I heard a story on NPR about the six-word memoirs project at Smith Magazine and thought it might be nice for us to give it a whirl. It can refer to a life-defining incident or sensation, it can be big or small, just as long as it's six words (exactly). You can also explain what it means; that adds more depth. For example:
"I found my mother's suicide note."
One of the callers mentioned how her mother's suicide (which her family denies) held sway over much of her life, so this memoir recalls both the specific moment of the discovery and the impact that it had on her. What was even more powerful was the note itself, which was also six words:
"No flowers, no funeral, no nothing."
More examples here. Make your memoir the title of a new post and add an explanation in the body, if you care to. Remember that it's a memoir, not an autobiography -- that distinction frees it up to be more poetic.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Celeb Sighting!
I was walking to the subway last night and heard someone loudly say "You rock!", then Kenneth the Page said "Thank you! See you later!" I increased my pace to confirm the sighting; it was, indeed, Jack McBrayer from 30 Rock. I continued my accelerated speed and scratched my nose in an effort to appear concerned with mundane things (like late appointments and face itches) and not to arouse suspicion. Jack looked over at me, I turned and looked at him, then we went our separate ways.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Mahogany - Night Time in Silk City
Josh recently hepped me to this band. I'm not a fan of the lyrics on this joint, but the tune is nice. I like the stuff on their MySpace, especially Domino Ladder Beta. And how about the guitar chick? I like the spunk! She will be mine. Oh, yes -- she will be mine.
Michigan Connection: they have roots in the mid-90s Detroit space rock/shoegaze scene, releasing on Burnt Hair (a label which I want to learn more about).
Michigan Connection: they have roots in the mid-90s Detroit space rock/shoegaze scene, releasing on Burnt Hair (a label which I want to learn more about).
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Cheer up Tiff... your horse is gonna make it...
This pic was included in a shitty email forward from my aunt, but the picture is somehow... so ummm...
I just wanted to share the love.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Shaqtastic
Might be a little old but I thought it was funny.
Also, Fans Use Twitter to Rendevous With Shaquille O'Neal
"Mega site of bible studies and information"
I think this was posted a long time ago, but look what happens if you mis-type just ONE letter:
http://swimclubsuperfriends.blogpsot.com/
This kind of thing boggles the mind.
http://swimclubsuperfriends.blogpsot.com/
This kind of thing boggles the mind.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Poo related text game
Some of the posters on this board have an unhealthy obsession with the "fecal arts". See the posts about loose bowels and libraries / book stores, etc.
I thought many of you could appreciate this game:
Don't Shit Your Pants
Have fun!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Liver and Lights
Thus, the average novelist sticks to incident, which is the adornment of the novel, and tries to get along without character, which is the fundamental bone and sinew, liver and lights. We have, therefore, a series of trivial situations, irrationally strung together, and signifying nothing. Most of them are sexual -- a sheer absurdity, for sexual situations, in real life, are relatively few and mainly unimportant. I know of no man, above the mental level of a movie actor, whose life may be described in terms of a love affair.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Black Lips - Starting Over
My friend Alex, who is in "Sunset Television" made this found footage video for a contest for The Black Lips. If you have a Vimeo account (or if you'd like to make one!) it would help Alex out if you "liked" it by clicking the little heart.
Black Lips - Starting Over from Ben and Alex on Vimeo.
Enjoy!
Black Lips - Starting Over from Ben and Alex on Vimeo.
Enjoy!
24 hours to live
I was just thinking about this goofy song by Ma$e, Puff Daddy, et al. from the "Harlem World" album. I was thinking we could all reflect on the lyrics and the choices discussed therein, and then post our answers to the questions posed by the song: "If you had twenty four hours to live just think -Where would you go? What would you do? Who would you screw? And who would you wanna notify? Or would yo' ass deny that yo' ass about to die?" Responses should rhyme, of course. Should you desire to hear the beatz, you can do it here (I recommend).
[Puff Daddy]
I want you to ask yourself one question
If you had twenty four hours to live, what would you do?
That's some deep shit right there, a lot of pressure
How would you handle it?
Mase, what would you do?
