LIFE IN NEON

LIFE IN NEON: 22 IS THE END

2009-02-10T16:12:00.000-08:00

I've been reincarnated. Check it out. And, tell your friends.

FASHION: SANS for Hint Magazine

2007-07-02T08:06:00.000-07:00

My good friend Jean-Baptiste has tipped me off on these cool shirts by SANS for Hint Magazine. These organic unisex SQUARE styled t-shirts are a hallmark of SANS style, which is extremely hip and like a wave from the future. Essentially, these shirts are THE summer shirt of 2007. They are pretty pricey, but the deal Hint has in their shop is pretty modestly priced (if money is readily available). Check them out, and if you get one before I do, let me know how they are!!

FAVORITES: Scrabulous.com

2007-06-26T18:35:00.000-07:00

Scrabulous.com is probably one of my favorite websites. I am absolutely addicted to Scrabble and this website is a good way for me to feed this addiction. One fantastic feature on the website is that it has the e-mail version of the game. This allows you to start a game with as many as three other people and play Scrabble as you would normally. It can get pretty intense, and the temptations to cheat are huge, but unfair. If you aren't into that, there are many different versions of the game and different rooms to play in. It's pretty radical.

NO COMMENTARY NECESSARY: Scarlett Johansson & Kenan Thompson & Bill Hader in Dress Shop

2007-06-24T20:08:00.000-07:00

'WHY COME MY BABY CAN'T GET THIS TO SHOW OFF HER JUNK?'

Kenan Thompson is show stealer.

(I was over reading Shelby Goes Bowling and was reminded of this.)

(thanks Justin)

KILL ME PLEASE: Night of the Comet's VS I Am Legend

2007-06-24T19:46:00.000-07:00

I was perusing trailers and came across Will Smith's new one I Am Legend. After watching this trailer, I realized that this is exactly like the 1980 cult classic Night of the Comet. Moreover, the sites are claiming that this is more of a remake of Vincent Price's The Last Man On Earth; but, let's not play, which one was more radical? Duh. Night of the Comet!

I mean, 1980s Los Angeles, valley girls in a post-apocalyptic world, zombies, mall raids, unlimited video game play--what more could you want from a sci-fi/horror film?! Will Smith's takes place in NYC, features 'vampire cannibals' (also known as zombies, retard), the struggle for him to survive. Ugh. Lame.

In any event, why would you want to see this? Will Smith is as worn out as an eighty year old's dildo. He is super lame and hasn't made anything really fantastic since...Fresh Prince? Six Degrees of Separation? Independence Day? I've never really been impressed (unless you reach into his bag of musical ability and pull out 'Parents Just Don't Understand--THAT's bodacious).

Are you guys going to go see it? Watch both trailers, and weigh in.

Night of the Comets VS I Am Legend

NO CONTEST

MAINSTREAM GONE RIGHT: Planet Earth

2007-06-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

Planet Earth is a twelve part mini-series that originally aired on Discovery Channel in April and has been rerunning on Animal Planet every Wednesday night. This show is kind of old news, but I have been obsessed with it since it came out and am a little stumped as to why I haven't posted on this earlier. This was a collaboration between BBC and Discovery, and the results are beautiful and utterly mesmerizing.

Each episode takes a small theme, like forests or jungles or plains or fresh water, and chronicles the animals and planets that live and thrive in these areas. They've accumulated footage for the past five years and each episode is estimated to be about ten million each. The results are jaw dropping. They were made for high definition television, and to watch it on anything else is a crime.

Moreover, there are TONS of never-before-scene footage of animals doing very rare things. Each episode has at least one of these moments that are bound to leave you wondering how they caught them on tape. I would post online video of some of these moments, but that is not doing the show justice. I mean, twenty tigers killing an elephant? a deep-sea octopus with tentacles that light up? multiple Bird of Paradise mating dances? a gnu being eaten by an alligator? a fox stealing gosslings? The list goes on and on.

From the abundance of footage gathered, a movie is slated to come out soon to all theaters AND Imax. It's going to be awesome. Moreover, it is also on DVD. But, beware, the one sold at most local retailers is the BBC, David Attenborough nattarted DVD set. The Discovery Channel, Sigourney Weaver narrated DVD set is only sold at Discovery Channel retailers (this one is better: Weaver is a stellar narrator).

