3.25.2010

Today's post is an all Youtube posting.  And I have a ton of opinions when it comes to this subject.

So instead of letting this become a little too soapbox-y, I moved the talky parts of it to my personal blog. Check it out if you think you might be interested.  The short version is that I think Youtube rocks and is a step in the right direction in regards to entertainment.

So, enough talking... here are my favorites:

- Youtube's first videos were nothing more than America's Funniest Home Video knock-offs -- with no production value, no laugh track, and completely catering to our juvenile funny bones.

-Then people began to see things that they had never seen before and these videos, which would never have found an audiences prior to Youtube, began attracting thousands and thousands of viewers.

-Word of mouth made these videos into huge phenomenon, or what we now call "memes" or "viral" videos.  Emailed to friends and watched and rewatched, these videos started to boast numbers in the MILLIONS.  Then the entertainment industries began to take notice.

-Audiences and performers started to see the potential and benefit of millions of WORLDWIDE viewers watching your video and a new platform for singers, dancers, and artists appeared almost overnight.  Some moving on to much bigger things.

-The film industry got in on the action, too.  Hollywood began to find untapped talent and careers were born.

-Amateur filmakers created online festivals and partnerships as a way to get their film, that otherwise would never have found an audience, seen by millions of viewers.

-It wasn't just artists looking for audiences, either.  It was everyday people just looking for kindred spirits with similar interests, no matter how obscure or technical, to interact with one another.

-I personally love videos that show our "celebrities" for what they really are -- just ordinary people.  Like the bloopers at end of a film (always some of my favorite moments), Youtube helped show that behind the perceptions, we all share the same interests,  fears and  good times.

- Audiences and performers both benefit from the opportunity to just create and connect.

Intermission: Thinking out loud

I thought about all of the blogs that I frequent more often than the others and one of the things they all have in common (besides amazing content) is that they post often -- most of the time at least 3 to 5 times a week.  Although I would love to post that often, I don't do THIS for a living like most of my favorites do -- daddy still has to put food on the table.  What I would like to do is commit to posting 2 to 3 times a week and seeing if that is something I can keep up with. 

And maybe get a few followers... that would be good, too.

3.25.2010

Cleaning house and moving furniture around must have steered my mindgrapes in regards to my web perusal, today.  One cool-looking/ exotic furniture thing led to another and what you reap from all of this is today's post -- and when you're done reading this, clean up after yourself -- your mom doesn't work here!!

-Although it is just conceptual, I can already imagine this homage to video game greatness sitting in the play room--for my kids, of course.

-Here is an incredible design that just goes to prove that even the most mundane of furniture can be turned inside out by clever design and optical illusions.

-An awesome example from the less-is-more school of design.

-Speaking of less, are your living conditions feeling a little cramped?  Try this amazing transforming furniture and multifunctional living solutions that only look like your grandmother's stuff -- if it were made from pure bad-assness.

-To say I love books would be putting it lightly.  So instead of piles and piles of greatness littering your home like literary land mines, let one of these ideas  give you some of your living space back.

-While we are on the literary trip, this might not be the most practical bookshelf I have ever seen, but it definitely is the most kick ass.

-I am all about a little pampering and relaxation, and this is one of the sexiest looking means of relaxation I've ever seen.

-So you have all the elements in place and world domination is at your fingertips, but are you forgetting something?  Well thanks to me, now your not.

-Letting the geek flag fly, I couldn't sign off of a furniture blog without dropping something we all might think is pretty cool, but wouldn't know where the hell to put it if we ever got our hands on one!!

3.18.2010

In honor of my boy's b-day, today's list is comprised of things you may have missed but they also have something to do with things my son really digs.  Love and miss you, Luc!!

-If you are a fan of Star Wars but you are trying to maintain your cool and you haven't seen this,  you can thank me later.  Street cred... Genius!!

-Legos may have been around since 1940 but they keep finding ways to reinvent themselves and stay relevant.  It looks like they've still got it.

-Godzilla may be the fiercest and most recognizable monster ever, but a quick look at his journal reveals a struggle with the same issues we all face.

-Just because Japan has already done something like this--not once but twice -- let me be the first to add my vote to this incredible idea.

-Although I don't play video games these days, I just might have to pick up this cool little app and show my son what's what!!

-I was shocked when I recently discovered during a conversation with a friend, that they had never heard of Hulu!!  Is this an isolated incident or are there more of you out there?

-I hear from someone, at least once a day, how they wish that they could draw.  It is never too late to start!

-Fantastic pop art kitsch in three varieties - one that is not for sale, one that is affordably priced and the last one, not-so-much.

-And because I know someone picked up an ipod touch for their b-day, this sites skins are drawn by the coolest artists you've never heard of and they are by far the slickest ones out there.

03.16.2010

This week has been one of the busiest weeks of the new year for me, but I spent a bit of time on the Mac tonight, and here are my meanderings:


-Diggy Simmons, son of Run (of Run-DMC) and nephew of Russell "Def Jam" Simmons, makes his own name with a slick, old school reminiscent cut that is equal parts his famous pop and something altogether new and fresh.


-Comedian Zach Galifianakis, coming off of an entertaining SNL hosting gig, shows exactly why his offbeat sense of comedy will keep him busy with an exhausting nine films coming out this year.


-Craig Gleason's "Gaga Dollars" is one of those perfect little storms of kitsch that pop up from time to time --inspired as they are cheesy.  I would link to his own website, but even the name of the blog is not for those that are easily offended.


-Cyril Pedrosa's incredible book "The Three Shadows" tackles the unthinkable - losing a child - with a grace that is indescribable.  I think about moments in this book almost every day.


-Helping to prove the point that there is a blog for everything, Coty Gonzales' blog reviews t-shirts and does it quite well.  In a nod to this blog and one of my favorite Television shows of all-time here is his list of 101 shirts worth checking out. 


-This has been around for a while, but for the uninitiated, Postsecret's website continues to amaze me with it's anonymous small glimpses into the parts of us that we never dare show.


-As a huge film nerd, I can't get enough of brilliant sites like the Art of the Title -- a site with that looks at the opening and closing title sequences of the films we love. Recent additions, like the fantastic "Sherlock Holmes"  sequence, are required viewing.


-Worth the price of admission, Schoolism is art classes by artist for artist that usually hate art classes.  As someone who hated his art classes in college, the site covers subjects like building a portfolio that will get you work or self publishing taught by freelancers putting in the work themselves, daily.


-If you haven't checked out the twitter account --shitmydadsays-- hit it up before the television show drops so you can tell all your friends you were down before they were.  It is exactly what it sounds like; wild things the authors father spouts.  The language is really bad but it is as amazingly insightful as it is hilarious.

Found!!

With the constant, ever-present stream of things coming our way, it is hard to keep up with it all -- or even a part of it all.  Ten great things are getting posted and passing us by for every one thing we catch.  


This list is my attempt to catch some of the things that may have piqued my interest that day which I don't want slipping away -- my daily to-do list of things to check out.


If the things I come across happen to catch your attention, too -- well, that is just the icing on the Cake...