bored post

hey, remember you've got this blog....#notetoself

vacation

only makes a week and a half prior to leaving seem like a lifetime!

mobile test

got a new app that will allow me to blog remotely, which is great considering my computer hasnt been working in weeks.

mobile test

got a new app that will allow me to blog remotely, which is great considering my computer hasnt been working in weeks.

Obama Impersonation

Story of Stuff

I was just running through a few emails and came across link from Caleb Walker.  It's a little video called Story of Stuff. This is a video that not only should everyone see, but they should watch it at least once a week to combat the constant brainwashing that we receive in this country.  The kind of brainwashing constructed by our friend Victor LeBeau

“Our enormously productive economy…demands that we make consumption our way of life, that we convert the buying and use of goods into rituals, that we seek our spiritual satisfaction, our ego satisfaction, in consumption…we need things consumed, burned up, replaced and discarded at an ever-accelerating rate.” – Victor LeBeau, Retail Analyst Post WW II

who I guess we could refer to as the father of consumptionism.  I particularly enjoyed the notion that our national happiness peaked in the 1950's and also the part about Planned Obsolescence and Perceived Obsolescence and that 99% of what is produced is trashed in six months.  So, next time you're in the mood for shopping, maybe you should take twenty minutes, watch the video and ask yourself, "do I really need this?" 

A-political

So I feel like I've been posting a lot of really politcal, sorta serious type stuff lately. So, I thought I'd put something up that's just plain old fun. In the tradition of Rube Goldberg, here's a little good, clean, subway fun. It's called The Machine. Enjoy.

The Machine from mudlevel on Vimeo.
Also, if you're wondering what Banksy has been up to, look no further. His newest feat is The Village Pet Store.

Brilliant...enough said.

Hedge Fund Manager: Goodbye and F---- You - News Blog - Daily Brief - Portfolio.com

Howard Zinn breaks it down.

Spend the Bailout Money on the Middle Class
This is a great explanation of what's going on with our economic "bailout" aka corporate welfare and a great reminder that our "big government" truly does work for the corporation and not the populous.  And if you were wondering what latent racism was up to, here's a nice little article from the Times. 

Truly Frightening

DISCLAIMER: What you are about to see will possibly scare the living crap out of you. For all of the debates, discussions, interviews, vetting, it doesn't hold a candle to downright stupidity and assumption. This people are picking their President not based on policy, not based on temper, negotiation skills, foreign policy...any policy for that matter. They are picking the white guy and his running mate. And why? Because he's not black, and he's definitely not a terrorist. And the scariest part...I'm pretty sure this footage is from Pennsylvania. My state. Please, if you're watching this. Vote. Vote for the real reasons, not latent racism, fear, or stupidity. Vote Obama.

So Funny I almost peed

The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo.

A little wisdom on the Daily Show

I though her last comment on the show was incredibly well put. Hopefully Obama was listening and he'll step it up a little.

something to fall asleep to...

Metamorphosis from Glenn Marshall on Vimeo.

don't forget to....

The deadline to Register in Pennsylvania is October 6th. So if you haven't, Do it NOW!

From the Campaign Trail.

A little something to make you smile. 

refreshing insight

during a presidential season it's easy to get jaded by all the spin and rhetoric being hurled at us and generally flying right over or right around our heads. I have to give a nod to Caleb Walker's last post about two of the current candidates and the reference to how really ridiculous things have gotten pertaining to simple lack of thinking for oneself. Just as a side note, after reading this post I overheard someone outside a certain local watering hole actually say to one of his friends (in some type of political/argumentative context); "You're a fucking Obama, man!"

This is what we're up against people. Read more...here

Or if you're link-disabled. Here's the whole darn thing.

I’m a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.

--

If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you’re "exotic, different."

Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American story.

—–

If your name is Barack you’re a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

Name your kids Willow, Trig, and Track, you’re a maverick.

—–

Graduate from Harvard Law School and you are unstable.

Attend five different small colleges before graduating, you’re well grounded.

—–

If you spend three years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend eight years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate’s Health and Human Services committee, spend four years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran’s Affairs committees, you don’t have any real leadership experience.

If your total resume is: local weather girl, four years on the city council and six years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you’re qualified to become the country’s second-highest ranking executive.

—–

If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising two beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you’re not a real Christian.

If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you’re a Christian.