MAN FAD/POLL: Short Shorts Everyday? SRSLY??

2007-06-23T18:25:00.000-07:00

I've been living in NYC for the past month. And, I've been noticing that the newest male hipster trend is to wear short, short, short shorts. Thanks to the now-so-passé American Apparel (which, I can't deny, I love them), hipster guys are wearing short shorts like crazy! I'm not going to lie, I wear pretty short shorts to the beach; BUT, everyday? Are you shitting me? That's a little uncalled for. Let's get real: any minute these dudes' balls could pop out. Not cool. It's definitely a plausible sceneario: it's happened to me at the beach.

What do you guys think? Should this trend be picked up? Should I encourage friends to wear these? Shall I endorse them?

I most likely will wear those corduroy short shorts American Apparel has been selling. Who am I kidding?

ON REPEAT: Roisin Murphy's 'Overpowered'

2007-06-18T19:52:00.001-07:00

Not only is my favorite, Roisin Murphy's, song absolutely amazing, she is also wearing totally radical Gareth Pugh clothes and actually making them look street worthy, or a look into the future. She also has done some fantastic self-production of this song and most of her new album, which should be out in England in mid July. This is ther first single off of the LP.

And, the video is totally awesome.

UPDATE: I've magically found this track, it's b-side, and the Kris Menace remix. KILLER.

Roisin Murphy 'Overpowered'
Roisin Murphy 'Sweet Nothings'
Roisin Murphy 'Overpowered (Kris Menace Instrumental Remix)'

UPDATE: I fixed the links!!

PROMOTION: McFly 2015

2007-05-31T11:01:00.000-07:00

McFly 2015 is a grassroots movement to get Nike to sell and manufacture the shoes that Marty McFly and other futuristic people wore in Back to the Future: Part 2. They were seen in the movie, but not sold. People want them produced now because they are totally radical, and it's almost 2015. How appropriate.

All you have to do is sign up and are you in! It's one of the coolest grassroot movements ever, and they even have a MySpace account and a Virb accont. Help these brothers out, dudes, mainly because I want a pair, too.

MAN FAD: The Party Pouch

2007-05-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

My good friend Elise, who I mention ten thousand times because she is super awesome, turned me on to the reimergence of the fanny pack. She has been rocking a Le Sport Sac fanny pack for years now, and it wasn't until she pushed me to get one at a thrift store that I got one: a huge, blue and orange Salom Snow, fanny pack for skiiing.

Let me tell you something: the fanny pack rules. Not because it is extremely trendy or anything, but it is a HUGE conversation starter and attracts people over to you, which is slightly amazing. More important than trendy or conversation starter, it is a Party Pouch.

"A 'Party Pouch'? What is that?" you ask. I answer that it is a glorified fanny pack that is a party on the go: I use my Party Pouch to carry streamers, blowers, a harmonica, disguised bottles of liquor, an even smaller bottle of mixer, a disposable camera, and anything else I accumlate as the evening erodes and devolves.

Moreover, the next morning after a night of vice, you are destined to find some fun creatures lurking in your Party Pouch. The night after my twenty-first, this is was I found:

Other more day-to-day use of the Party Pouch are that it can:
-hold unecessary accessories you are wearing, like hats or sunglasses
-be used to smuggle dinner into a movie theatre
-hold your car keys and phone
-support a mini-dance party, with iPod and battery powered speakers
-to steal shit, if you steal shit
-hold babies

Party Pouches are here to stay. Embrace it.

(NOTE: this post is dedicated to Emma, because she inspired this post and, on twenty-one, the Party Pouch did in fact have party hats and a "Welcome New Baby" balloon attached to it.)

DRINK: Cotton Candy

2007-05-27T11:13:00.000-07:00

Upon turning twenty-one (which was two weeks ago), I created a pretty good drink (which I am sure was already invented, but - what the hell - none of my friends had tried it before).

It tastes like cotton candy. It's a pretty girly drink that is terribly sweet.

Ice
1/3 cup of vanilla vodka (Stoli Vanilla is the best)
2/3 Cranberry juice

Enjoy.

(NOTE: That picture is from one of the many birthday celebrations. Someone purchased me a Mind Eraser. That shit tasted like shit.)

POLL: New Neon or Back to Black?

