SNL: Garth & Kat

My new favorite characters on Saturday Night Live

New tradition

I may have alluded to this before, but recently I've been swooning over traditional craftsmanship that is on the come-up.

Leather, waxed cotton, wool, cork... Materials that I am falling in love with. Here are some companies that I keep running into on the internet superhighway who have a pretty strong focus on traditional craftsmanship and traditional materials, beyond just being handmade crafts.

Billykirk - PA (www.billykirk.com) - Leathergoods, est. 1999

Makr Carry Goods (www.makr.com) - Leathergoods, est. 2009?

Field Notes (fieldnotesbrand.com) - old-fashioned memo books

ML Brown & Co. (www.mlbrownandco.com)

Honorable mentions:

Freeman Transport - Montana (www.freemantransport.com) est. 2006

Rapha clothing (rapha.cc) - England

Outlier clothing (outlier.cc)

Howies "Hand-Me-Down" Collection (hmd.howies.co.uk)

Not to mention the randonneuring outfitters that peddle myriad handmade goodies (Rivendell - rivbike.com, Velo-Orange.com, Carradice Bags, Acorn Bags...)--all worth checking out.

Even a mainstream company like J Crew offers some pretty nice handcrafted stuff that fits into their traditional, maritime theme, and fetches a nice price for good reason...

Only One Manda reviews the life of Mary Daly

Only One Manda just posted a great perspective of the biography of philosopher and theologian Mary Daly, who Amanda describes as a "post-Christian, radical lesbian feminist"--labels which appears to throw up some walls, but really account for her work in tearing walls down.

I was exposed to Daly's writing (I think it was Beyond God the Father) in an Intro to Theology course at school, which focused mainly on Liberation Theology. Later I had the privilege of seeing her give a lecture at my college.

Amanda does a great job of laying out her life and philosophies, and I strongly urge you to read it here. If you can hang with that, you should definitely read something Daly wrote. I'm curious about her thoughts regarding language as a destructive force, as Amanda puts it. Here's an excerpt:

Taken as a whole, the goal of all of Daly’s work is a lofty one. She seeks to demystify our entire culture, confronting patriarchal thought patterns from a historical context and applying her discoveries to current damaging cultural trends. From there, she seeks transcendence, hoping that a radical change will ensue within human cultural context, leading to an equitable and mindful social order. In so doing, she urges women to leave the patriarchal structure of Christianity and to live an intentionally marginal life, in the hopes not only of realizing our personhood, but also of bringing about this new order. The topics addressed by Daly can be broken up into three loose categories: damaging myths and assumptions, the results of these myths and assumptions and how one might begin to transcend our current social order in the interest of pursuing better possibilities.

Sadly, Amanda ends her article by noting Mary Daly's passing only 3 days ago (Jan. 3, 2010) at the age of 81.

good stuff

from http://theselvedgeyard.files.wordpress.com

where the wild things skate

Live Now

project seen at booooooom!

destroyer will kill

Can't remember why I thought of this, but I revisited this link to a bunch of photos I uploaded about 6 years ago to a graffiti website called "Robots Will Kill": DESTRO

Good memories about my shitty skills and some fun times spent alone trying to get good and dreams about getting down with big writers

enjoy!

dont worry about critiquing this art, positively or negatively, it was a hot minute ago

Interesting: 9 years without spending money

Daniel Suelo wasn't poor, a victim of bad luck, mentally ill, or even uneducated. He just decided that he wanted to have nothing to do with money. So he gave up consumer culture altogether, and for the last 9 years, he's survived by living in a cave in Utah, and dumpster diving, foraging, fishing, and occasionally hunting for food. He spends his time in the great outdoors--and in the public library, where he blogs about it all.
Suelo must have the lowest carbon footprint of any blogger in the United States. And he's never taken food stamps or other government assistance, and despite what his lifestyle may lead you to believe, he's certainly not crazy. He's just got an aversion to money.

(source: treehugger.com article)

Seulo's blog Living Without Money
-- 
Response to FAQ #14: "You say you don't use money, yet aren't you using products of the money system & relying on the hard-earned money of others? [Revised October 10, 2009]"

"Out Your Backdoor"

Just stumbled upon this website: OYB (or "Out Your Backdoor"). It's a DIY outdoor adventurer site, a collection of resources and philosophies to promote independent action culture and social creativity. Here's what OYB says about itself:

What is OYB? -- An HQ for Indie Outdoor Action
Hi, I'm Jeff Potter and I herd the cats here. OYB has been celebrating thrifty independent action culture since 1991, offering 1000+ hard-to-find stories, links, books and goodies (luggage, too!) that offer the Vision Thing that anyone can afford.

