think the Sharper Image sells these things? Worst-case scenario, just take your home air conditioner with you outside. Probably you'll need a long extension cord.

Wear a top hat. This is less about the heat, and more that I think top hats are due for a comeback.

Make clothes out of ice. Should be easy to figure out.

Wear loose-fitting clothing. And in the pocket of your loose-fitting clothing, put a one-way plane ticket to Alaska, and then use it, to go to Alaska, where it's less hot, and live there.

Amazing Commercial

2010-07-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

This is probably the most amazing commercial I've seen in a long time! It's a commercial for the weight-loss drug Xenical which aired in New Zealand. I hate the ending though! It makes me feel bad and I suppose thats the point, but come on! Are we really supposed to believe that only thin people live exciting lives?

Swimsuit Season

2010-07-22T15:24:00.001-07:00

Mandy, originally uploaded by Derek Wood Photography.

An excerpt from Laurie Penny's article "Bikini body, anyone?":

When it finally became popular in the 1960s, the bikini was a symbol of physical liberation, of beautiful women reacting to the stern sexual prudery of previous decades by exposing as much skin to the sun as they pleased. Today, as with many iterations of the sexual emancipation rhetoric of the 1960s, wearing a bikini is no longer associated with pleasure and daring, but with anxiety, dieting rituals and joyless physical performance...The bikini body has become cultural shorthand for a moral standard of female perfection whereby any physical flaw should be regarded as a source of shame, an obstacle to collective fantasies of glamour and happiness.

Beauty Pageants

2010-07-16T23:38:00.001-07:00

Virginal, originally uploaded by Haggis Chick.

"The whole point of being a pretty lady is to be seen as a whore-like object"
-Kathy Griffin discussing beauty pageants

This is pretty much one of the best quotes ever!

Wes Anderson's Spider-Man

2010-07-14T00:34:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of anything Wes Anderson and not that much of a Spider-Man fan, but I would totally see this if it were a real movie. Come to think of it, I'm not really that big of a fan of any comic book inspired movies, well, except for Ghost World. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this parody as much as I did.

Dear Colleen

2010-07-13T14:03:00.000-07:00

Check out Dear Colleen's shop on Etsy for some really cute prints like the one above.

Skeletons at the Feast

2010-07-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

, originally uploaded by oxford comma.

Summer school is out and strangely enough I am starting to get bored already. My new hobby is reading while floating in the pool. Right now I'm reading Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian. The book takes place during World War II and graphically depicts the horrors of concentration camps. Bohjalian's prose is beautiful and the plot and characters are interesting. The only problem with this is that I feel guilty lounging in the sun while reading it. This book is not your typical light summer reading, but I definitely recommend that you check it out.

Outside the Gay Bar

2010-07-10T00:02:00.001-07:00

Justify my love, originally uploaded by Simon Pais.

Leaving the bar after refusing to dance

J: I can't believe you won't dance. You are a travesty! (Turning and addressing the group of men outside) She is a TRAVESTY!

Men: No, she's not. She is a beautiful woman.

(haha!)

Hipster Fashion Cycle

2010-07-08T05:57:00.000-07:00

Get Some Free Music

2010-07-05T22:07:00.001-07:00

09-hh, originally uploaded by GU!.

I discovered some free albums while on Amazon today. Get them while you can!

Matador Records - Intended Play 2010
1. Crash Years- The New Pornographers
2. Gay Human Bones- Harlem
3. Stay Close- Delorean
4. Bottled In Cork- Ted Leo & The Pharmacists
5. Castaways- Shearwater
6. Lust For Life- Girls
7. Gold Soundz (Remastered)- Pavement
8. The Greatest- Cat Power
9. Slow Hands- Interpol