[Mase]
Yo, I'd turn out all the hoes that's heterosexual
Smack conceited niggas right off the pedestal
I'd even look for my dad that I never knew
And show him how I look in my Beretta, too
I'd do good shit like take kids from the ghetto
Show them what they could have if they never settle
Take every white kid from high class level
Show 'em what Christmas like growin' up in the ghetto
Teach niggas how to spend, stack the rest
Give blunts to the niggas under massive stress
Give every bum on the street cash to invest
And hope Harlem will blow up be my last request
[Jadakiss]
Yo, yo if I had twenty four hours to kick the bucket, fuck it
I'd probably eat some fried chicken and drink a Nantucket
Then go get a jar from Branson
And make sure I leave my mother the money to take care of grandson
Load the three power, hop in the Eddie Bauer
And go give all six to that papi that sold me flour
Get a fresh baldy, make a few calls
Shop at the mall, shoot a lil' ball
Have all of my bitches on one telly at the same time
Spread it out on different floors
And I'm gon' play lotto, for what?
Even though I ain't gon' be here tomorrow, so what
[Black Rob]
You know when I was close to the ledge
I'd probably be in the wedge
With this bare spanish mami playin' 'tween my legs
Then I'm off to get choke and smoke one a them dreads
And get that bitch from '89 that gave us up to the feds
Thought of momma, wrote her a note, we ain't close
I hate her boyfriend so I put one in his throat
Fuck around and sniff an ounce of raw, bust the four
Fours, pull out my dick and take a piss on the floor
Jump in the whip, git them cats I wanted to git
Since the Tavern on the Green robbery in eighty-six
Went home took a shower in nice cold water
And spent my last hours wit my son and my daughter
[chorus] - If you had twenty four hours to live just think
Where would you go?
What would you do?
Who would you screw?
And who would you wanna notify?
Or would yo' ass deny that yo' ass about to die?
[Sheek]
What hey yo, if I had twenty four nigga gotta get the raw
Run all them papi's spot, put one in his head at the door
For the times that I paid for twenty an he gave me twelve
The other eight had to be baking soda by itself
So papi fuck you, you dead now, I'm off to the bank
With those bricks in a bookbag and a stolen Jag I just grabbed
Went in there grabbed the bank teller wit the pretty face
Fuck her in the safe, and have her take me to my place
We'll make a kid but that's selfish and that'll be bad
For my son to have the same shit his pops just had
And when I'm down to twenty three, I'm a be strapped wit TNT
Run up in city hall and take the judges wit me
[Styles]
If I had twenty four hours to live, I'd probably die on the fifth
Run in the station squeezin the inf'
I'll be waitin' to get to hell and bust down Satan
Styles' on this shit and I got spot vacant
Back to the twenty four I make it out the precinct
Shootin niggas that I hate in they face while they eatin'
I'm on the job robbin' every so-called Don
Give the money to my moms and tell her that I'm gone
I would school my little brother that niggas mean him harm
He should learn to tell the future without readin' palms
When they come in with the bullets, you prepared with the bomb
So fuck bein' violent get stocks and bonds
[DMX]
Twenty four left until my death
So I'm gon' waste alot of lives, but I'll cherish every breath
I know exactly where I'm goin', but I'mma send you there first
And with the shit that I'll be doin', I'mma send you there worse
I've been livin' with a curse, and now it's all about to end
But before I go, say hello to my little friend
But I gots to make it right, reconcile with my mother
Try to explain to my son, tell my girl I love her
C-4 up under the coat, snatch up my dog
Turn like three buildings on Wall Street, into a fog
Out with a bang, you will remember my name
I wanted to live forever, but this wasn't fame
[Puff Daddy]
I want you to ask yourself one question
If you had twenty four hours to live, what would you do?
That's some deep shit right there, a lot of pressure
How would you handle it?
Mase, what would you do?
