No matter how BS it is or how many times I read it… this always manages to make me laugh.
Very interesting, very thorough.

So, I’m home sick from work today and bored as heck.  In an effort to cheer me up my friend Robin pointed me to an Amazon.com link for Tuscan Whole Milk, 1 Gallon, 128 fl oz.

That quite possibly might be the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen. Who in their right mind would buy a perishable food item online? Especially considering that with shipping and handling to get the item to your household without spoiling it might cost you as much as 10 times the price of going to your local store.

The best part by far is the product reviews, all 835 (and counting) of them that get a good laugh at the absurdity of the idea.  A worthwhile read.

For knowing exactly how to put it.

That is all

-J

Since March I’ve received a lot of feedback regarding my cleaned up remix of the Gimp version of ‘Supernothing.’ (In case you’re not familiar with what I’m talking about, take a look at this post here.) In fact the .mp3 file generates the majority of the traffic that this site receives. So much so that I needed to up my hosting plan. I don’t mind though. As a Streetlight Manifesto fan I’m just glad to be contributing and helping other people enjoy their music as much as I do. I’m really glad people are grateful for the work I did and I really appreciate the comments and messages regarding it. Most of which come from people from Skachilles (the official unofficial Streetlight Manifesto message board.)

It’s because of those messages that I’m prompted to write this. The majority of them come with curiosity as to what I’m working on and encouragement that I work on more. Most ask me to take a crack at Catch-22’s ‘Rules of the Game’ EP. I figured I should post something of a follow up to that since I get asked so often. Although I’m a graphic designer, not an audio engineer, back in March I was excited at the work I’d done and I took a serious stab at remixing ‘I’m Better Than You’. I even went as far as to buy good studio headphones to work on the project. However, once I got into it I found that the recordings of ‘RotG’ are a bit more challenging than ‘Supernothing’ was. Partially due to the recording quality, partially due to the speed / intensity of the songs themselves and mostly due to my own lack of expertise.

With ‘Supernothing’ there is a lot of silence and lows in the song. That gives me more to work with to take out the ambient tape noise. When working with a song like ‘I’m Better Than You’ that’s not so much the case. Thus far I’ve had no luck with any of the other recordings and haven’t produced anything worth releasing or commenting on here. I haven’t given up entirely, but at this time it’s not within my skill level, nor is it high on my list of priorities. (No offense!) While I appreciate all the encouragement and feedback, what it comes down to is… I’m a graphic designer, not an audio engineer. It’s just something I tried out and got lucky with. I’m going to keep trying and I’ll keep you guys posted should I manage any other future miracles, but I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up too much.

Thanks again for the interest and kind words, keep me in your bookmarks if something pops up, here will be where to find it.

‘Peace out bitches!’

The Prestige was everything a good movie should be. It had everything: thrills, suspense, mystery, heartbreak, humor and romance.

Much applause for Chistopher Nolan who really put together a fine film. I was also floored by the excellent cast and the stellar performances all around.

2006 has been a great year for movies, I’m curious what the holiday season will bring.

Apparently Brandon Flowers, lead singer of The Killers, was a bit annoyed by Green Day’s 2005 DVD ‘Bullet In a Bible’. In particular the performance of American Idiot and how Billie Joe pumps the audience during it.

“I just thought it was really cheap,” he explained. “To go to a place like England or Germany and sing that song - those kids aren’t taking it the same way that he meant it. And he [Billie Joe Armstrong] knew it.”

After reading the article I tend to agree with him. There are parts of ‘Bullet In A Bible’ that kinda struck me as Green Day deliberately missing their own point and playing up anti-American hatred. That said, to get offended is kinda ridiculous if you ask me. What were they supposed to do, not play the song?

That said the phenomenon he’s referring to does bother me. While I was in Ireland in 2004 there were a ton of kids wearing ‘Not My President’ shirts with swastikas drawn on Bush’s forehead. I wore that shirt with pride as an American just as I sing along to American Idiot. With pride in my nation and what it stands for, in civil disagreement of my government’s policies. Not because I hate my nation, but because I love it. Somehow I don’t think those kids in Europe get that. In that sense I agree with Flowers and it scares me.
It’s just a shame it he’s saying it a year too late and for shamless self promotion:

The Killers frontman said he believed that his band’s new album ‘Sam’s Town’ is a much better representation of America.

“People need to see that, really, there are the nicest people in the world here!” he declared. “I don’t know if our album makes you realise that. But I hope it’s from a more positive place.”

(Via Punknews)

So I’ve decided I’m going to publish a book of my photography. I’m not entirely sure of the timetable for this but I plan to take as long as I need to get it done.The book will be titled “Nothing Left” (you’ll understand eventually) and will be a study of communication in the modern world. Photographs focusing on nothing but signage and power lines. The two most common yet overlooked ways that the human race in the 21st century communicates.I often joke of my fascination with powerlines and signs but in truth they both amaze me. I plan to devote a lot of time and energy to this project over the next year. I’m also sure it will inevitably require travel. If I want to be taken serious as photographer I need to treat this seriously and I’m excited at the possibilities.Check out my work in progress on Flickr. There will be much added in the coming days / weeks.

I already put this on my del.ico.us but I figured it needed more attention because it was that damn good…. More rotoscoping and compositing! I’m sure you’re thrilled oh fictitious reader.

Special Effects house Buzz Imaging shows off how it made the effects used in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The clip showcases some incredible 3d modeling, rotoscoping and compositing work and makes it almost look easy. Don’t be fooled, this sort of thing takes days, weeks even months to get right. But it’s still incredible.

(Via Daring Fireball)

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” - Thomas Paine, 1777

I just read this for the first time and felt I needed to share it. In today’s world Paine’s quote could be warped or distorted into justification for the war in Iraq. But his timing was the revolutionary era, place it with another famous quote often attributed to Ben Franklin and I believe you’ll understand the true tone of the time.

“Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety”

Wow… this makes my stomach turn but I cannot believe how true it is, this guy is a genius.Why Paris Hilton mattersIt’s incredible, hilarious, but incredible how right on this is. This should be cause for a great deal of thinking. I never imagined that something so superficial and worthless could be such a good model for success.(Via Digg)