Sexy Bloomberg Ad

Here's an ad for Bloomberg's campaign as an independent. I think it's pretty good, though I know shit about him as a candidate.

Eukanuba Dog show Commercial

Here's my friend Owen's Superbowl prediction:

50-2 in favor of the Patriots. It would be 50-0, but late in the fourth, Tom Brady is going to be going back to throw in his own endzone and slip on his own tears of laughter when he sees that Moss, Welker, Gaffney, and Stallworth are all wide open downfield. It takes him too long to get back up do to his body heaving with thunderous jolts of giddiness. One of the Giants will then slip on a banana peel and fall on his foot while one of his knees is still down, technically making it a safety.

Some Music

This is a nice piece of music from an interesting movie. Many of you have probably heard it before.



There's something I find really relaxing about a waltz.

I cannot think of a non-offensive way to title this post

Not so long ago, the average mid-twentysomething had achieved most of adulthood’s milestones—high school degree, financial independence, marriage, and children. These days, he lingers—happily—in a new hybrid state of semi-hormonal adolescence and responsible self-reliance. Decades in unfolding, this limbo may not seem like news to many, but in fact it is to the early twenty-first century what adolescence was to the early twentieth: a momentous sociological development of profound economic and cultural import. Some call this new period “emerging adulthood,” others “extended adolescence”; David Brooks recently took a stab with the “Odyssey Years,” a “decade of wandering.”

But while we grapple with the name, it’s time to state what is now obvious to legions of frustrated young women: the limbo doesn’t bring out the best in young men. With women, you could argue that adulthood is in fact emergent. Single women in their twenties and early thirties are joining an international New Girl Order, hyperachieving in both school and an increasingly female-friendly workplace, while packing leisure hours with shopping, traveling, and dining with friends [see “The New Girl Order,” Autumn 2007]. Single Young Males, or SYMs, by contrast, often seem to hang out in a playground of drinking, hooking up, playing Halo 3, and, in many cases, underachieving. With them, adulthood looks as though it’s receding.

Here's the whole article.

"Not only is no one asking that today’s twenty- or thirtysomething become a responsible husband and father—that is, grow up—but a freewheeling marketplace gives him everything that he needs to settle down in pig’s heaven indefinitely."

Scrabble

This was a real Scrabble in this newspaper someone posted. I bet most Swim Club Super Friends can get a 7 letter word.

There She Is...

Miss Michigan won the Miss America Pageant!



And she's fuckin' HOT!!!



Question is, what can she do for the economy...

WWII Poster

Corraleja

From 2 to 6 p.m. each day in the ring, hundreds of these “manteros,” including a handful of women, waved red capes advertising spirits (Harris Whisky, anyone?) or the candidacies of local politicians. One middle-aged man ran around the arena dressed in a yellow Speedo. Another participant, a transvestite, wore a miniskirt and green knee socks.

The bulls are not killed in the corralejas as they typically are in bullfights in Colombia. But if a bull is exhausted or, as often happens, tripped up by a rope held by the participants, the crowd swarms in, pelting it with rocks, kicking it, slapping it, spitting on it and pulling its tail.

Observing this in the stands are cattlemen and others of the moneyed classes. They throw 2,000-peso notes (about $1) and bottles of rum to the most popular manteros.

“I recognize that one cannot avoid the comparison with the Roman Colosseum,” said Inis Amador, a lawyer who helped revive Sincelejo’s corralejas in the late 1990s. They were discontinued in 1980, when more than 200 people died after a wooden arena collapsed, crushing spectators gathered under the stands.

“But why do some cultures race automobiles or climb Himalayan mountains or box each other to a pulp?” Mr. Amador, 54, said. “This is about the ecstasy of escaping death. It is part of us as human beings.”

Czech Art Prank

Czech art collective Ztohoven made a fake nuclear explosion on a Czech morning show, keeping up with the Good Soldier Svejk tradition...here's the article.

Point of Contention

Almost two years ago, many of you were kind enough to help with the music video that Dax and Graham co-directed for the song "Point of Contention" by Fields of Industry.

