Slightly Better than Awful

This Looks AMAZING!

2012-03-24T17:36:00.000-07:00

Stephen Colbert

2012-03-14T20:26:00.001-07:00

Stephen Colbert Translates the Right's Supposedly Plain Spoken Rhetoric:

I'm usually not the biggest fan of Stephen Colbert, but he hits the mark in this video. Follow the link above to see it, there wasn't an option to embed it.

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Do You Know Ronald Jenkees?

2012-02-22T21:16:00.000-08:00

'Cause, if you like music, you should. He has some funky glasses and is a little strange, but he's smokin' on the keyboard. Check out his site here.

Watch a bunch more videos here, if you're interested.

I came across his music on Pandora while listening to The Glitch Mob station. I find lots of cool music through that station, and I made a separate one for Jenkees. Enjoy the music!

Art With a Hint of Conservation

2012-02-20T09:32:00.000-08:00

Transforming Shattered CDs into Animal Sculptures - My Modern Metropolis:

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Some people are really talented, and resourceful! I'm always impressed when someone can take something that would end up in a landfill and turn it into something beautiful. I would say these sculptures rise above just being crafty. His use of color, movement, texture, and the posing of the animals definitely speak to a higher art. Below are a few of my favorites.

James Roper | Fubiz™

2012-02-18T20:38:00.000-08:00

James Roper | Fubiz™:

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These are some very nice illustrations by James Roper. He does a great job of varying up his textures and creates some interesting images. Some remind me of old master paintings of Jesus up in the clouds, only here we see the figures made out of cloth, and only deep shadows where their faces would normally reside. Too heavy on the symbolism?

I enjoy the movement he creates with the turning and folding of the cloth, and by letting your eye flow from one texture to the next. You can make out human figures in some of them that seem to deform or explode; they remind me of sausage or balloons that have been tied off. Others have a very strong resemblance to intestines and cell walls.

Follow the link at the top to see more of his images, or go to his site linked in the first paragraph. I'll post of a few more below. Enjoy!

Resident Evil: Retribution

2012-02-17T12:45:00.000-08:00

I'm surprising interested in seeing this movie. I've seen some of the early Resident Evil movies, and they are entertaining, but not great. I think it's the grand scale of this one that makes it look more promising. What's up with everything being so apocalyptic these days, though? It's a weird current going through mainstream culture.

The Story Continues

2012-02-15T19:57:00.000-08:00

2013 Subaru BRZ and 2013 Scion FR-S: A Study in Comparison and Contrast - Feature - Car and Driver:

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It looks like there might finally be a price tag on these bad boys, "about $26,000." That's not terrible, but I wonder how much the upgrades will add on to that figure. I like the idea that there is some space left under the hood for a turbo someday in the future; that's promising. However, the more I keep up on this story, the less excited I grow, as if they are trying to make too much out of something that isn't that special. Maybe a test drive would change that feeling.

Some Beautiful Images to End Your Monday

2012-02-13T18:02:00.000-08:00

Emotionally Charged Ink Illustrations - My Modern Metropolis:

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Rola Chang's ink illustrations.

Gerhard Richter Documentary

2012-02-11T21:09:00.000-08:00

Gerhard Richter Painting:

Gerhard Richter Painting trailer from Kino Lorber on Vimeo.

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A documentary on Gerhard Richter, you say? Count me in! This has potential to go down in history as one of the great art documentaries. I need to see if I can get my hands on any of the older ones on Picasso, Hans Hofmann, and Pollock. Should be exciting.

R.I.P. Theophilus Brown

2012-02-10T15:01:00.001-08:00

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/10/BAE51N59PQ.DTL&feed=rss.news

It's always sad to me when a great painter dies. I'm not as familiar with Brown as I am some of the others from the Bay Area Figurative movement, but he certainly ran around with a lot of my heroes: de Kooning, Diebenkorn, Picasso, and Bischoff.

He lived a long life, may we all be so lucky.

Game of Thrones Season 2!!!

2012-02-10T12:24:00.000-08:00

Photo Gallery: Game of Thrones Season 2 - Today's News: Our Take | TVGuide.com:

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Game of Thrones season 2 is coming up, who's excited? You know I am. A big fan of the books, I wasn't super happy with how season one turned out, but I'll still take it. This time around, I'll be able to watch it in HD instead of standard definition on a channel that didn't come in so well. So, I'm doubly excited about that. Let's hope the directing/acting gets better as we go.

If you haven't, check out the Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin that the series is based on. It is a good escape into a fantasy world, and well worth the read. There are five books out so far with two more to go. I'm hoping he wraps it up well, as I was a little disappointed with the last book.

DUBSTEP

2012-02-08T20:21:00.000-08:00

PUMPED UP KICKS|DUBSTEP - YouTube: ""

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Marquese Scott has some pretty smooth moves. My brother-in-law pointed me to this video. I knew I liked the music before I knew there was a whole genre. Dubstep has become one of my favorite types of music, with bands like The Glitch Mob, Bassnectar, Skrillex, and many others. Enjoy the video!