Merge Records 2010 Digital Sampler
1. Horses Warriors- Radar Brothers
2. I Won't Lie to You- Let's Wrestle
3. The Very Modern Dance- Destroyer
4. Fall Hard- Shout Out Louds
5. Written In Reverse- Spoon
6. Don't Apologize- Lou Barlow
7. Thieves- She & Him
8. Learned to Surf- Superchunk
9. Glide- Alec Bathgate
10. I Wonder Who We Are- The Clientele
11. Odessa- Caribou
12. In the Dreamlife U Need a Rubber Soul- The Clean
13. I Hope You Die- Wye Oak
14. Give It- Lambchop

Digital Bang: The 2010 Sub Pop Sampler
1. What Did My Lover Say? (It Always Had to Go This Way)- Wolf Parade
2. Zebra- Beach House
3. What's In It For?- Avi Buffalo
4. Subliminal Message- Happy Birthday
5. Jail La La- Dum Dum Girls
6. Years Not Long- Male Bonding
7. I Can't Get Beer In Me...- David Cross
8. Spanish Sahara- Foals
9. Heaven And Earth- Blitzen Trapper
10. Something, Somewhere, Sometime- Ben Sollee And Daniel Martin Moore
11. Musow (For Our Women)- Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni ba
12. Closet Astrologer- The Ruby Suns
13. Falling From The Sun- The Album Leaf
14. Hide It Away- Retribution Gospel Choir
15. Lemonade- Cocorosie

Barsuk Records Spring 2010 Sampler
1. Solid Ground- Maps & Atlases
2. Big Escape- Pearly Gate Music
3. I Say Fever- Ramona Falls
4. Red River- Rocky Votolato
5. False Alarm- The Wooden Birds
6. Paralyzed- Starlight Mints
7. Aluminum and Light- Blunt Mechanic
8. Bless This Mess- David Bazan
9. Octavio- Viva Voce
10. When I'm Small- Phantogram

Hoodoo Gurus
1. Leilani
2. Another World
3. Axegrinder
4. Miss Freelove '69
5. The Right Time
6. Mind The Spider
7. Chop
8. Sour Grapes

Dangerbird Sampler
1. It's Nice To Know You Work Alone- Silversun Pickups
2. My Time- Minus The Bear
3. Turn The Dirt Over- Sea Wolf
4. 21@12- Hot Hot Heat
5. Doubt- Delphic
6. Disclaimer- The Dears
7. Eyes On The Prize- Eulogies
8. Blue Day- Darker My Love
9. Credible Threats- The One Am Radio
10. Hollywood- Codeine Velvet Club

So Indie It Hurts: Roir Rocks Volume Two
1. Rocket USA- Suicide
2. Pills- NY Dolls
3. Melt yourself Down- James Chance & The Contortions
4. You Taste Like The Tropics- Bush Tetras
5. Missing Boy- The Durutti Column
6. So 'n So- Mike Ladd
7. Drainidge- Terrorists
8. Pi- Univox
9. American Beat- The Fleshtones
10. Old Snakey- Jazz Butcher Conspiracy
11. Caca de Vaca- Joe "King" Carrasco
12. Get Off The Phone- Johnny Thunders
13. Never Been In A Riot- The Mekons

Les Savy Fav: Root for Ruin

2010-07-05T20:05:00.001-07:00

Les Savy Fav | Commodore Ballroom, originally uploaded by Melissa Dex Guzman.

Les Savy Fav will be releasing their fifth album, Root for Ruin, on September 14th! "I think Root for Ruin somehow captures all the best parts of Les Savy Fav," states guitarist Syd Butler. "We went into it with no expectations - and super excited with what came out - all the songs are my favorites."

Tracklisting:

“Appetites”
“Dirty Knails”
“Sleepless in Silverlake”
“Let”s Get Out of Here”
“Lips n” Stuff”
“Poltergeist”
“High and Unhinged”
“Excess Engergies”
“Dear Crutches”
“Calm Down”
“Clear Spirits”

Ninja Video Shut Down

2010-07-01T18:52:00.001-07:00

A Distorted Reality., originally uploaded by The Vision Beautiful.