We had trouble capturing the footage, but I'm happy to say that we finally digitized it with my friend Rhys' camera. Dax and I have spent the past couple months editing in the prestigious, hi-tech editing studio at Columbia University.

After many days of carefully piecing together almost two hours of footage, Dax and Graham are happy to present for you, the Swim Club Super Friends, the world premiere of the "Point of Contention" music video!

Please leave any and all thoughts, notes, or reactions you may have to the video in the comments.

Not the bees! Not the bees!

I guess this is pretty popular, but it hasn't been put up on here yet. I just saw it and the part with the bear made me cry.

German Artist

Since we were showing Ernst paintings, I wanted to show another by this German artist Hap Grieshaber. The Puerto Rican artist Antonio Martorell told me about him.

Second Quote of the Day

A Jordanian [I believe] op-ed commenting on President Bush: "Everything he touches turns to ashes and dust."

or not...

Quote of the Day

Mary Jane:
"My next dog is going to be a hairless cat."

TOP GUN ANTHEM

look at his fucking hair

Kenny Loggins / Danger Zone / Top Gun

Oh Kenny! Have my love child!

new home

my parents are moving to portland. does anyone know anything about or anyone in portland?

hey, russian speakers

I really like the illustration (engraving?) on the cover of this book.



It's part of a nice series published by Zakharov, a publisher in Moscow. I've figured all of this out through library records and wikipedia. But the language barrier is keeping me from finding out who the artist is that makes the images on the cover of all these "Erast Fandorin" books (that's the character the series is about). I would be grateful if any one of you who speaks Russian...or is dating someone who speaks Russian...could sniff around on the internet to see if there's any information about the artist. The non-cyrillic title of the book pictured above is Osobye poruchenii·a· : dve povesti o prikli·u·chenii·a·kh Erasta Fandorina. or something. here's another link.

p.s. that's a picture of a person in a hawk mask stabbing a naked man through the foot.

Critical Goro Mass!

Hey Goros and Gorettes. Goro needs a huge Goro favor. The first "official" Goro release is now out on Arts Vs Entertainment, the semi-serious but mostly not-serious label that we've started up. It's the Henry Kissinger EP and features some of your favorite songs.

So far, Arts Vs Entertainment is releasing stuff for free download on last.fm. Yesterday, when I made the Goro EP available for download, I noticed that there are quite a few Goro's that already exist, and last.fm aggregates them all on a single artist page.

There's a Czech Goro and a Japanese Goro and more. We need to obscure these inferior Goro's so that our own Michigan Goro can rise to the top of the heap where he belongs.

To achieve this noble cause, we ask you to go here and click on the thumb's up next to the shirtless Adam and Brian, which will register votes for this Goro image over the current one of some Japanese dude blowing into a harmonica.

Goro thanks you!

Takin' Care of Business

Johnny needed these so I thought I'd post for all

Yikes!

Our neighbor's house was broken into last night. Ugh! She was home when it happened, too. Its hard not to be paranoid now. My dad has made some suggestions, like little motion sensitive alarms for the doors, and fake surveillance cameras. At least the dogs provide some security. They're suspicious of everyone and can look pretty vicious. Oh, and these days I am almost always armed with metal crochet hooks! I could learn to to wield a crochet hook as if it were a dagger!

I LOVE KATE BUSH

Les Negresses Vertes

Only $600

The Vagina Couch was going for only $600 on Craig's List before it was flagged and removed.

Soup.

This is mostly for Tristan, but also for anybody who likes to eat. The best soups are homemade, of course, and usually involve roasting vegetables all day in the oven. If you don't have time or desire to slave over a hot stove, this soup is awesome. Its good straight out of the box, but is also pretty versatile. We often add black beans, Tobasco and cheese. Or basil, garlic and crushed red pepper. Try it!

JAW

Hey, I'm having jaw surgery tomorrow (Thursday) morning! Isn't that exciting? The recovery shouldn't be too bad, because I won't need to have my mouth wired shut or anything, but... I'll be condemned to a puree diet for a few weeks! That's the most frightening part. I have to stock up on Ensure and figure out how to make a satisfying diet out of liquidy foods. So, here's where the Swim Club comes in - could people post with any good milkshake, smoothie, etc. recipes they have? How about delicious creamy soups or bisques? I just got a little food processor, but I'm not very experienced with that sort of thing. Any tips or ideas would be much appreciated. Your input could greatly improve the quality of my life over the next month.