Here is another one that is pretty good:

2014 BMW M3

2012-02-07T14:26:00.000-08:00

2014 BMW M3 Sedan Spy Photos – News – Car and Driver:

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The M3 has long been held tightly in my heart. It is one of the "more affordable" cars for a driving enthusiast. (Compared to a super-car anyway). Personally, I invite the move from a V-8 to a V-6 with Turbos. Hopefully, it will mean less weight and more fuel-efficiency. I will miss the hood bulge from the recent model if they do end up taking it away, but I wouldn't want it there just for looks.

I'm still waiting on my affordable, fuel-efficient, performance car. Yes, I want it all.

Why French Parents Are Superior

2012-02-06T19:57:00.000-08:00

Why French Parents Are Superior by Pamela Druckerman - WSJ.com:

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I think there are some interesting points in this article. I definitely think some American kids get away with too much and aren't given any boundaries. Check it out, it's a good read.

Reminds me a little of the book I'm reading by Jane Nelsen: Positive Discipline.

Car and Driver Blog » Hennessey Planning 800-Plus-HP McLaren MP4-12C HPE800 Twin Turbo

2012-02-05T08:49:00.000-08:00

Car and Driver Blog » Hennessey Planning 800-Plus-HP McLaren MP4-12C HPE800 Twin Turbo:

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A beautiful car for a beautiful day.

Forget about football for a little bit and lose yourself in this car.

Some More Music from the Drive-Through Guy

2012-02-04T03:00:00.000-08:00

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The first song is the best, make sure to listen closely to the entire track.
My wife says he should try out for American Idol.

Here is his website.

Because Global Warming is Just a Left-Wing Conspiracy

2012-02-03T03:00:00.000-08:00

THE ISLAND PRESIDENT—A Documentary Film By Jon Shenk |:

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The Island President looks like it'll be a good documentary. It's sad though, because it might already be too late to do enough before sea levels overtake the Maldives. Sounds like that means Manhattan, too (and many other cities/nations that are close to sea level). Hopefully, this film will raise more awareness and spur more action.

Knowing how things go, people (and governments) will just deny it and wait until major catastrophe strikes before even thinking about changing their way of life. Millions of people are going to be affected by rising sea levels. I hope we can pull together and do something more than just say, "It sucks to be them."

Just for fun

2012-02-02T15:49:00.000-08:00

This is my son when he was very young...under a year old.

Alaskan Klee Kai, Miniature Alaskan Husky, Mini Husky

2012-02-02T14:57:00.000-08:00

Alaskan Klee Kai, Miniature Alaskan Husky, Mini Husky:

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This is one of the cutest dogs I've ever seen. I saw one in my building recently and had to inquire about the breed. If I ever get a dog, I would seriously consider this one. Of course, it is pretty expensive.

After searching the internet for pictures, I couldn't find one as cute as the one in my building, but I'd still consider getting one.

To Nanny or Not to Nanny

2012-02-02T08:50:00.001-08:00

Do you use a nanny? Would you? As a stay-at-home dad, I see a lot of nannies at work in the parks. Maybe this is just the case around the East Bay (I have seen this in both Alameda and Albany), but I would never trust my child with these people.

Most of the time the nannies are either talking on the phone or with one another, but they are not paying attention to the children. Often, they seem to have too many children to look after as well.

Just the other day, a child ran off and the nanny did not even notice. A nearby worker who was using a leaf blower to clean out gutters noticed the child and had to call over to the nanny to get him. This was not an enclosed park, there were no fences, there were streets nearby, and there was construction going on nearby. This nanny was lucky that someone else was looking out for the child, and so were the parents.

This is pretty awesome

2012-02-01T21:00:00.001-08:00

I love creative people, they make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

GreenZero Chargers

2012-01-30T03:00:00.000-08:00

GreenZero Chargers:

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Another smart device for your smartphone. It shuts off after the battery is full, how smart is that! And, it's not insanely expensive, so it might actually save you some money.

Can be purchased at http://www.bracketron.com/

Speed Metabolism, Burn More Calories - 5 Ways to Get Your Metabolism Soaring - Shape Magazine

2012-01-28T03:00:00.001-08:00

Speed Metabolism, Burn More Calories - 5 Ways to Get Your Metabolism Soaring - Shape Magazine:

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Continuing on the theme of health and wellness, here are some good tips to boost your metabolism.

How Sitting All Day Is Damaging Your Body and How You Can Counteract It

2012-01-28T03:00:00.000-08:00

How Sitting All Day Is Damaging Your Body and How You Can Counteract It:

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A useful article for all of you who sit a desk all day, and possibly go home to sit some more. This article is a little more hopeful than some, which claim there is no way to counteract the effects. I hope this one is right.

Here are the two keys:

Remember to stand once an hour.

Get about 30 minutes of activity per day.

Exotic Car Tours

2012-01-27T03:00:00.001-08:00

Exotic Car Tours:

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What a great idea, why haven't I heard of this before? A little on the pricey side, but would be an amazing gift. It would be pretty sweet to be able to try out all of these beauties. I wonder how much they let you open them up. What would be more fun? If they let you take them to the track and race them, but I'm sure they'd quickly lose their fleet.