—–

If you teach responsible, age-appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option, in sex education in your state’s school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you’re very responsible.

—–

If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family’s values don’t represent America’s.

If your husband is nicknamed "First Dude," with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn’t register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.

—–

OK, much clearer now.

good advice

every once in a while i'll bookmark something then completely forget about it.  this is one of those times. 
10 Unbeatable Tips for Overcoming Micro-Addictions | Zen Habits

Nike Windbreaker Critcal Mass = Death of Counterculture?

Okay, so here's a complete bite off BikeSnob's last posting, but the only reason I'm doing it is to illustrate a previous post of my own regarding hipster culture and particularly the trend of fixed gear bicycles and their involvement in the trend/anti-trend of the hipster-nation, death of counter-culture that is now upon us.

Nike Windrunner Ride L.A. from Veesh on Vimeo.
I find it hilarious that a bunch of "i don't like to use the word 'hipster' because, cause, uh..." types would knowingly engage is a shameless, Nike marketing promotion for, of all things a new windbreaker! Maybe it was really cool, maybe I'm wrong, and the only way anything cool/good happens is through corporate sponsorship. Are we all just selling out? I mean, I like certain brands just as much as the next guys, but c'mon, a Nike sponsored fixed gear critical mass? What's next a Hummer sponsored alleycat? See for yourself. And thanks to BikeSnobNYC for the tip off.

driving distracted

Upon BikeSnobNYC's request, I am sharing the following PSA. Enjoy

the next big thing...

deepLocal
although clearly in it's infancy, this looks like it could grow to be pretty cool, and definitely advantageous to Pittsburgh, much needed endeavor to court and maintain a population of people under 40.

Hipsters...caught on tape.

This is a pretty good analysis of the current hipster epidemic. Told from the obviously anti-consumer perspective of any decent adbusters article.

a little friday morning bike porn.

Okay. This is just about the coolest thing I've ever seen. It's definitely topped the list for today, and possibly the week. Enjoy

Beverly Hillbillies

Rising Oil Prices Swell Profits at Exxon and Shell - NYTimes.com

Does anyone else see a problem with this? Personally, I can't wait til we run out of oil!

Pittsburgh Wiki and Richard Chen

My experience has led me to believe that Pittsburgh has a demoted sense of self-worth. And to be completely honest I think it had lasted quite effectively until a few years ago with the Steelers won the SuperBowl. Finally, the dam broke and Pittsburgh has realized that it may actually have something very unique to offer the rest of the country. Courtesy of PopCity, two articles have demonstrated, at least to me, that Pittsburgh is on the up and up. Apparently, there is a new restaurant being open by Richard Chen called Richard Chen's Pan Asian Cuisine. This guy is a pretty big deal, he's the Exec. Chef of the Wynn Hotel in Vegas and he's bringing in Simon Lewis from the UK to "...be part of Pittsburgh's restaurant scene." In other Pittsburgh news, check out the Pittsburgh Wiki. An interesting Wiki concept to focus on traffic and transportation issues throughout the city. All this leads me to think it may be worth sticking around for a while.

what's in a name?

You know your name is too common when the actual "you" doesn't show up on a google search til about the twelfth page. Ironically, there's an oncologist who lives around the corner from my parents who is stealing my thunder. Jackass.

coffee talk

Amsterdamize...dont' ya think?

thought I'd share. Nicked from Amsterdamize
what a beautiful way to spend a sunday...too bad I'm cooped up for the next few hours.

sao paolo her i come.

Came across a cool site called ScribeMediaArts &Culture They've got a nice vid about a couple of brothers from Sao Paolo that are doing the street art ------> gallery thing, Think Michel Gondry meets Dumbo meets kids book illustration. The piece below the video of there work on a full subway car is great! Also they caught a little bit of Martha Cooper at the end of the show at Deitch Gallery. Which seems amazing in its own right(haven't had a chance to poke around it yet)

july 4th politico

Drinking coffee, poking around slate.com and came across this guy. Paul Combs, he's got a great comic style and some pretty good wit. This one in particular made me laugh. It's good to know that cartoonist are out there, they're paying attention, but sometimes it makes you feel a little helpless that we have all this "freedom" (expression, speech, press, etc). and sometimes it doesn't seem to change anything.
ps. vote obama!

how to ruin your Sunday

Photographers » Blog Archive » Caught in a rebel offensive in eastern Chad | Blogs | Reuters.co.uk

just in case you're getting bored with the whole "war on terror". Change the channel, check out the war in Chad. It's just like the war in Iraq but, a little less glamorous and clearly not as news-worthy.