This Sunday, I plan on drinking a delicious milkshake while watching the Packers beat the Giants and win the NFC championship. Your support for the Packers during this time would also be greatly appreciated.

No comment.

http://gawker.com/5002269/the-cruise-indoctrination-video-scientology-tried-to-suppress

Who poured the beer?

Quote of the Day

"Are you cokeheads still playing Scrabble? It's 3:30 in the morning!!!"

At the Show

Magic in the Moonlight

Magic Taco


Back-Wash Brothers

You need to watch the whole video

Fetish: The Play

It was a doozy. Thanks to Paul for Googling Joyce Wu and suggesting a night at the theater. From the press release:

Matt and Sophie, a couple about to get married, must contend with how much race and ethnicity still matter to them in an era after political correctness. Sophie, perpetually feeling like an outsider, fears that Matt's WASP family will never fully accept her. Frustrated by her constant insecurity, Matt begins to lose sympathy. When Matt helps his best friend Dion, who is black, secure a job at the private equity firm where he works, his co-worker James assumes it is because Dion has benefitted from Affirmative Action-type quotas. When he discovers that Matt has arranged it, James decides to poison the friends against each other and to sabotage Matt’s relationship with Sophie.

Provocative pornographic images will be projected through the play, which highlight the sexual stereotypes often associated with Asian women and black men and encourage the audience to reflect on their own reactions.

Royal Crown Posh

I was looking back thru an RC Cola rebranding campaign we worked on last year and found these can design concepts. Ultimatley we went a different direction with the cans, but I want to convince my designers to bring these back to life.

I'm curious to hear your impressions. Our goal was to establish RC Cola as a hip new Cola on the comeback (not unlike PBR's recent return to promenince).

Dance Pics

Joel and Me !!!

This is our house.

It kind of IS the "two dogs, a television" house.

Nicole's New Years

Counter Quote of the Day

One should die properly when it is no longer possible to live proudly.

There Will be Milkshakes

"If you have a milkshake and I have a milkshake and I have a straw and my straw reaches across the room and starts to drink your milkshake. I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!"
-Daniel Plainview

Do you have any idea what I deal with on a daily basis?

In case you were wondering what rod has been up to lately... here is a link to his blog.

P.S. He wants an anagram too.

Swim Club Super Anagrams

Here are some anagrams. My personal favorite: Tarek Dika ->Karate Kid. Sadly no one’s name re-arranges to Mr. Miyagi.

Graham Mason-Man Hogs A Ram
Nicole Boettcher- Botch Reelection
Adam Jaros-A Sad Major
Greg Tonner-Rennet Grog
Ian Singleton-A Tensing Loin
Chris Singleton- Lions Retching
Tarek Dika- Karate Kid
Dax de la Monta- Mad Anal Detox
Claire Beyer-Brace Eerily
Marlow Coolican-Manic Wool Oracle
Stefan Menchinger-Fiercest Hangmen
Johnny Baer-Bar Hen Joy
Justin Hargrave-Naïve Trash Jug
Sarah Singleton-Sorest Hangnail
-Sarah, you might consider these anagrams as you decide what you will do with your last name-
Sarah Schrauben-Harass Each Burn
Sarah Singleton-Schrauben: A Rural Hos Sentencing Bash
Jane Pitan-St. Martin – A Matte Ninja Prints
Eddie Fletcher-Deflected Heir
Paul Neuman-Anal Emu Pun
Vladislav Beronja –Involved Balsa Jar
Annie Ledbury-Annelid Buyer
Joel Schrauben-Herculean Jobs
Joshua Barton-A Banjo Hurt So
Mary Jane Barton- Aberrant Man Joy
Rozalyn Heidtke-Dankly Theorize
Ross Over-Soils Rover
John Pratt-Nth Jar Top
Tricia Burmeister-Bait Cruiser Merit
Colin Daly-Doily Clan
Brian Wiers- Briar Swine
Heather Radke-The Raked Earth
Robin Bravender-Diner Born Brave
Carlie Debuysscher-Headsure Bicyclers
Joshua Schultz- Hush, Just Coz' Al!
Arthur Tanimoto- Hot Airman Tutor

...