2007-05-27T10:55:00.000-07:00

A year ago, I purchased these slip-on loafers from the Gap that were brown with tree/bark print on the top. They were cheap and comfortable, but not very appealing and hard to match. Moreover, there was a lot going on with them, with the shades of green and brown and black competing with each other.

I decided I wanted to spray them totally black to get more use out of them (I only wear black - it's the color of my soul). After I painted them, I thought "Hey, why don't I splatter paint them neon!" I've done this once and a thousand times to clothing items, but this time I did it in a different manner which was more of a "drip" style, then followed by splatter paint. The results aren't terrible, but I am on the fence whether to

!.) keep them how they are

b.) scrap off the paint and spray paint them back to black.

Here is how they look:

What do you guys think? My friend Elise, who rules, said yes, but I still don't know.

Can I get a witness?

KILL ME PLEASE:Toms Has Sold Out

2007-05-22T10:32:00.000-07:00

FUCKING TOMS HAS MADE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE FUCKING CORPORATE DEVIL: URBAN OUTFITTERS IS NOW SELLING TOMS.

MAINLY ONLY TO GIRLS, BUT I AM STILL PISSED.

BEYOND PISSED, ACTUALLY: THAT STORE TAKES EVERYTHING COOL, STREAMLINES IT, THEREBY MAKING IT ONE. HUGE. DUMP.

FUCKTARDS. I HATE THAT STORE SO MUCH.

SADLY, I THINK THAT IS WHAT AMERICAN APPAREL IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN FIVE YEARS.

DAMN. LIFE BLOWS SOMETIMES.

KILL ME PLEASE: Dark Horizons To Remake 'Suspiria'

2007-05-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

I was reading My New Plaid Pants and read that Dark Horizons production company is in talks to remake one of the most fantastic and stylistic horror films, Suspiria. This is a classic Italian horror film that was directed by one of my favorite directors, Dario Argento. The original deals with a dance school which is actually a witches' coven. It is quite good, and it is worth seeing solely for Argento's inventive use of color and set design. And, it is pretty fucking scary.

Why is this such a bad thing? All remakes = shit, for the most part. And, I've read Dark Horizons statement about obtaining the rights: they have said that they "intend to create a concept that will encompass cinema, videogames, fashion and music and that revives the original for those who did not experience it." What the fuck? The movie was made in the seventies and DID NOT include god damned video games. They are going to take a dump all over this classic and dumb it down for profits for Americans. Fuck.

For those of you who have not seen it, here is a trailer from the 1977 gloryfest that is 'Suspiria.'

Rent this, or buy it, if you have not.

REMIX: Remixes and Remixers - GOOD

2007-05-20T19:13:00.000-07:00

(let me preface this by apologizing for being neglectful of ye olde bloge. school is now out for summer, and in between internships, partying, working, and misbehaving, i will do my damnedest to update more)

I used to be heavily opposed to the idea of remixing. This was because I solely viewed the art that is the remix as nothing beyond adding a rapper and an extra back beat to a song. It was not until a few years ago that I saw that talented and fine musicians are remixing each other's work to take the tune to a totally different level and transforming it into a new product, whether for the better or worse, or to expound upon overlooked elements in a song, or to take the song in a totally new direction. In any event, remixing is cruicial to modern music (mainly electronic and techno arts--other music forms have yet to master this). Here is a listing of my favorite remixes and remixers, divided into three tiers and three installments: good, better, and best.

This installment covers the good remixes, mainly songs that exhibits the range of the remixer, but just does not push the listener into ultimate glee.

GOOD

Goldfrapp 'Slide In (DFA Remix)'
DFA is a fantastic New York based label, toting such fine musical acts like LCD Soundsystem, The Rapture (well, this was their original label), J.O.Y., and others. They are popular for being, quite possibly, the BEST American remixers around. They chose to take a really, really good song by Goldfrapp and turn it into a more relaxed, chilled out, and loungey jam. Instead of pumping more glitter into this prom gown, they take it and mute it down a little. It's pretty much like they gave Goldfrapp's 'Slide In' and gave it some weed. This remix fantastic in that it keeps you occupied and travels to quite a few cool places over the span of tweleve minutes. DFA knows their shit, and they know who to attack and how to make them awesome. This is a perfect example of that.

