recovering lazyholic blog

mold-a-mania

2012-01-27T12:00:00.000-06:00

When I was a kid I desperately wanted one of those animals you could get out of a machine for $.50 at the zoo. I never got one, and clearly never got over it, even after ordering a set on-line a few years ago. Mold-a-rama machines gifted kids with an array of plastic figurines during the last several decades of the 20th century. They're not sophisticated toys by any stretch but they're bright and they're fun (and if you got one from a machine you saw them come to life). I stumbled upon Mold-a-Mania's site and discovered a really amazing collection that I'm currently coveting. Also be sure to check out the companion Flickr profile if you need to bookmark some favorites. And I might be crazy but I think some of these images would make great prints -- I'd buy them.

satellite collections

2012-01-27T11:35:00.000-06:00

Part of Jenny Odell's Satellite Collections. Some of my favorites -- all of the basketball courts on Manhattan (above). After the jump -- ships and salt lakes.

return to the old country

2012-01-27T11:11:00.001-06:00

On Christmas I traveled back up to Northern West Texas, aka Odessa. This town continues to have a hold over me. With every visit I'm in awe and bewilderment of this place time seems to have forgotten . I wish I had a solid week to really dig around and take photos, but alas I have to take what I can get. This last trip amounted to only about 24 hours, with about 2 hours devoted to driving around getting lost (again).

There's a few more photos after the jump. You can see even more here.

mapworks

2012-01-27T10:12:00.000-06:00

This series by Matt Cuscick unbelievable. I can't imagine the time and effort it took to orchestrate these pieces. I urge you to go to his site to view the whole series (and larger images).

A few of my favorites are after the jump.

[ via Art Sponge ]

geometry daily

2012-01-26T11:07:00.001-06:00

I feel like all I really need to say is "duh, of course I like this", but that doesn't give the artist much credit I suppose. These images are part of an ongoing project by a German gent that goes by Tillman. Each day he posts a new composition on his Tumblr -- Geometry Daily. This is basically shape porn, which I can't get enough. I know where my eyes will be in the coming days/months/weeks.

fabien strain

2012-01-26T10:43:00.000-06:00

Funny mixed trophy series by Fabien Strain. I also like his Sausage Battle work.

A few more trophies after the jump.

recovery program

2012-01-26T10:30:00.000-06:00

Attention unlazy folks! Do you make, do you do? Have you found the key to conquering inactivity? If the answer is yes, then you've already taken care of the hardest steps. Now comes the easy part -- share your success with the world, joining others in supporting the battle against laziness. Become a member of the Recovery Program; check out the details and ways to contribute here.

27 club

2012-01-26T10:00:00.000-06:00

DKNG Studios recently did a series for Dead Rockstars: A Tribute to the Mortal Gods of Sound. Their contribution is "27 Club", a collection of 4 of the most iconic musicians that died when they were 27 years old. I really love (of course) their minimal treatment, and especially like the subtle addition of the DKNG letters in each print. Above is Jim Morrison; check out their blog to see Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain. As a commenter on their site pointed out, Cobain's birthday may be wrong, so slight deduction on the total score. Still an awesome set of posters.

advanced style

2012-01-25T12:00:00.000-06:00

1) I will find this movie when it's released.
2) This trailer makes me want to go to New York and take style tips from older ladies.
3) Please let me be as cool as the woman with orange eyelashes when I'm 90 years old.

hidden mothers

2012-01-25T11:45:00.000-06:00

I've seen pictures like this countless times, so I'm not sure why it never occurred to me what was going on. I'd like to think I'm an observant person, but clearly not. This group -- Hidden Mothers -- on Flickr has a great collection of images with, well, hidden mothers (and sometimes fathers). My favorites are the ones that essentially are shapes holding a baby, or floating infants. They're creepy in some cases, but mostly comical -- a study in camouflage posing.

Some of the best of the best after the jump (click on each photo to follow to the source).