Hello...You There!!

Well, this is just brilliant! You know good design when you see it, because you say "damn, why didn't I think of it." Here's a great taste of functional, socially constructive, proactive design.

HelloYouThere.

Veer

Veer: Elements for Creativity
just poking around old bookmarks and came across Veer. There seems to be more and more of these types of sites popping up, there's also Behance which is pretty nice, but a little too much of itself. And there's also Trunkt which is a nice "more sophisticated" Etsy type thing.

Specter

Came across Specter via Wooster Collective (as always). He has a great, and diverse style. Sometimes subversive, sometimes playful, sometimes absurd, but always thinking. Hope you like it.
Oh, also. It's a flash site, so poke around.

Cans Festival Wrap Up...

here's the official wrap film from last months Cans Festival in England. In case you're not familiar, basically they closed off an unused tunnel and let in about a dozen or so stencil artists. After the first day, they let the public come in with their own stencils. The result was, well, saturated! And really, who says Europe is more progressive that the U.S. We do this shit every weekend...not!

One of the featured favorites was "world renowned" BANKSY. You can check a flickr-roll here.

nicked from wooster collective.

getting down to business.

70 Amazing Business Cards - Fubiz™


nicked from cool hunting....

New Music...

I'm not a big music purchaser. Most of the stuff I listen to I've either had for years or have come across from friends willing to share. But I had to pounce on the new My Morning Jacket. It's a rare band that still understands the notion of the album. With the way pop music swallows up singles that become overplayed while the rest of the album is 9 other tracks that fill space, its refreshing to have confidence in a band like MMJ. You can check out the Sunday NYT's article here.

Alex Trochut

Wow. This guy is AMAZING!

we're going to shanghai.

Just found a couple of things that make me want to go to Shanghai. Planet Shanghai and this from Wooster Collective on the grafitti in the city too. A nice interview with three shanghai graf writers.

speechless.

post worthy

I've been searching, lazily, for a post worthy subject. And alas, Composition's new website rings through. There is nothing on this site that isn't awesome, including the site itself. just beautiful.

bubble project

Bubble Project
Bring it to an advertisement near you...

SHERMAN

Here's the latest addition to our family. I really have no way of describing how awesome this little monster is, but hopefully the pictures will do a bit of justice.

Enjoy!

Pittsburgh Music Fest Sponsored by American Eagle.

Perhaps our fair city is finally coming into to it's own. Just heard about this festival through the grapevine. Sounds pretty cool. Tickets are gonna be $50 for two days, and thankfully it's not at The Starlake Amphetheatre, its actually in the city and SouthSide Works.

Save the world with a carrot!

Carrotmob Makes It Rain from carrotmob on Vimeo.

It's been a while, but I finally found something worth posting. This was nicked from www.zefrank.com
Thanks Ze.

speaking of wanderlust

so i just posted the latest bjork video. well if she ever made a mountain bike video, it'd look like this.

wanderlust...do you have it?

I couldn't find any sites that would allow me to embed it, but here's a sneak peak at Bjork's new Video for WANDERLUST in it 2D entirety. Enjoy

Via WoosterCollective.

the donation of this work to the street is truly selfless.

R.I.P. Nigel

Last night we lost a good friend...our big, lovable, orange tabby Nigel. He is missed already, but here are a few choice pictures to remember him.

Salt...

you know, i've noticed that there's a trend in my last few posts. perhaps it's been the dregs of winter coming through, or maybe its the state of affairs in my life right now. But, the last half dozen posts just seem really salty. I think I'll try to work on that.

even four years ago...great.

a nice price...

apparently i'm in the wrong business. nice price tag... I mean, it's nice, but cutting aluminum and powder coating ain't exactly rocket surgery. Nice racket you've got.

what a dick.

but he's such a friendly liar.

things i won't get to do.

some people say life is all about choices, but I think they neglect the truth in that statement which is cause and effect. the only choice you really get to make is what to do or not to do...next. and then ultimately those choices will add up. The true lesson here is to not get frustrated about where the choices you have made have gotten you and what they have gotten you. Quite frankly, i'm trying to not be upset with the fact that the choices that I've made will not allow me to get here

Pimp My Ride.