"Authorities at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency seized the domains of nine websites that had been charged with illegally pirating first-run movies yesterday. But while the domains were taken down as part of ICE’s “Operation In Our Sites,” two of the sites have already reappeared just 24 hours later.

The sites TVShack.net, Movies-Links.TV, FilesPump.com, NinjaVideo.net, NinjaThis.net, Now-Movies.com, PlanetMoviez.com, ThePirateCity.org and ZML.com, had all bought their domains from US-based registrars, which had allowed federal authorities to seize the domains. The ICE replaced those domains with the following image, warning users that it is unlawful to distribute copyrighted information without authorization. . ."

(Read the full article by Ryan Lawler here)

Who is Mailing Me Wasps?!

2010-06-25T12:39:00.001-07:00

Wasp at Work, originally uploaded by NaturalLight.

I am afraid of wasps and bees. I just don't like things buzzing around me with the ability to sting me. Yesterday, I reached into my mailbox and grabbed a wasp! Neither of us enjoyed it. I ran as fast as I could back into the house. I calmed down for a minute and then when back out. The wasp was gone so I grabbed the mail, but of course it wasn't really gone and it chased me again! Now, I'm feeling pretty pathetic. Half the mail is laying on the sidewalk and I'm scared to go back. I do go back and get the mail off the ground, but I leave the mailbox hanging open because I don't want to disturb any possible wasps.

This morning, I was out swimming when the mail came. I went out onto the driveway to get it and this annoying old woman was outside walking her dogs. She has two yappy little dogs that used to try to attack my golden retriever. She always gives me a dirty look when I see her. I go the mailbox and carefully look inside. Sweet! No wasps! I reach inside and a wasp appears! So I'm running away from my mailbox in my swimsuit, screeching, while the woman with the dogs is giving me a dirty look. As I am running, the wasp is by my ear attempting to sting me. I am frenziedly whipping my head around to hit it with my pony tail. Great! I hope the security camera caught all this. I really wouldn't want my drug dealer neighbors to miss this!

Gasland

2010-06-23T23:18:00.000-07:00

I want to see Gasland so bad! The the guy in trailer catches his water on fire! That is so crazy! I can't believe this is going on everywhere.

Also, did anyone else notice that the director, Josh Fox, looks like the fictional director in Mulholland Drive?

Pottymouth

2010-06-16T21:42:00.001-07:00

, originally uploaded by Yulia ♥.

Silly stuff has been happening lately. I'm not sure if I should write about it though. I don't want to upset anyone who might read this. If you curious about what I'm talking about just listen to the song "Pottymouth" by Danielson Famile. That's pretty much what happened.

Cat Problems

2010-06-16T21:20:00.001-07:00

, originally uploaded by Anna Ådén.

I was sitting in my room and I heard a cat crying. It wasn't my cat so I thought I'd go outside and scare it away. I walked across the house and the meowing got louder. My mom saw me and told me that there was a cat stuck under the house. How did it get there? Beats me. I asked her if she was going to let it out. She had already let it out and opened the gate so it would leave our yard. The cat had came back and decided to sit on the porch and meow. Did it have kittens under the house? No. So, the cat sat there for an hour or so and my mom finally went outside and poured water on it and watched it leave.

It's been several more hours and I just went outside to empty the trash and the cat is back. I don't get it. I think I'm going to have to call animal control tomorrow.

Kashi Dental Plan

2010-06-12T16:56:00.001-07:00

"MARÍA"(Homero Manzi), originally uploaded by "My camera" My camera! My Kingdom for a camera!".

I chipped my tooth on a Kashi bar the other day. It wasn't even hard! I'm kind of glad it happened though, because I didn't want that piece of shit anyway. My tooth was kind of uneven so it was actually an improvement.

Summer School

2010-06-09T17:49:00.001-07:00

spins madly, originally uploaded by shawnisabelle.

Noisy people are talking outside the classroom.