The Killers 'When You Were Young (Jacques Lu Cont Remix)'
I hate The Killers. I hate them. I absolutely hate them. This remix should be in the best category, but since I hate The Killers so much, poor Jacques Lu Cont must suffer in the good category. Jacques Lu Cont, aka Thin White Duke, aka Stuart Price (his real name), is probably the best remixer ever. Mainly, because he turns super popular songs by decent artists into pure, dance, remix masterpieces. He is a God (and is singlehandedly responsible for resurrecting Madonna's music career by producing and writing most tracks on 'Confessions on a Dancefloor'). This song turns 'When You Were Young' into something respectable and tolerable. Jacques Lu Cont: you go, girl.

Kleerup featuring Robyn 'With Every Heartbeat (Meat Boys Remix)'
Now, this is a classic example of loving the original song, loving the remix, but not knowing who the remixer is. Out of all the fantastic remixes of Kleerup's PHENOMINAL song (where Robyn is the true hero, and it shows in every remix), this Meat Boys remix takes center stage because it is responsible for taking this song to a more serious level, rather than a dance hall jam. The song has become utterly pensive and brilliantly builds to a heartwrenching climax. You just want Robyn to win, which was the theme of the original song, but the Meat Boy's addition of laser beams and focus on Kleerup's main riff direct listeners directly to what is important: heatbeats.

Metric 'Monster Hospital (MSTRKRFT Remix)'
This is an extremely weird situation: I hate botht the artist and remixer. Metric has never really appealed to me, nor has the original version of this song. Yet, two terrible acts have converged to make this slice of awesome. 'Monster Hospital' is all war and fight, fight, fight - MSTRKRFT takes that and turns it into a darker, fast paced, and, at points, whaling version of the song--the way the song should have been. If you were to simply hear this song and make an assessment of MSTRKRFT, you would think they were awesome. Otherwise, you would see them for who they really are: the reformation of the shit band Death From Above 1979, pretending they know how to do electronic, while winning the hearts of every indie kid, and while making carbon copy versions of the work Daft Punk has done years upon years ago.

Nine Inch Nails 'The Hand That Feeds (DFA Remix)'
Again with that DFA setting things on fire. This song was probably my favorite DFA remix last year, however I do not find DFA remixes to be all too impressive (outside of the few that have made these lists). DFA is not bad by any stretch, I just find them a wee bit too dance-rock-punk oriented remixes than I prefer. But, I have friends who swear by them. DFA turns Nine Inch Nails in this song into a battle: there is a war in this song waging between masters and servants, that wages behind heavy breathing and cowbell. This is another song where the band is left behind, and the singer--Trent Reznor in this situation--prevails as the redeeming value of the original. I really appreciate the work that DFA has done with this song.

Teenager 'Alone Again (Van She Tech Remix)'
I believe I've talked about the glory that is Van She and Van She Tech before. But, let me reiterate that Van She is one of the biggest up and coming acts to be on earth right now. They have immense talent. To compete with that are fellow Aussies Tennager, who house budding act Ladyhawke inside it. The original song is absolute gold, but Van She really turn the original upside down, making you nearly miss anything that ties the two songs together. Van She does a great job at marrying guitar to remix (I think better than DFA does...), and it really is proven here. Van She has done a lot of great remix work, and this is one of their gems--not diamonds.

Ciara 'Promise (Kyaal Remix)'
The self-defined "Remix King of Sweeden," Kyaal, shows his stuff on this song. Reminiscent of Alan Braxe and Fred Falke's work with Kelis' 'Bossy,' which is top tier, Kyaal turns Ciara into a 1980 R&B diva. Some have said that this is just a poorer version of what happened with Kelis by AB&FF, but I would just call those kids semi-retarded haters: Kyaal is producing truly fantastic work here, which is a break from his usual rastafarian remix styles and from Ciara's slightly boring R&B. It's a good break for everyone, and our ears win.

This concludes the GOOD section of Remixes and Remixers.

ON REPEAT: Bumblebeez 'Dr. Love'

2007-05-04T21:56:00.000-07:00

This song rules. The video is even more radical: it's super eccentric and awesome, but it is totally worth it for the marker/flesh breakdown.

Sharpies are so hot right now.

POLL: Night Jobs in NYC?