I'm paraphrasing...but basically this. The President of Shell Oil is saying that in the next few years he wouldn't be surprised if there were civil conflicts, in this country, because of the price of gas at the pump. After talking to his constituents in SoCal where the Rodney King riots were, they said essentially the tension in the hood is about at the same threshhold as it was just before the LA riots.
If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.

this just in...

sunshine returns to pittsburgh after months in exile. I had the great opportunity to spend the entire day outside on Sunday. Unfortunately my camera was in the car, so I apologize for the "less than great" cell phone photos. but hey, it's better then using your imaginations...right?

happy easter

good morning, happy easter and all that jazz. Hope everyone has a chance to take a break, enjoy some peace and quiet and maybe a chance to reflect on what its all about... not easter per se, but the big picture. Like Serj Tankian, not saving the world, but at least thinking about it. Him and Tom Morello have a good thing going. I think its called the Axis of Justice. They've got a podcast out as well. In the midst of all this conspicuous consumption, a backlash is inevitable. I just read in News of the Weird that there's a mushrooming of McCulture in India's middle class right now. People are blowing there entire salary on Gucci and Prada while India has the highest population of brutaly poor citizens, diamond encrusted gucci dog bowls are for sale even while there are more strays in India than anywhere else in the world. Anyone else see a problem with this? Well anyway. Happy Easter, Yeah Jesus, and certainly, God Bless America!!

crazy people

My goodness are there a lot of crazy people! Some of them are harmless, but still take the oxygen out of the room.

connectivity

I've been thinking a lot about connectivity and motivation lately. Perhaps motivation to stay connected? It seems everywhere you turn you're losing contact with another person, time catches up to you and you're suddenly too busy, even in this day and age to really connect, even with all the technology out there...text messages, email, this twitter thing that I'll be obsessed with for the next 24 to 48 hours...how does this happen? If you're out there...connect. Or at least try something.

motivation...

dear potential readers...blogging should perhaps happen frequentlier.

I think mostly it was I waiting for some motivations... like this. I wants it!

mother russia

i found this photoset in a relatively unlikely spot (over at Fixed Gear Gallery). There was no way I could resist posting it. Some of these photos are absolutely hillarious!

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http://www.aplusrstore.com/product_detail.php?show=product&pid=210&cid=106

http://www.woostercollective.com/

a live veiwing of a fresh banksy piece and ...the whole love thing in the Netherlands...

mother russia

i found this photoset in a relatively unlikely spot (over at Fixed Gear Gallery). There was no way I could resist posting it. Some of these photos are absolutely hillarious!

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not yet but soon...

I don't have one of these fancy gadgets yet...maybe someday. But this is still a pretty slick use of a dollar bill.

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Squid and Whale Get Married...October 13th, 2007

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more on the future

kindle...i think it pretty much speaks for itself.

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the future...

I continue to reference this video in so many conversations, that I figured that I would finally just post it. It's just so nicely and realistically done that I seems hard to dispute. Enjoy.

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me likey!

well, i just stumbled across the sickest thing i've seen in quite a while. mmmm...home audio.

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pop goes the weasel...and consumerism

have you guys seen the newest American Apparel commercial...its AWESOME!!!

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ps...re:mas musica

LastFM is way cooler than jango...sorry for the missinformation

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mas musica~!

okay. i just found my new favorite thing. Jango I'm not even gonna try to explain it, but certainly check it out for yourself. If you like it, I think its still by invitation only, and I've got a few so give a shout.

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fashion aside

Well, say what you will about the British... I tend to be a fan of most of the things they've come out with, at least in my lifetime. But they seem to be able to get away with things in a more genuine way. When American's try to recreate or give some type of reniassance to a particular style it just seems, well...lame. Aside from the obvious reasoning of this slide show (to sell clothing) I thought it was a nice photodoc of a past style incarnation redone.

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whats in a shirt?

One of the most entertaining articles I have read in a long time, was in last week's New York Times Magazine. By David Giffels...about...what else?? A Ramones T-Shirt.

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nerd out with yo' bad self

I found this article the other day in the times but it was too blurry to read, fortunately we have the internets. So here it is in all its nerdy glory.