Professor: (opens door) Sorry to be a bitch, but get the hell away from my classroom!

Best Relationship Advice Ever

2010-06-09T17:46:00.001-07:00

, originally uploaded by sasha nikitin.

I've been having boy troubles lately. One of my friends seems to be in a similar situation, and I like to read her posts on Facebook. My friend writes status updates that are really heartbreaking and often mirror my current feelings. In response to this, one of her friends wrote something along the lines of "Don't worry it will all be over soon." I assume that the individual was referring to the hurt she was feeling, but in my mind it sounds really fatalistic. Don't worry we'll all be dead soon enough. That my friend, is the best relationship advice anyone could give.

Internet Porn

2010-06-04T16:08:00.000-07:00

(Via: Online MBA)

Screen Printing: A Follow Up

2010-06-02T23:35:00.000-07:00

I really want to learn how to make screen prints and I posted a video a while back on how to do it. I saw "A Pretty Rough Guide to Screen Printing" and I really love the way it was made. This video makes the last one seem like "A Ghetto DIY Guide to Screen Printing".

(As seen on Swiss Miss)

Love

2010-05-26T14:02:00.001-07:00

, originally uploaded by nikolinelr.

How can some people be so out of touch with their emotions? I kind of saw this coming, but it hurts anyway.

Brief Interviews with Hideous Men

2010-05-23T18:22:00.001-07:00

John Krasinski (Brief Interviews with Hideous Men), originally uploaded by sundancefilmfestival.

Last night I watched the film, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men. The film stars Julianne Nicholson as a grad student studying the sexual attitudes of men. Through her interviews she hopes to gain insight about her own failed relationship with John Krasinski's character.

Initially, I hated this movie! The first half was nearly unwatchable. The story is told in a nonlinear way and the main character has a very passive role. Nicholson's character merely listens to interviews and strangers' conversations for nearly the entire film. The lack of interaction between characters makes much of Brief Interviews tedious to watch. If you can endure the first half of the film, then you will be rewarded with an interesting interpretation of the contemporary attitudes of men.

Overall rating: B

Calling All Writers!

2010-05-21T14:33:00.001-07:00

seattle, washington, july 2009., originally uploaded by Megan McIsaac..

I've been busy lately and I could use some extra help with this blog! If you are interested in writing posts please contact me!

Redding Rodeo

2010-05-18T22:32:00.001-07:00

Woodland Fairy Tale, originally uploaded by inmost_light.

I went to the Redding Rodeo for the first time. If you didn’t go this year or have never been, here is what you may have missed:

Critiquing the treatment of the animals. Don’t worry the calves were wearing helmets.
A gay rodeo clown attempting to flirt with your male friend.
Eagerly watching angry animals attempt to injure humans. Oh, the bloodlust!
Being so close to the ring that dirt flies on you when the animals run by.
Drinking too much then searching the ground for change to buy more drinks.
Watching an elderly lady have ice thrown on her.
Seeing your friend nearly run over his drunken sister.

Good times!

Bird Watching

2010-05-12T04:28:00.001-07:00

what's love got to do with it?, originally uploaded by Dailyville.

I've been trying to pay attention to my surroundings more and have recently become interested in birds. Some of the birds I have learned to identify from watching them in my yard are: Cedar Waxwing, Black Phoebe, and ~~Spotted Towhee~~.

Update: I've seen Black-headed Grosbeaks not Spotted Towhees.

Poppy

2010-05-09T22:52:00.001-07:00

Poppy, originally uploaded by Monika Stojak/monislawa.

Werewolf Riots in Redding

2010-05-06T00:54:00.001-07:00

It hurts so good., originally uploaded by ღMaybeSomedayLoveღ.

To my delight, on May 4th, "Dead in the Family," the tenth novel of the Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood) series was released. The book mentions, "there had been demonstrations and riots in Redding, California..." regarding the rights of werewolves.