[ via Cup of Jo ]

relapse risk: ostrich

2012-01-25T11:00:00.002-06:00

I kind of need this, and I kind of really don't. There is however no doubt that I would very much like to try it. I somehow feel like Texas allergies and sack sleeping devices are a bad combo though.

For more info on Ostrich check it out here.

wiener wednesday

2012-01-25T11:00:00.001-06:00

[ via deadphotographers.co.uk ]

need to want less

2012-01-10T10:27:00.001-06:00

The urge to buy is strong in this one. I have the full virtual shopping carts and dog-eared catalog pages to prove it. Usually these rituals are enough to squelch my desire to spend, and I stop there. I've tried to be wise with what money I have, although after rebounding from a long stretch of unemployment I did buy myself a few small treats.

So while I'm proud of my initial resolve to refrain from shopping, it's when I give in that things tend to go off track quickly. I (for better or worse) have no credit cards so when it comes to spending I am thankfully bound to a limited budget. But damnit if I'm not completely transfixed and drawn in to the latest and greatest, therefore am terrible at waiting for a deal and also lack the patience to hunt for a bargain. What's so wrong with last year's model of this, or the clothes that my eyes have seen on the rack for months, or the generic brand of that? What is it about New that gives me tunnel vision? And why does being lazy come with such a high price tag? Seems like I should completely stay away until I can figure out how to pay the right way.

2012 - nuff said

2011-12-30T13:36:00.002-06:00

I've mentioned this before but I'll say it again -- I really don't do resolutions. Refraining goes against every OCD list-making tendency I have, I know. I think this is because with such specificity I open myself to failure and there's no real chance of immediacy in checking things off. "Get in shape" getting scratched off (maybe) 6 months down the line is far less gratifying than "go to the post office", which can be done that day. When it comes to list making I'm in it for the quick thrills.

And when it comes to actual goals is there really any new territory to cover? I can either jot down for the millionth time "stop eating things that slowly kill you", or come up with something new like "learn how to Benjamin Button yourself". Ugh, so it's tiring or implausible. Last year I made an attempt at resolutions by casting a very wide net. I'm pretty sure that there were some misses even with that generous vagueness. So this year I'm thinking it's time to really get broad, leaving a definitive opening for accomplishment and self-improvement. If this doesn't work maybe next year I'll resort to "breath and stuff".

happy thankgiving!

2011-11-24T09:54:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope it's a great day, which starts with loved ones and ends with a belly full of food.

need to want less

2011-11-16T12:47:00.000-06:00

Cheese and I go way back, and have had a long, though not always kind, love affair with each other. It is sometimes cruel to me (hello, stomach upset), and I sometimes treat it poorly (hello, processed cheese product). Lately I have been trying to upgrade my tastes and delve deeper into the world of artisan cheese. I thought to myself... if I enjoy something so much why not learn the most I can about it. So I've gone to an Antonelli's (aka paradise) cheese class and some beer/cheese pairings, and even picked up one of these Scout journals.

My aim is not to elevate my knowledge so that I can pass judgement on your Kraft cravings, because lord knows learning about the finer things doesn't mean I will shun the grosser things. And because my addiction runs so deep I find myself not eating better (i.e. good shit in moderation), but more. My passion has taken a visible form which is my pooch. Please, if you happen to see me shoving another cheesy delight down my gullet, I give free reign to knock it out of my hand or give me a scornful stare.

wiener wednesday

2011-11-16T10:00:00.001-06:00

By Lillian Bassman

good medicine: the incredible shrinking woman

2011-11-15T15:20:00.000-06:00

I feel like lately I've been writing a lot about my childhood obsessions. Well here's one more. When I was a kid I LOVED the 1982 movie The Incredible Shrinking Woman -- a zany tale, staring Lily Tomlin, about the perils of consumerism (or how Galaxy Glue will make you shrink). Over the years I've searched high and low for a DVD copy. Recently I was thrilled to find it on instant streaming on Netflix. I can't say that it's completely held up over time, but it's still a fun film with a kooky color palette; the cast appears to be dipped in an array of candy coated brights and pastels. One favorite is the mint green suit that Charles Grodin wears.