2007-04-13T15:52:00.000-07:00

I got an internship in Times Square where I will be working during the day during weekdays. It isn't paid and I need some income. Any reccomendations or tips on places to search?

I'm thinking Starbucks. Ideas? Suggestions? Places NOT to go?

NO COMMENTARY NECESSARY: Alanis Morsette 'My Humps'

2007-04-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

ADDENDUM:
(for emma)
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

GET THE LOOK: Toms Shoes

2007-04-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

My good friend over at Poodles Are Pink has turned me on to the tiny glories that are Toms Shoes. Because they are RIDICULOUSLY cheap and they support a great cause, I decided to purchase a white pair.

BEST IDEA EVER.

At first the shoes were a little stiff and not cool. But, after breaking them in after a couple of hours, I have yet to take them off after the two weeks I have owned them. They are the perfect summer shoes for guys and gals, and I even have a surprise for you:

if you order a pair of Toms Shoes by April 30 and use the code '1PAIR4FEET,' you will recieve five dollars off. Pretty sweet gig. Tell your friends, tell whoever: Toms sent a card telling to give the code out to anyone and everyone.

Totally worth it. I'm going to be purchasing these shoes very, very soon:

STREAM OF CONCIOUSNESS: Georgetown Basketball Final Four

2007-04-02T11:54:00.002-07:00

We so should have won.

I hope Ohio State loses.

But it would be cool if Florida's Joakim Noah and Ohio's Greg Oden fight to the death. GLADIATOR FIGHTS OF THE FINAL FOUR!!!

DRINKS: Champagne Mojito

2007-04-02T11:54:00.001-07:00

Get a cup or glass or champagne glass cup.

Slice a lime into quarters and place two in the glass.

Place some mint sprigs/leaves in the mix.

Muddle it to get the essence of the items.

Pour champagne in.

Drink.

To refill, remuddle the the same or new ingredients.

ON REPEAT: Gui Boratto

2007-04-02T11:54:00.000-07:00

Gui Boratto is my current hero of minimal techno music. He is an architect, musician, producer, and composer that recently has released his thirteenth release and first full length disc from German's Kompakt label (which is also amazing). The album drip-dops along through plains of electronic glory. Mainly, I am in love with the short, nonetheless epic, opening track 'Scene 1'. The whole album is totally amazing and just make me beg for more (I've tracked down some of his old work and it is ridiculous).

The picture of Arnold is what popped up when I typed it 'Gui Boratto' into Google to find an image. I couldn't let this one pass. But here is the amazing cover artwork for the album.

Enjoy.

NO COMMENTARY NECESSARY: Lily Tomlin Hates Huckabees

2007-03-19T22:20:00.000-07:00

MAINSTREAM GONE RIGHT: Ad Counil's Obesity Commercials

2007-03-17T11:07:00.000-07:00

The Ad Council has released a really, really clever marketing campaign where people keep 'loosing' appendages (like spare tires, double chins, etc.) by doing little things that burn calories and that foster a healthy lifestyle. These commercials are GREAT. I really, really hope the are inspiring some fat ass some where to get out and do something about it.

Thanks Ad Council: YOU RULE.

FAVORITES: Box Magazine

2007-03-15T20:24:00.000-07:00

Now, I don't want to sound like a dirty piece boob crazed man, but Box Magazine is the classiest sex magazine in the world. And, it isn't even a sex magazine, it is an online webzine/blog amalgamation of sex and culture and fashion and the influence that they have on each other. It also highlights the cool in the world, for cool people to read. It's based out of the newest super cool city, Austin, Texas, and runs under a healthy mission statement:

"...to challenge the schizophrenic nature of the current sexual climate by selecting models, photographers and themes that redefine the current standard of beauty and sexuality. Box exposes readers to features that appeal to a variety of sexual tastes."

My favorite part of the magazine is that it always has a theme that the cover story and contributing stories relate to. The past four issues (the only issues), have covered such themes as firsts, shots, fetishes, and binging and purging. The fifth issue's theme has not been announced, but the picture above is the preview of what it is supposed to be. Hmmmmmm - time will tell.

The magazine has a generous selection of fine, fine photography and modeling. A lot of it is amateur, but it's executed in a cool manner that some professionals will never get to. Box Magazine is something worth checking out.