What a random reference! Has there ever even been a riot in Redding? I can't think of any. I suppose that if we lived in a world with werewolves and vampires, some of the religious nuts in Redding would probably riot.

Les Petits Pois

2010-05-01T12:02:00.001-07:00

, originally uploaded by les petits pois.

My Brightest Diamond

2010-04-30T12:23:00.000-07:00

I'm in love with My Brightest Diamond.

Gift Giving

2010-04-23T12:42:00.001-07:00

, originally uploaded by jackson eaton.

At a party discussing a raunchy, politically themed gift.

Old Man: Where did you get it?
K: At the adult book store.
Old Man: Oh, what were you doing there?
K: I was looking for a blow up doll for a gag gift.
Old Woman: What? What was he there for?
Old Man: A BLOW JOB!

Don't Get Raped

2010-04-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

feel, originally uploaded by BƛƬƲĐΐƧƮƐ.

We've all heard those "rape prevention" tips for women. . . don't wear a ponytail or dress like a slut. Those tips are not only inaccurate, but also place blame on the victim for causing the rape. Here are some tips from Colleen Jameson that focus on the other side of prevention:

Sexual Assault Prevention Tips Guaranteed to Work!

1. Don’t put drugs in people’s drinks in order to control their behavior.

2. When you see someone walking by themselves, leave them alone!

3. If you pull over to help someone with car problems, remember not to assault them!

4. NEVER open an unlocked door or window uninvited.

5. If you are in an elevator and someone else gets in, DON’T ASSAULT THEM!

6. Remember, people go to laundry to do their laundry, do not attempt to molest someone who is alone in a laundry room.

7. USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM! If you are not able to stop yourself from assaulting people, ask a friend to stay with you while you are in public.

8. Always be honest with people! Don’t pretend to be a caring friend in order to gain the trust of someone you want to assault.

9. Don’t forget: you can’t have sex with someone unless they are awake!

10. Carry a whistle! If you are worried you might assault someone “on accident” you can hand it to the person you are with, so they can blow it if you do.

(via Bust Magazine)

Mulholland Drive Sequel?

2010-04-21T13:18:00.001-07:00

David Lynch 02, originally uploaded by michael alan goldberg.

In a recent interview, Laura Harring suggested that David Lynch may be at work on a sequel to his film Mulholland Drive.

"I'm very sure it's coming, it's being born," Harring said. "I cannot really tell you how I know."

By Special Request

2010-04-21T12:56:00.001-07:00

, originally uploaded by Yulia ♥.

"Your blog needs more tits"

Well, here you go. Don't the suspenders remind you of the Night Porter?

A Terrible Insult

2010-04-18T12:45:00.001-07:00

Catalina Prieto /// Diseñadora, originally uploaded by -- RANDY --.

Bars really aren't my favorite places, but they are somewhere to go at night when you and your friends are bored. We were extremely bored last night when our plans fell through, and we ended up at the Rusty Nail. The Rusty Nail is sort of a strange bar that is attached to the mall. I'm not sure how to describe it. It has sort of a sports bar feel with a couple of large aquariums.

I noticed some obnoxious people sitting on top of the bar. This classy group was being loud and taking body shots off each other. No big deal, until my friends and I realize that we know one of the individuals. . . .my misogynistic ex-supervisor! He is the reason I quit my last job and I am part of the reason he got fired. I definitely don't want to run into him, but of course he comes stumbling right up to our table! He's grinning despite his obvious rage and when I ask him how he is doing he mistakenly thinks I'm asking "What the fuck are you doing?" After a while, he cools down to some extent, and keeps remarking about how strange it is to see us. He then proceeds to "whisper" in my male friend's ear, "Are you guys fucking?" He is beyond wasted and we ask him about why exactly he was fired. He slurs when he tells us (these are his words) about how he fucked an attention whore who worked with us and was caught flipping the bitch off on camera. Wow, what a lovely way to describe your seventeen year old subordinate coworker!