I almost wonder if Tim Burton was semi-inspired by the set design and costumes. Look through some of these screen shots and ask yourself if there's not a similarity to Edward Scissorhands.

More after the jump...

good medicine: seinfeld in color

2011-11-15T13:18:00.000-06:00

Yes! I want more!

Via Kaja van Domburg

good medicine: twisted

2011-11-15T13:10:00.000-06:00

Maybe it's because I just watched Inception again, but this series "Twisted" by Nicholas Sitton reminds me a lot of that topsy turvy dream world. See more of the set here.

weekly prescription

2011-11-15T09:10:00.001-06:00

I have fond memories of watching 60 Minutes as a child with my parents. Maybe that's odd... I don't know. One segment I could always rely on enjoying was Andy Rooney's closing. Salty and big-browed, I was transfixed not so much by his image, but his insightful reflections on the everyday. He seemed simultaneously bothered by and beholden to the world around him. He's someone I wanted to know, but would be too afraid to talk to. I think his passing is a very unfortunate for us all.
Another childhood love was Woody Allen. I'm creating a detailed map of my upbringing aren't I. Aside from his tabloid dramas and possible strange personal life his movies and books are some of my favorite things. I'm really looking forward to the PBS documentary about him.
Glee clubs... not so much. Glee clubs singing punk covers... yes, please. A standout track is Dead Kennedys' "California".
52x52 is a wonderful project developed by artist Jessica Hische. The object is recruit folks to commit to donating $52 every week for 52 weeks to charity (a suggested charity, or one of your choice). The really great part is that you can also choose your own dollar amount if $52 is a bit too steep (which it probably is for quite a few/most people). Giving to others really couldn't be much easier.
If E.A.S.T. Austin Studio Tour is something up your alley then you've probably already heard about it. So consider this a reminder, not a revelation.

HELPFUL WAYS TO GET THERE:

Read -- [ CBSnews.com ]

Watch -- [ PBS.org ]

Listen -- [ Blueribbongleeclub.org ]

Do -- [ 52x52.org ]

Austin Event -- [ eastaustinstudiotour.com ]

lazy sunday

2011-11-13T11:30:00.000-06:00

I see lounging and HBO in my future, and that's about it. Oh happy Sunday!

film friday: numbers game

2011-11-11T10:14:00.000-06:00

Today is 11/11/11. Some of you may consider this just another day, while others think evil has knocked on the calendar. More likely you are peeing in your pants waiting for luck to rain down. I'm not going to lie -- I probably fit into the latter. Yep, I still make wishes when the clock reads 11:11, and I love any excuse to buy into superstitious nonsense.

Hollywood finally got the brilliant idea to capitalize on people's fascination with just a few little numbers by making a movie centering on the phenomena. It's come out today and I'm pretty sure it will be pure garbage. Here's a few other films, that vary thematically, but share the distinction of being numerically titled, and are almost all crap. Note: 10 is the good kind of crap, you know, if you're into Dudley Moore and cornrows (and who's not).

FILM COUNT:

More after the jump...

good medicine: aled lewis

2011-11-10T15:17:00.000-06:00

I hate using the word "cute", but this series by Aled Lewis is just that. But also funny, and clever, so that balances out the super saccharine side of things.

You can check out more his work here, as well as buy prints here. More images after the jump.

good medicine: missy prince

2011-11-10T14:20:00.000-06:00

This feels like the millionth post I've done on Missy Prince, but come on, this photo is awesome (as they always are). Her photos never let me down. You can view her Flickr stream here. She also now as a shop featuring tons of wonderful original prints. Go gobble some up, and while you're there feel free to grab one for me too... you know, in case you're feeling strangely generous.