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quite concise

Just came across this little piece of how to...it's nice when things are put so concisely as they are in the intro manifesto presented. I was "fortunate" enough to attend one of the aforementioned private type joints, but the result was essentially the same...some more education...and ultimately just another member of the working poor. sweet.

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street life dj's...and strummer

I'm not usually one to really get into DJ's and breakbeats and all that stuff but I just ran across street life dj's and I tell you what...it's pretty solid, and they've been getting some decent press as well. Oh, but I'm way more excited about the new joe strummer documentry...we'll see if it ever shows up in pittsburgh. ???

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daft...truly.

Daft Punk Alive 2007 - Harder Better Faster Stronger - Clip
Uploaded by yom_

tryin' to keep it rolling

This is how you should start your day...at least I started today with a hot cup of sumatra and this vid.

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$$$$

why is it that the only way to get anyone to lend you money is to already have enough? I mean, if I didn't have so much debt, then I wouldn't need anyone to lend me any money. And if I made more money, I wouldn't need any one to lend me more money. The reason that I'd like to have someone lend me a significant amount of cash is because, well, I could really use a significant amount of cash. But no, my debt to income ratio is too high! Well, duh, that's why I need the money you jackass! So, really, if anyone out there has about $25k I could borrow to put a serious dent in that damn ratio, then please, let me know. Cause, honestly, I'm good for it.

this is why i'm lazy...

christ! i've had that damn bike back for two months and i'm just getting around to posting that I've got it back. And there's a story in there, too. what's my problem? anyway, yeah, got the bike back, ride it everyday...thanks jesus. :-0

STOLEN :-(

Even when you've got the back wheel locked to yer frame, some asshole in a truck can come along and steal your bike.

kids.

also, you know what's a real shame? when parents take a perfectly good kid and make them stupid. that's sad.

you know i never feel like saying anything when i actually have the time to. what's up with that. i just don't have the memory capacity to remember anything at all these days, maybe because I don't really have a job and my brain has started to turn to mush lately without the stimulation of any sort of challenge...just constant reminder that I hate just about everything and everyone...not you though. If you're actually reading this you're a friend, honest. yep, pretty much hate everything...but whatever, life is but a dream...with advertising.

all this technology!!!

this is a test of your amateur blogger...this is only a test. I've been inondated with all kinds of technology lately and I'm trying to sort it out...it hurts my brain. I don't know why I think I should be using all this stuff...I mean, I do spend a lot of time on this little iBook of mine and I enjoy making that experience better, more functional, and smoother. Is it working? Is it worth it? What is the point of this great distraction. Of course you could posit the big philosophical questions like, "is it bringing us closer together or causing more isolation?", "is it helping us to adapt, or causing some type of social devolution?". I sometimes feel like I'm just missing it all together. I have a friend over at NerdSavant who is my official technology consultant, guru, make-me-feel-stupid guy. I get a lot of the "enhancements" from him, and he is generally really excited about this stuff, which is cool.

reconnecting

there's something about a fixed gear bicycle that allows you to completely ignore the elements (a little wool doesn't hurt either). It was about twenty degrees with a wind chill this morning, but I was lovin' the ride in to the store. Sliding around on the fresh snow in front of the house, and my favorite part of the ride; this little 100 yard stretch along the Allegheny (that's the 40th Street Bridge there). I duck through a bit of a park, across the railroad and another block beside the tracks. It's great. It certainly beats sitting in some heated car on the parkway for 2 hours everyday.

all this samsara

sometimes i can't handle all this worldly shit! it's pretty amazing how many people are out there in this world, all over the place. without seeming trite, it just blows my mind in an almost crippling way. And the sadness that I feel when I reach for the truth that I know is out there, comes in the form of the realization that there are a handful of people out there that I've met, spoken to, "know", that may actually have the foggiest idea of what I'm talking about. And then there is the notion of an entire society that's completely based on it...being wiped out. Somewhere in the middle...everyone else. Literally, everyone else.

Aside: Currently Goodyear Blimp Overhead!

Is it possible that the man who actually has the answers was a prince who went and sat down under a tree? Is it possible that when I close my eyes and breathe, it gets closer? Is it possible that me, a simple man who live in capitalism, who works for a living, who has cats, and a fiance, and a car, and lots of bikes, could possibly, in this lifetime, ever get even slightly closer to what he knows is truly enlightment?