[Mase]
Yo, I'd turn out all the hoes that's heterosexual
Smack conceited niggas right off the pedestal
I'd even look for my dad that I never knew
And show him how I look in my Beretta, too
I'd do good shit like take kids from the ghetto
Show them what they could have if they never settle
Take every white kid from high class level
Show 'em what Christmas like growin' up in the ghetto
Teach niggas how to spend, stack the rest
Give blunts to the niggas under massive stress
Give every bum on the street cash to invest
And hope Harlem will blow up be my last request
[Jadakiss]
Yo, yo if I had twenty four hours to kick the bucket, fuck it
I'd probably eat some fried chicken and drink a Nantucket
Then go get a jar from Branson
And make sure I leave my mother the money to take care of grandson
Load the three power, hop in the Eddie Bauer
And go give all six to that papi that sold me flour
Get a fresh baldy, make a few calls
Shop at the mall, shoot a lil' ball
Have all of my bitches on one telly at the same time
Spread it out on different floors
And I'm gon' play lotto, for what?
Even though I ain't gon' be here tomorrow, so what
[Black Rob]
You know when I was close to the ledge
I'd probably be in the wedge
With this bare spanish mami playin' 'tween my legs
Then I'm off to get choke and smoke one a them dreads
And get that bitch from '89 that gave us up to the feds
Thought of momma, wrote her a note, we ain't close
I hate her boyfriend so I put one in his throat
Fuck around and sniff an ounce of raw, bust the four
Fours, pull out my dick and take a piss on the floor
Jump in the whip, git them cats I wanted to git
Since the Tavern on the Green robbery in eighty-six
Went home took a shower in nice cold water
And spent my last hours wit my son and my daughter
[chorus] - If you had twenty four hours to live just think
Where would you go?
What would you do?
Who would you screw?
And who would you wanna notify?
Or would yo' ass deny that yo' ass about to die?
[Sheek]
What hey yo, if I had twenty four nigga gotta get the raw
Run all them papi's spot, put one in his head at the door
For the times that I paid for twenty an he gave me twelve
The other eight had to be baking soda by itself
So papi fuck you, you dead now, I'm off to the bank
With those bricks in a bookbag and a stolen Jag I just grabbed
Went in there grabbed the bank teller wit the pretty face
Fuck her in the safe, and have her take me to my place
We'll make a kid but that's selfish and that'll be bad
For my son to have the same shit his pops just had
And when I'm down to twenty three, I'm a be strapped wit TNT
Run up in city hall and take the judges wit me
[Styles]
If I had twenty four hours to live, I'd probably die on the fifth
Run in the station squeezin the inf'
I'll be waitin' to get to hell and bust down Satan
Styles' on this shit and I got spot vacant
Back to the twenty four I make it out the precinct
Shootin niggas that I hate in they face while they eatin'
I'm on the job robbin' every so-called Don
Give the money to my moms and tell her that I'm gone
I would school my little brother that niggas mean him harm
He should learn to tell the future without readin' palms
When they come in with the bullets, you prepared with the bomb
So fuck bein' violent get stocks and bonds
[DMX]
Twenty four left until my death
So I'm gon' waste alot of lives, but I'll cherish every breath
I know exactly where I'm goin', but I'mma send you there first
And with the shit that I'll be doin', I'mma send you there worse
I've been livin' with a curse, and now it's all about to end
But before I go, say hello to my little friend
But I gots to make it right, reconcile with my mother
Try to explain to my son, tell my girl I love her
C-4 up under the coat, snatch up my dog
Turn like three buildings on Wall Street, into a fog
Out with a bang, you will remember my name
I wanted to live forever, but this wasn't fame
Celeb “sighting” by proxy
So my sister has been playing in an all-women’s soccer league. For the winter they’ve gone indoors to play Futsal. Apparently in a recent 8-0 rout of their opponents, my sis had a literal run in with a celeb. Julia Stiles was on a breakaway, about 6 feet from the net, sis comes out to cut off the angle, and shuts Stiles down. Hell yeah.
Celeb Sighting!
Steve Earle walked by me in front of the IFC last night. I believe Graham has a celeb sighting to share as well...
The Degree's I Do Contain
I thought this was funny, so in an effort to raise the blog's spirits, I'm posting it.
I found this in the Scan folder at my office. Apparently my company worked as court-appointed auditors in class-action litigation in which the defendant was a higher-learning institution. We obviously determined that the defendant was not at fault for this particular plaintiff's career problems. She disagrees.