Goro...

New Year's Eve

Winnebago Man-Jack Rebney is Angry

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

More than 2,250 Cases of Aerial Espionage against DPRK This Year

Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- The number of the cases of aerial espionage committed by the U.S. imperialists against the DPRK in December reached more than 110 and that of those by the south Korean armed forces at least 70, totaling over 2,250 this year, according to a military source.
U-2 of the U.S. imperialist aggression forces based in south Korea perpetrated aerial observation, photographing and electronic espionage against the depth of the DPRK and its all other areas on Dec. 31. The cases of espionage by this plane numbered 25 this month and more than 300 this year.
They let three or four RC-12 and RC-7B fly in the sky above areas along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) for frantic aerial espionage everyday in December. The number of cases of espionage by those planes totaled at least 690 this year.
When such military exercises for aggression as "RSOI" and "Foal Eagle" and "Ulji Focus Lens" joint military exercises were under way the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean armed forces committed aerial espionage against the DPRK by mobilizing more than 150 strategic and tactical reconnaissance planes with different missions.
Overseas-based EP-3 flew in the sky above the east and west seas and their coastal areas of the DPRK for photographing on Dec. 26. RC-135 and E-3 periodically flew in the air over south Korea to spy all areas and eastern and western coastal areas of the DPRK in the year.
Keeping pace with the U.S. imperialists' aerial espionage, the south Korean military war mongers let two or three RC-800 and RF-4C fly in the sky above the areas along the MDL for madcap aerial espionage everyday in the year.

New Documentary Film Produced

Pyongyang, December 31 (KCNA) -- The Group for the Production of Films for School Youth and Children of Pyongyang University of Dramatic and Cinematic Arts has recently produced new documentary film "Immortal Flowers That Blossomed at Campus."
The film introduces Yu Hyang Rim, former pupil of the then Pyongyang Misan Primary School, who dedicated her life to safely protecting the a portrait of the three generals of Mt. Paektu from a critical situation at the age of 9 and Yu Kyong Hwa, former student of Kim Chol Ju University of Education, who dedicated her life to protecting the portraits of the peerlessly great persons from great danger and saving revolutionary comrades.
It also tells stories about how firmly school youth and children are preparing themselves as revolutionaries intensely loyal to leader Kim Jong Il, who value their organization and collective and are ready to dedicate themselves to the country and people.

David Lynch on iPhone

I tried to find a clip of this where someone hadn't added the iphone commercial soundtrack, but
there weren't any. still good though.

Disembrained

PERE UBU: Bring the first Noble and pass me the Nobles' hook. Those who are condemned to death will be passed down the trap door and fall into the basements of the pig-pinching machine and the cash-room where they will be disembrained. [To the Noble] Who are you, buffoon?

NOBLE: Count of Vitepsk.

PERE UBU: What's your income?

NOBLE: Three million six-dollars.

PERE UBU: Condemned!

[He grabs him with the hook and passes him to the pit.]

Uzbek Li'l Bow Wow

Quote of the Day

"I'm enough of a man to admit I love my Yorkie more than my shoe shopping."

FoI @ Mac's, 1/4 ; on the radio 1/3

Hi all.

First of all, it was great getting to see everyone and I missed those that weren't there. I was telling Dax, it was like one of those dreams where you see everyone that you've ever known all at the same place, but you hardly get to talk to anyone. I hope you've all had or will have safe trips home, and I hope you're not all stuck in snowy airports right now.

Secondly, for we Michiganders, Fields is playing tomorrow night in Lansing at Mac's Bar:
2700 E. Michigan Ave
Lansing, MI 48912

We're playing with this great band, the Netherfriends from Chicago, who sound a bit like Animal Collective.

Dax has arranged for us to hype the show on MSU's college station, the Impact. We'll be on their local music show tonight around 8:30. If you're in the area, you can catch it on 88.9 FM, otherwise, you can hear it online here.

Joshua

The Pogues - If I should fall from grace with God

Goro cover?