Sometimes...i feel as though I'm not really trying hard enough.

bomb scare

being as i'm finally an adult, i almost never get yelled at like a child. aside from the occasional voice raising argument with someone (generally my better half) I haven't had the opportunity to really be made to feel insignificant, like i'm being "bad". So yestereday i'm on my way to work, and super siked cause I just re-built my bike into a fixed gear and was off for my maiden commute, all fifteen minutes of it. (8 1/2 of them uphill!) Nearing the top of the hill, and passing a giant new hospital construction site I encounter a jersey barrier and a cop car, oh and an angry, arm waving police officer. She yells, "you can't go this way you have to go around!" So I take the nearest side street a block over. This particular section of Pittsburgh is quite steep and most of the streets are one way up or one way down. So, not wanting to divert my commute much more then I have already I continue on the sidewalk of a one way down street. As I get to the top of the hill where the street comes to a "t", I find my self smack in the middle of what I soon realize is a bomb threat that has been called in to hospital construction site!! Immediately, another cop which surprising enough could have been the same one from before (same physical description at least) starts screaming at me. Now I do understand that I was in a cordoned off area, roughly twenty feet from the big, strange looking truck that says bomb unit on it. But I was faced with a left and right decision, there was no straight option. So, I go left, the way I would have gone had there been no police activity. This was clearly the incorrect choice. Cop "B" was not amused and continues to yell...reasoning with her was certainly not an option. So I turn right and ride around the corner to take an alternate route to work...nuff said. Then of course the construction workers who have gotten themselves an oh so convenient half day off, lay into me. "Hey buddy, what's yer problem didn't you see all dem cop cars!" Fuckers. So i give'em the metal sign and pedal on to work....what a way to start your day. Oh, and guess what they turned up at the construction site. Not a damn thing. Oh, the power of a telephone call.

i likes bikes

so, i thought i'd finally let the world in on a little secret. i have a secret obsession that occupies my mind daily and nightly like cats think about mice. it's bikes, i love them. and fortunately i'm not alone. its clearly something that makes a lot of people happy. and i'm clearly not feeling all that poetic about it today, just thought i'd put it down, for posterity. thats all.

Death of a Disco Dancer

Anna and I used to spend a lot of time in this little ride. But then time got the best of it. Even being towed away it's still a bad ass ride...
RIP Sidney.

Timing is everything

Every once in a while some coincidence comes around and, even if it's a real small one, it can really freak me out. Quite some time ago I spoke to a long time native Pittsburgher about working up a new tattoo for me. And he kinda fell of the earth after I gave him some preliminary desgin ideas, ie. this etching. So I wasn't really thinking much of it, not hearing from the kid and all. We've all got so many irons in the fire, I just figured I'd getting around to dropping him a line eventually. Which is what I was going to do this morning, you know, just to say what's up and all. And before I could get to the "compose mail" button, there's an email from him! I mean, I know its not really that big a deal, shearly a coincidence, but stuff like that always gets to me a little more then you'd think.
One of things that always gets to me, and one of the concepts I had on a list of things that may be incorporated into this tattoo design is the vast number of human beings that exists in the world. I think that its something that people often take for granted. Like, "well duh! there's like millions of people in the world. It's like always been that way!" But the simple fact that there are so many souls out there, isn't it more amazing that coincidence if even a possibility? It would seem by that logic that either everything is coincidence or everything is meant for a reason. right? I mean I guess that doesn't really leave any room for gray area. But really, it's all about shading anyway.

just something.

not much to say today, but I thought I'd throw a little post up anyway. Not sure who reads this thing, if anyone, but if you haven't checked it out for a while, there's new stuff in extra extra, and a couple of new links. Definitely check out TokyoPlastic if you havn't already. Especially if you've got some nice ear-goggles.

down the well

I've always been slightly amazed at how many functionally insane people there are out there in the world. And I'm not talking about the folks that "just aren't like me" cause that's like 98% of the rest of the world. And that's fine, 'it takes all kinds'. No, I'm talking about the people who have no idea how truly crazy they are, and everyone else knows it. There's the guys trying not to hitch-hike (which is strange enough in the city) but to actually flag down cars for a ride. There's the people who talk to themselves, fall asleep outside businesses. And these people are actually allowed to have bank accounts, cell phones, cars, the more I think about it, the more afraid I am to leave my house.