Hard times aren't new. They're the base condition for folk culture and social creativity. They can even be voluntary or not noticed. Doing without some consumer "necessities" can be freeing. What's hard for one is just right for another. Simplicity encourages hands-on culture, integration and versatility. Which makes us want to share and celebrate what we've found. But where? Here!

These efforts can sometimes be lonely. Also, it's easy to lose our bearings. So, again, OYB is a place to share what it's like for you and show how we can make it all work together.

Then, too, indie culture is a great good source of sustainable creative reality for anyone, no matter what their situation. Flush times, lean times, it works.

For now, I'll be posting OYB in the "Good Stuff" link list... Enjoy.

Tomorrow

you see that? skateboard comp sponsored by Alien Workshop and Habitat
i feel like i always miss things like this that happen around the city
Can't wait
"I will see you there, or see you on another time"

Wealth Underground & backyard farming

The crew over at The Wealth Underground Farm of Portland, Oregon, have unloaded a couple more visual treasure chests of the bounty that has emerged from the fertile depths of their backyard.

The operation that Chris, Nolan, and Brooke (with the help of their friends and community) have established is a true inspiration to me.

If I could go "balls to the walls," as they say, my backyard farmstead would include the following: one or two sugar maple trees for sugaring (=maple syrup, right behind the house for summertime shade), goats for milk, cheese, and lawn mowing, chickens for eggs, and maybe even some bees for honey. I don't have a sugar maple tree and couldn't get one to grow quick enough; I probably don't have the space for a goat; and I'm sure I don't have the temerity needed to raise a colony of bees. But it's a pretty sweet visual in my mind's eye. That leaves chickens but besides C's objections there very well may be some newish local codes that prohibit such a wholesome pastime.

Imagination

This is probably one of the coolest, inspirational things I've seen recently: Halo by Aissa Logerot
(found @ GetBuck, reblogged from CarLovely)

Just like you would shake a can of paint to keep it flowing, you shake this to recharge the light. I can't hardly contain my fascination with this. Simple things that, once revealed, are so dumb-foundingly brilliant and obvious.

Inspirational.

I've been spray painting a lot in my garage lately, on found canvases and found wood. By "a lot" I mean more than "not" which has been the status over the past three years. Mostly I'm just draining half-empty cans of junk paint, experimenting with any caps I have remaining, trying to regain any can-control I might have ever had (which doesn't say much). I've never enjoyed art so much as when I've had a can of paint in my hand. It's seriously the most satisfying art I've ever made. Unlike a tiny, pencil-like brush that involves slight movement of your wrist, aerosol paint involves full body movements and larger than life painting. Just don't forget your mask...

Movies--yeah, that's right, plural

So, you know that a weekend is all about relaxing when you watch two movies in one day, where one of those is a matinee at the theater. We never go to the theater.

First one up: Away We Go, starring John Krazinskisifksi (The Office) and Maya Rudolf (SNL). Thumbs up for this movie--a romantic comedy that drags you along the bizarre and bumpy travels of the two protagonists as they struggle to start a new life for themselves. Seriously, some of the parts had me R.O.T.F.L.M.A.O.-ing, or as much as possible considering we were in a theater at 10 in the morning. But I was laughing so hard I was crying at least at one point. No joke. Although it really mellos out at the end, it's a feel-good type movie, where you leave with the sublime feeling of love and understanding, though you also wish there was some more closure to put all your questions to rest. It's really easy to fall in love with both characters and it made me feel really lovey-dovey afterwards. Like, wanting to one-up Krazinski's unconventional charm, unquestionable loyalty, and hilarious attempts at chivalry. The characters are quirky and exagerrated, and fortunately the irony is a little more understated than comparable film, Juno. The soundtrack throughout is mostly music of a guy named Alexi Murdoch (who I easily mistook for Nick Drake)... just listen to his music to get an idea of the mood of the film.

In keeping with the NBC celebrity comedian theme, we then rented Dan In Real Life, starring Steve Carell (The Office). Nevermind the fact that I was drinking wine while watching this--I'm classy--but I thought this was a great movie. Great. What a great choice. It was painfully romantic and well done throughout: the story, the acting... At no point did I feel like anything was over the top, with the exception of the turning point towards the end. Bam! Gut-wrenching romance in your face. You totally absorb Carell's character and you fall in love with the French woman... was she French? No? Oh well. She was French to me. I highly recommend some microwave popcorn and a tall glass of wine with this one. Haha, holy ish--who do I sound like?

