February 9, 2010
http://foodgawker.com/

Consistently amazing, every day. And I won’t even go near the craft one.

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February 8, 2010
“There was a man who wore a deer head and opened every conversation with ‘What up DOE!?’”

“There was a man who wore a deer head and opened every conversation with ‘What up DOE!?’”

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February 4, 2010
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

This is what the 1980s sounded like when they arrived. The Psychedelic Furs’ “India”: the first single off their self-titled debut, released 30 years ago this month.

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February 2, 2010
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

“Day In, Day Out,” Never Let Me Down
1987

I’m behind a week on these. Okay, did Greil Marcus or anyone ever plot out the exact ratio of genius Bowie songs to clunkers? For every “Young Americans” or “Boys Keep Swinging,” for example, is there one-half or two multiples of something like “China Girl” or “The Laughing Gnome”?

This album is widely reviled, but I don’t care—I love this song as one of his better, thoroughly shimmery throwaways. Watch the big-budget Julien Temple-directed video here. (Yes, someday I will do a post on Absolute Beginners. Ohmigah I loved that movie.)

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January 30, 2010
Oh Yes I Did! Behold the extravagance of a Thursday late-afternoon excursion—not one but deux pairs of killa peep-toe shoebooties. I caved when I realized the last time I bought grownup shoes was pre-Dirty Show 2007.* Plus I’d installed a new printer that morning and decided I’d purchased more printers, keyboards, and mice in the last decade than I had footwear. This is probably a decisive testament to which pair of my limbs get more use. I’m breaking the ones on the left in tonight! (*Because, you know, my choice of footwear is so vital to the success of this event. I am locked inside a giant box camped out on an uncomfy bar stool surrounded by an array of hand-sanitizing products.)

Oh Yes I Did!
Behold the extravagance of a Thursday late-afternoon excursion—not one but deux pairs of killa peep-toe shoebooties. I caved when I realized the last time I bought grownup shoes was pre-Dirty Show 2007.* Plus I’d installed a new printer that morning and decided I’d purchased more printers, keyboards, and mice in the last decade than I had footwear. This is probably a decisive testament to which pair of my limbs get more use.
I’m breaking the ones on the left in tonight!

(*Because, you know, my choice of footwear is so vital to the success of this event. I am locked inside a giant box camped out on an uncomfy bar stool surrounded by an array of hand-sanitizing products.)

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January 28, 2010
http://unhappyhipsters.tumblr.com/

Imaginary captioning has always been one of my favorite sports.

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January 27, 2010
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Retro Thursday Is a Day Early
Because I missed last week, because of my brother’s emergency-room adventure (He’s fine! Broken wrist & dislocated shoulder, busted bike.)
I never, ever tire of Roxy. But I do miss my vinyl versions of these.
From Stranded, 1973.

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January 14, 2010
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

(Retro Thursday but Really More of a) File Under: Stuff I Cannot Believe I Cannot Find on the Internet

So if I go to Thursday Vinyasa class this rockstar sometimes puts this song on the playlist. Finally today I found out it’s Joan Osborne. Who knew she could sing like Tina Turner? Honey, you shoulda put this out as a single. The only thing we remember about you now is that insipid 1995 song.

Okay, now here’s what’s weird. The really excellent original is of course from Gary Wright and was the first single from his 1975 debut album in which he pathetically copied David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane cover with the whole scandalous guyshadow thing. Despite that misstep, it’s a great slice of 70s poprockMoogcandy. So Penelope Spheeris did the original video for this song (! I know), which is nowhere to be found. Believe me, I tried. If you can unearth it, let me know.

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January 12, 2010

Frankenstein: The True Story, 1973.
Lavish Limey made-for-TV version. Borrowed from friend with a stupendous DVD collection. I watched it once when I was a kid and the arm scene traumatized me. Screencap above is from its most memorable moment, the Jane Seymour ballroom horror.
Michael Sarrazin: the poor man’s Mick Jagger. Also, Leonard Whiting? Hotness. He was in Zeffirelli’s Romeo & Juliet and then this was basically it for his career.

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January 8, 2010
On the Hunt Today’s only moderately productive workday yielded the discovery of a heretofore-unknown link between Father Guido Sarducci and Borat. It’s Carly Simon’s former fiancé, this man. I’m trying to track down this book, but it appears not to have been published Stateside. (Not pictured: the man in question. I think she and the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens just got done smoking something in between London recording sessions of “You’re So Vain.” No one sits on pavement unless they’re on drugs.)

On the Hunt
Today’s only moderately productive workday yielded the discovery of a heretofore-unknown link between Father Guido Sarducci and Borat. It’s Carly Simon’s former fiancé, this man. I’m trying to track down this book, but it appears not to have been published Stateside.
(Not pictured: the man in question. I think she and the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens just got done smoking something in between London recording sessions of “You’re So Vain.” No one sits on pavement unless they’re on drugs.)

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January 7, 2010
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

“Bittersweet”
Hoodoo Gurus, Mars Needs Guitars, 1985.
Could there be a better two first lines in the history of poprocklove songs?