Deliberate...

as i typed that word I realized it has two different meanings (if you don't count the fact the I may have misspelled it). The way I see it, the only way you're ever really going to accomplish anything is to be deliberate. Everything else that may have happened, didnt' happen, could have happened, it's just in your mind (I often times re-realize that I am in fact a Buddhist and why, in fact, this is so) If you don't do something deliberately, it is just not going to happen. Take, for example, walking up the stairs, this may be a stupid example, and may touch of something metaphysical; but if do not walk up the stairs, I will not walk up the stairs, even though I know that I could, I know what it would be like, and and know what the consequences will be.
yes i realize also that this is a convoluted example, but I wanted a precursor to what I'm actually talking about, what we're all always talking about...life. I know if these posts that I always try to keep to the abstract, no specific names, no specific examples, and I like that...but I guess what I'm really getting at is that there will remain a connection between people that will eventually no longer be deliberate. Whether it is family, friends, co-workers, when there is no communication, there is no "deliberate", but there is still something...
memory? grasping? history? there is something. but it is different to each of us. it is no longer something that is happening, it is something that is. and when does it become deliberate again? when is it something, when does it actualize? within the constancy of this world with email, phone, textmessage, what even constitutes action? What is deliberate and what is residual? What simply does not exist for one when it is obvious to another. How can we go back...we must move forward and we must be deliberate.

thisisnotme

thisisnotme

I was sitting around passing time, thinking of something to blog about cause this is one of the most boringest days I can remember. So I was doing the whole "next blog" "next blog thing. (look up and to your right). and I came across this one. (incidentally, half the blogs that you linke to are in a different language, so some of them may be interesting too, but I don't read arabic, or german, or anything but English really {which is also a misnomer, and a bit of an insult to the English so lets just say I speak and read 'merican.}) But yeah, I came across this one, and my days suddenly felt even more...conservative? I'm not sure really how to put it, but I guess in this day and age you can instantly make yourself famous, if you want to. So, nice blog miss Grace Trisha Tng, whoever the hell you are. It looks like you're pretty much making a go of it, having fun, taking' lots of pictures, and generally living it up. I can dig it, can you?

halloween, the public, and capitalism

"its the most wonderful time of the..." wait that's christmas. the trick or treat thing is a whole different story. its a clever holiday isnt' it? teenage mothers pushing strollers house to house with a pillow case in hand collecting candy from the working class. kids whose costume is an oversized hoodie and a grocery bag. It's great! The only thing worse then a made up holiday, is a made up holiday that gets bastardized into a "gimme some free shit" freeforall. But with all the morons that make up "the public" its no wonder I'm even able to leave my house half the time, let alone on a day like halloween. Sure there's the folks that painstakingly create their handmade costumes, get their monster mash on at late night parties, and really get into the spirit. but they're few and far between. And honestly...I'm beginning to lose faith. Maybe I'm old, maybe I don't get out enough, or out to the right places, where the spirit is right and the public actually has an IQ over 85. Is that asking too much? Perhaps I'm an elitist (and actually I know I probably am) Maybe none of this has anything to do with Halloween. In fact now I kinda feel bad about taking it out on the holiday in the first place. Perhaps the public is just best left alone...its just that...they're...everywhere!

Holy Crap! I'm actually not dead!

It was all but forgotten to me, this whole blogging thing. Who really cares what I have to say. Blogging is almost a cliche this days, there seems to be so many of them out there, politicians have them, teenagers have them, almost famous people have them, not famous people have them. Does anyone actually read these things? I think the bottom line is, it doesn't really matter. It's been an entire year without any posts, I must have been in some type of stasis, hibernation, coma, something. Hopefully, those of you out there that read this joint still remember my name and know that you're still on the short list for the after party.
I don't really even know what I've been doing. When you think about an entire year passing you start thinking about acctually getting something accomplished, setting milestones, and looking back on what you have done, what has happened, thoughts you've had, feelings, attitudes. It starts to make this blogging think really kinda worth it. I'm almost a little sad that it has been a year. And what a year! Holy crap a lot has happened. 38th Street is no more. It's Carnegie Street, and we own that bitch! There's been a lot that has gone into this house already, and we're still working like crazy people, well at least slighty deranged people. Building a whole new kitchen from scratch. That's not an easy job, that's for sure. Hopefully by the end of the year we'll be done. Goddamn, once I starting thinking about it, I have a whole years worth of catching up to do! That's a lot, I don't even know where to begin. I may even have to start a whole new blog...for pictures! Shit...I think that's gonna have to be a whole 'nother project. This is just a prelude then. We'll take it slow and steady, and persistant this time. No yearlong breaks in the works. Just steady, deliberate progress.