I found this in the Scan folder at my office. Apparently my company worked as court-appointed auditors in class-action litigation in which the defendant was a higher-learning institution. We obviously determined that the defendant was not at fault for this particular plaintiff's career problems. She disagrees.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Phallic-Head Plate
From the exhibit Art and Love in Renaissance Italy, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. More information, including translation of the banderole, here.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Band Name
Intoxicated Cockatoo. Hipster-psych a la MGMT, Amazing Baby. Stage show would involve feathers.
He Had Known People
The old writer, like all of the people in the world, had got, during his long life, a great many notions in his head. He had once been quite handsome and a number of women had been in love with him. And then, of course, he had known people, many people, known them in a peculiarly intimate way that was different from the way in which you and I know people. At least that is what the writer thought and the thought pleased him. Why quarrel with an old man concerning his thoughts?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Love, Andrew
Dear Dax,
Thank you so much for sending me this link! I'm blown away - I've never heard anything like this. I would really appreciate you telling your Michigan friend that I said..
"Your version of "Take It Off" is mindblowing and just as good as any version of mine! YOU HAVE PLEASED ME VERY MUCH, but even more importantly, you've pleased this music! THANK YOU!!!"
Thank you, Dax! All the best to you.
Love,
Andrew
Thank you so much for sending me this link! I'm blown away - I've never heard anything like this. I would really appreciate you telling your Michigan friend that I said..
"Your version of "Take It Off" is mindblowing and just as good as any version of mine! YOU HAVE PLEASED ME VERY MUCH, but even more importantly, you've pleased this music! THANK YOU!!!"
Thank you, Dax! All the best to you.
Love,
Andrew
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Swim Club goes to Africa
Does anyone know how to get ahold of Eddie? I'm trying to get in contact to see if he'd be interested in winning an architecture / education competition together sometime soon.
If you're out there, hit me up Eddie! aledbury@gmail.com
Monday, February 09, 2009
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Monsieur, le President
I recently had a couple of students ask me about the American perception of Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president who remarried a beautiful model and songstress. I talk to my parents and family and they ask me questions about Sarkozy but I think they just pay special attention because I live in France. I didn't feel like I could adequately answer the question since I've been here for a bit now. I was just wondering if any of you had any thoughts about that: Do Americans talk about Nicolas Sarkozy? Does he have any sort of image over there? Or is he just sort of viewed with indifference, scorn, that rascally young French dude with a big nose and flashy sunglasses? I'd appreciate any comments if you have any.
Signing off from the top of the Eiffel Tower, Jane.
Signing off from the top of the Eiffel Tower, Jane.
Friday, February 06, 2009
My New Hero
I recently stumbled upon one of the greatest things I never knew before. Misaka, Wataru-san, a second generation Japanese-American was the first person of color to ever play in the NBA (shortly after WWII for the New York Knicks). This is truly mind-boggling. Especially considering the time he did this, and the sentiment surrounding Japanese-Americans. There is a documentary, Transcending- The Wat Misaka Story showing only in select areas--unfortunatley for me, Minneapolis is not one of them.But for all my homies in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden on May 3rd. Here is the website.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
R.I.P. Lux Interior
Ian introduced me to The Cramps. We were playing pool at The Magic Stick and Human Fly was playing. I said, "I like this." He said, "This is The Cramps. Man, you never heard them?" Then he went "Buzz buzz buzzzzz" along to the song real close to my face.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Buckets.
I want a bigger pie slice. Has this been posted on this blog before?
Additional notes on Sheed:
1. Once I dreamt that he proposed to me in a canoe.
2. Freshman year I had a plant called Rasheed, and Tricia killed it on purpose with Coca-Cola.
Additional notes on Sheed:
1. Once I dreamt that he proposed to me in a canoe.
2. Freshman year I had a plant called Rasheed, and Tricia killed it on purpose with Coca-Cola.
Ol' pigeon pants
A man has been caught with two pigeons stuffed in his trousers after he got off a flight from Dubai to Melbourne.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7869301.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7869301.stm
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Monday, February 02, 2009
Arts vs. Entertainmanet Ensemble vs. Andy Sidaris
Arts vs Entertainment Ensemble vs. Andy Sidaris from Graham Mason on Vimeo.
I made this today using footage from a movie by one of my all-time favorite directors, Andy Sidaris (RIP). Probably NSFW. Enjoy!
Sunday, February 01, 2009
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