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January 6, 2010
Roger Duvoisin, Petunia. 1950. I’m culling images today from the Scans folder I keep to stock this. Tragically, my eight-year-old niece is already uninterested in this series I found at the library, having now moved on to chapter books. Two winters ago we both loved these—Petunia’s a clever but bossy goose whose obstinacy (*cough*nooneIknow*cough*) perpetually lands her in trouble, but her animal/human pals help out and all’s right in the end. The illustrations of rural life are absolutely charming, they’ve got a saturated color and appealing lines that are gorgeously midcentury-Euro. More from the Swiss-born Duvoisin here.

Roger Duvoisin, Petunia. 1950.
I’m culling images today from the Scans folder I keep to stock this. Tragically, my eight-year-old niece is already uninterested in this series I found at the library, having now moved on to chapter books. Two winters ago we both loved these—Petunia’s a clever but bossy goose whose obstinacy (*cough*nooneIknow*cough*) perpetually lands her in trouble, but her animal/human pals help out and all’s right in the end. The illustrations of rural life are absolutely charming, they’ve got a saturated color and appealing lines that are gorgeously midcentury-Euro.
More from the Swiss-born Duvoisin here.

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January 1, 2010
A random sampling of email subject headings in my Inbox/Outbox from 2009, arranged in alphabetical order and presented without comment: About the Sugar Hill Gang format Benshetrit Blergh Chance is now on Dogbook! Depressed Cats Details! Final obligatory Roxy Music-related post of 2009 Francis Drake I wish I’d written this headline Last night Love Marshmallows, OMG! Mmm, sausage! More on subheads Non-Dirty Stuff OH NO One lonely astrophysicist left Oops! Pluggy things Pool time RIP YSL SGML coding SNADAR (Siamese North American Defense Aerial Radar) This is what happened to the guy who burned down the Federal’s stores WTF WTF? Your future exwife (2009 calendar image via Mibo Lighting & Homewares, download 2010 version here. Also found some delicious 2010 calendars here. Happy New Year!)

A random sampling of email subject headings in my Inbox/Outbox from 2009, arranged in alphabetical order and presented without comment:

About the Sugar Hill Gang format
Benshetrit
Blergh
Chance is now on Dogbook!
Depressed Cats
Details!
Final obligatory Roxy Music-related post of 2009
Francis Drake
I wish I’d written this headline
Last night
Love
Marshmallows, OMG!
Mmm, sausage!
More on subheads
Non-Dirty Stuff
OH NO
One lonely astrophysicist left
Oops!
Pluggy things
Pool time
RIP YSL
SGML coding
SNADAR (Siamese North American Defense Aerial Radar)
This is what happened to the guy who burned down the Federal’s stores
WTF
WTF?
Your future exwife

(2009 calendar image via Mibo Lighting & Homewares, download 2010 version here. Also found some delicious 2010 calendars here. Happy New Year!)

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December 31, 2009
My First Full-Size (Albeit Faux) Xmas Tree I think I did an ok job, except for the fact that I inadvertently located it in a spot where, in order to plug the lights in/unplug, I need to crawl deep underneath flat on my belly. I bought some glittery things at Michael’s for 39 and 59 cents each, 25% off, and the star is a paper light fixture I bought at this amazing Boston store then spraypainted copper metallic. To find lights (there was a shortage this year, did you know?!) I went to three Target stores, two Walgreen’s, a Lowe’s, then finally my overpriced neighborhood hardware store, where I picked up the penultimate strand. I found a huge black wool circle skirt for a dollar at a nearby church thrift shop and simply ripped it down the middle for a makeshift skirt-skirt/pet-hair magnet. I’m bummed already about having to dismantle it. The tree’s a gift from my friend’s mom, who was moving out of state last summer, and she gave it to me in exchange for “helping” with the move, by which I mean vacuuming a couple of rooms. Thanks, CC!

My First Full-Size (Albeit Faux) Xmas Tree
I think I did an ok job, except for the fact that I inadvertently located it in a spot where, in order to plug the lights in/unplug, I need to crawl deep underneath flat on my belly. I bought some glittery things at Michael’s for 39 and 59 cents each, 25% off, and the star is a paper light fixture I bought at this amazing Boston store then spraypainted copper metallic. To find lights (there was a shortage this year, did you know?!) I went to three Target stores, two Walgreen’s, a Lowe’s, then finally my overpriced neighborhood hardware store, where I picked up the penultimate strand. I found a huge black wool circle skirt for a dollar at a nearby church thrift shop and simply ripped it down the middle for a makeshift skirt-skirt/pet-hair magnet.
I’m bummed already about having to dismantle it.
The tree’s a gift from my friend’s mom, who was moving out of state last summer, and she gave it to me in exchange for “helping” with the move, by which I mean vacuuming a couple of rooms. Thanks, CC!

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December 28, 2009
Camille Pissarro, Les Boulevards extérieurs. Effet de Neige. 1879. Oil on canvas. Today is Octidi, 8 Nivôse of the Year 218 in the French Republican Calendar.

Camille Pissarro, Les Boulevards extérieurs. Effet de Neige. 1879. Oil on canvas.

Today is Octidi, 8 Nivôse of the Year 218 in the French Republican Calendar.

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