I can't believe its thursday. what a week. and it's not even over yet! I know there's things i've been meaning to post, like looking for houses sucks. It's so hard to tell the difference between being busy and just feeling busy. I guess it's kinda dependent on your stress level. There's gotta be some sort of equation there. (high stress:feeling busy::low stess:being busy.)
Dunno, basically it's crazy all the time. I'm starting to realize that life never really mellow's out. Not that I want to be boring, but at 27 years old, I got a lot of shit goin' on, if you know what I'm sayin'. Mad peeps be havin' babies, buyin' houses, startin' up businesses. It's a crazy time. Just gotta get used to it.

sunday morning whew... i made it.

it seems so long ago, country night. but it was a few weeks ago now. i found myself deep into enemy territory. never, in all my years did i feel so out of place, (okay, i don't have all that many 'years', but i've got a few under my belt). fortunately, there are things like jeagerbombs.

just one thing about country night. unless you're a glutton for punishment, don't do it.

no matter how hard I try, I am not a morning person. what an eerie, unnatural part of the day. thank goodness for coffee, it's really the only thing that makes it bareable, especially when someone are your street is using some type of evil, circular cutting device at 6 o' clock in the morning. Who are these people! Don't they have some sleeping to do? I mean, for Pete's sake, the sun isn't even up yet!! Bastards.

This morning I am thankful for patience, and espresso.

despite my often slacker-esque appearence, and general apptitude for complaining I do actually consider myself a hard worker. which is the kiss of death if you beleive there is no duality. okay...i know that didn't make any sense, but read a little suzuki and you may see where I'm coming from.

but anyway, where i was trying to get at was that I don't generally shy away from a solid day of physical labor. that said...after participating in said physical labor for an extended period of time, the downside begins to show. I'm dog tired. I could very easily drop over onto any horizontal soft thing this very moment.

and now for something completely different.

something I noticed today, i was sitting out on Liberty Ave at a coffee shop watching traffic. do you ever stop and look at who drives past? or rather, how many vehicles with one person in them will pass you in any given length of time? it's really quite atrocious iif you think about it. dozens upon dozens of vehicles flying past you, some threatenting to kill whole families ( if you think i'm kidding ask the guy's whose baby stroller almost gotted crushed while walking through a cross walk) And subsequently no one in this town actually knows what a cross-walk is. The only one that actually works has giant flashing lights around a sign that actually explains how a cross walk should be used.

But, without digressing too much, the point is that if human beings on the whole don't realize that driving around a gratuitously large, four seat vehicle all to themselves isn't actually doing any good, then we're all pretty much screwed. My only hope is that some of these people might feel the slightest bit of guilt for personally polluting, threatening, and generally making an aggressive and unpleasant environment for themselves and those around them. I watch my gas needle slowly fade down to that "e" marker and hope that someday i too will do my part to eliminate gasoline from the planet. I pray for the backlash, I've got to laugh when I find out that the government of this country is directly causing the demise of the lifestyle it so lavishly up-holds. Check out the article on the ice deliveries that were supposed to make it to the gulf coast to help hurricane victims. If that's not a fubar situation i don't know what is. I know some people out there have already made this point much more apparently than i have. I'm just trying to equate it to my city streets.
I don't want these people and their cars so suffer unneccesarily, I just want them to understand. I guess that's just the luxury that "they" want you to afford yourself. The ability to be totally, and completely oblivious to what's going on around you. To be so caught up in that which is right in front of your eyes that there is no way you could possibly relate it to any kind of foreign policy, or governmental decision making. I mean, if there's not some Iraqi on my doorstep with a sign that says, "There's no more Gasoline. Go Fuck Yourself!", then why the hell shouldn't I get in my car to go get some WonderBread for Bobbi Sue and Randy??

Some nights I pray for EMP shockwaves to wipe out technology back to the early 20th century, a lot of times I wish the oil wells would all just totally dry up. But on good days, I just wish everybody would just have a bicycle to ride to work.

writers block is nothing to be laughed at.