My ex-supervisor's drunk girlfriend comes up to the table and introduces herself.

You look just like Tina Fey!

No, you are probably just saying that because of the hair.

No, you must get that all the time! I bet you could even dress up like Palin like she does!

No. . .

Talk about adding insult to injury! My friend and I quickly left and vowed never to go to the Rusty Nail again.

Cruel April Nights

2010-04-18T11:08:00.001-07:00

garage life, originally uploaded by hey mr. eric.

I don't understand Redding's fascination with classic cars. It probably has something to do with the huge population of elderly people here. I'm fine with people liking classic cars, really I am. I just hate it when they have to shut down all the main roads in Redding to have their Cool April Nights parade. The name is somewhat misleading anyway. Cool nights in Redding?! I could understand Cool December Nights or Mild April Nights. They should really change it to Cruel April Nights because it's almost impossible not to get trapped in the middle of the parade route.

The Adaption to My Generation (a daily photo project)

2010-04-16T07:40:00.000-07:00

Living My Life Faster - 8 years of JK's Daily Photo Project from JK Keller on Vimeo.

I find this kind of amazing!

Women in America

2010-04-07T19:14:00.001-07:00

058, originally uploaded by Lina Scheynius.

"Americans boast about having the freest country, yet women can’t even go out for a walk at night"

- Jackson Katz in "It Takes a Man"

Paying the Builders

2010-04-07T16:29:00.001-07:00

, originally uploaded by Maren Celest (Archive).

From inside the house, we watch two men finishing build the pool house. The builders have been working for four hours in the rain. As, the job comes to a close, we discuss paying them.

M: Who do I make the check out to?
H: That one man has been smoking the entire time!
N: Make it out to Marlboro.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T14:07:00.001-07:00

My Peeps, originally uploaded by bentilden.

Guns

2010-04-02T00:48:00.001-07:00

Zombieland, originally uploaded by slurring the rhythms.

I'm generally don't have positive feelings towards guns. I'm just not into killing things or injuring people. Lately though, ever since the health care bill passed, people have been getting crazy on the news. People have been threatening politicians and being violent. I kind of want to buy a gun. Not because I want to join the Tea Baggers, but to protect me from them. I mean, have you ever watched Glenn Beck?! I think I need to protect myself from people like that!

Could There Be a Better Song About Killing Children?

2010-03-31T21:39:00.001-07:00

ждать......, originally uploaded by sergeyloie.

Right when it came out, I got the Decemberists' newest album "The Hazards of Love." The album is considered a is a rock opera, with all songs contributing to a unified narrative. I hadn't really listened to to it, I think I heard it once when I was in the shower or something. I went on a trip this weekend and my iPod was on shuffle and the Rake's Song came on. I started listening to the lyrics:

Charlotte I buried after feeding her foxglove

Dawn was easy, she was drowned in the bath

Eziah fought but was easily bested

Burned his body for incurring my wrath

As, your probably guessed from the blog title, the narrator of the song is describing how he killed his children. It's a gruesome topic, but I love this song! There is something charming about how the lyrics are written.

Check out this video for the Rake's Song made by students from St. Martins College of Art.

Highly Suspicious

2010-03-31T20:54:00.001-07:00

, originally uploaded by Thabata Guerra.

The other night my friend and I went out to dinner. After leaving the restaurant we notice a traffic jam up ahead. Sobriety checkpoint. For no apparent reason, my friend turns down a side street to avoid the checkpoint. This looks bad. Suddenly, we are surrounded by four police cars. Yes, four! They were shining lights into the car from every direction. Pretty unnerving, right? Well, as he pulls over, my friend manages to hit the curb twice. I'm trying not to laugh because I know that by now the cops are certain the driver is drunk. The cops want to know the last three places we were at. A restaurant that doesn't serve alcohol, my house, and his house. The cop treats us like children then lets us go.

Don't try to avoid sobriety checkpoints!