Laughter is the best medicine

Holy crap, I need to stop reading these funny blogs at work. I keep reading and suppressing laughter until I can't stand it, then avert my eyes to the Wild & Scenic: Ohio calendar handing on my wall to trick my brain into thinking nothing is funny, but everything is serene and calm. These rhododendrons...

Anyways, here are a few blogs and choice posts that have really made an impression on me. I need to warn you, much of the humor is crude, but I figured the least I could do is share them in a very passive way, without much confrontation, and let you, dear reader, decide what's best. Here are some gems, in no particular order.

The Wind In Your Vagina--a blog with a title that has a little bit of context, written by a young dad that calls himself Black Hockey Jesus. A delightful post: Old Spice Puberty Day. Honestly, it's not as offensive as it sounds.

Steam Me Up, Kid... -- I don't know much about the author, but she is crass. This is the first post I read and a good starting point, in my opinion. It might also be a good stopping point for many of you: Also, sunscreen. Also, don't get AIDS.

Motherhood in NYC. I've gathered that this woman is from Russia. Some funny quips up in this. Again, this is the first post I read: Your Majesty

Pacing the Panic Room: a blog

I am pretty fond about this blog, Pacing the Panic Room. My favorite part--and perhaps the ultimate point of the whole blog--is the series of photos documenting each week of his wife's pregnancy.

The blog as a whole is a little confusing to navigate, and I don't like how some of the earlier posts of the series includes redundant copies of all preceding photos, which only clutter up what should be uber-minimalistic.

The author is super talented and appears to live a pretty charmed and hip life. Check it out and prepare to be envious.
--
Update: Ok, so since this morning--when I found out the author of PTPR has caught wind of my blog's link to his own and was gracious enough to read my first-ever post and even leave a flattering comment--I feel like I need to offer more credit to him if I care to give any justice to his world and writing. To say he lives a charmed life is a careless overstatement. If you read any of his lengthy posts you'll know he airs a lot of laundry, revealing myriad concerns in the daily life of a young family, but always seems to come out on top with at least a determinedly optimistic attitude if not a wholeheartedly positive one.

The fact that he was exposed to my blog has exhilarated me, proving that I've reached out beyond a small circle of family and friends; it has also disappointed me to realize a lot of the content of ADITGL is relatively boring and/or poorly written. Ryan of PTPR has the ability to write long, coherent posts, in a stream-of-thought manner, and reach meaningful conclusions that provoke inspiration, insight, and self-reflection.

Hopefully I'll keep this train on the right track and be able to write more posts with passion similar to my first one.

Great Day

Whutup Thursday

Great day today:
Woke up to thunderstorms (we rarely ever get t-storms)
Starbucks, half decaf
Dayton, planted 100 plants, got muddy
Sunny and breezy
talked to mom, talked to dad-in-law
Drove downtown, rode bike to the "bike hop"
mostly a bust, met some nice people
hung out, drank a beer, rode bikes to a second bar, beautiful weather, drank a beer ate some food
talked to J
chipotle burrito, super spicy = sweaty face
greater's ice-cream, chocolate chocolate chip (a.k.a. double-chocolate chip)
clips of 30 Rock between Gray's Anatomy, belly full, getting tired
--
C says she hates life, i think she's mostly joking, but i wish i could understand why she's not happy about life

Bike Life

Sometimes, this is what I want life to be like
Rapha Tour of California Short Films

WTF + Good Stuff

Google is crazy fuckin' crazy. Autopilot? What?
Hopefully this link doesn't allow you to access my email... haha.
Autopilot (not really) Explained

Anyways, the world is crazy.
Happy April first. Here are some things that are keeping me pretty pumped (in a chronologically-correct order):
I bought that 55-gal barrel and realized it was originally used to ship Mountain Dew; in fact, it reeks of the hyper-caffeinated drink and the remnants will hopefully stimulate my vegetable garden into crazy production this summer; I may be single-handedly responsible for landing a big job for my employer; I got paid and was pleasantly surprised at the decrease in federal withholding thanks to the stimulus plan; I was invited to a mid-life crisis themed birthday party this Friday and I just decided that I should try to find leather pants at the thrift store; I biked to Starbucks this morning and got some coffee--bam!

webSIGHT

Jessica Love dropped her website on the world wide interweb last week
www.jessicalovephotography.com
If you look closely, you might find a few photos of C and Me

Qwote

Worry is a misuse of imagination.
Dan Zadra