Watch your (my) car be assembled.
This was a rather fascinating factory tour – from start to finish on the A3 assembly line. Okay, it’s not quite my current model year, but still entertaining.
(Oh yeah, it’s in German. Sorry.)
This was a rather fascinating factory tour – from start to finish on the A3 assembly line. Okay, it’s not quite my current model year, but still entertaining.
(Oh yeah, it’s in German. Sorry.)
Facebook ads finally produced something that I was interested in! Jack Links (Messin’ with Sasquatch) Beef Jerky has created a microsite that they call “Living Sasquatch.” Using augmented reality, you can create your own miniature Sasquatch that appears in the room with you on screen. It’s actually a pretty compelling use of such technology in an ad campaign – if I ate beef jerky, I’d completely put Jack Links at the top of my list due to their creativity on this one. Anyway, once you get your very own tiny ‘squatch, you can make a movie with him by stitching together several predefined animations. Kate and I did just this, entitled “In Bed with Sasquatch.” Viewable here.
To make your own, be sure to check out Living Sasquatch. You know you want to. 🙂
A video that has been consistently creeping me out for about…well, two weeks.
Synth-y trash with a funky haircut. Soaring vocal acrobatics in gloss black shell. La Roux’s self-titled album is a glittering example of how to do an 80s throwback sound and image well. It’s not entirely nostalgia, which seems to be a trap fallen into by many a day-glo wearer. But you certainly know where La Roux is drawing her inspiration without question. I’d say it’s more like what the 80s would have been with MacBooks, modern production values and Alexander McQueen pants.
So, what does this somewhat androgynous ginger singer from Britain sound like? Start with “In For The Kill.” Then move on to “Bulletproof.” Shiny, huh? Now you’ve covered the singles. The album gets a little slow in the middle, but is completely fine to listen to while, say, writing a blog post. But, if you’re in a hurry – say reading a review – try “Tigerlily,” which actually transcends the sort of silly name to become a relatively great song with its driving digital beat. And my favorite by far is “Reflections Are Protection,” which is kinda batshit insane and completely delightful. Finally, make sure to stop by “Fascination.”
Here’s a cool acoustic take I found on “Bruises.” Since I mentioned it below, that is.
Chairlift: Bruises from jason miller on Vimeo.
Or: how to make it so you can’t walk in 2.5 days.
Friends, I am sore. Earth-shatteringly, bone-crunchingly sore. Can’t get up easily sore. Can’t get out of cars without shrieking sore. SORE. But, it was worth it because instead of working on a patio this fourth of July, I was having coffee on a finished patio this fourth of July. And now I await our first ever, tiny barbecue this fourth of July.
Wanna see why I’m crippled? Below:
And one of Kate putting me to shame with how stylish she makes her shattered body look:
All reminds me of lyrics from the current summer jam, if you will – “Bruises” by Chairlift:
Hot July ain’t good to me
I’m pink and black and blueI got bruises on my knees for you
And grass stains on my knees for you
Got holes in my new jeans for you
Got pink and black and blue
More photos on Flickr over here.
Did I mention our neighbor’s car caught fire in the midst of admiring the patio this morning?
…but lately I’ve been really thinking about a vacation from technology. Like, probably not to a cabin in the middle of the woods. I mean, that would basically be like going home. And I probably want electricity and running water. But just no phone. Like, I wouldn’t even take it with me. Certainly no computer. Probably not even any music (unless it was not attached to a device that could do anything but play music.)
I might go into withdrawal. That’s actually the only hang up I’m facing with putting this plan into action. The internet is like a sixth (and probably seventh) sense to me at this point. However, I am so completely saturated with gadgetry in my day to day existence that I crave waking up to only the sounds of the ocean or the rain or the birds. And a very quiet cup of coffee. And maybe even an actual newspaper.
We’ll see how this develops. Maybe I can find some ramshackle cottage in DE to spend a weekend at before summer is over?
I signed myself up for Nielsen’s Homescan contraption the other day. I got wait-listed. However, when I’m not, I expect to have all sorts of nerdy fun scanning in the shit that I’m buying and then keeping track of just how strange the consumption habits really are when put on paper.
While I wait on a list, Nielsen has decided to send me “interesting” figures about “average” consumers. Today’s: the average consumer goes to the grocery store twice per week. This number is alarming for three reasons.
So, to the subject line: how often do you go to the grocery store?
Sometimes I think I like movie trailers better than movies. Chalk it up to the post-MTV attention span, the TRL-level of information consumption. Actually, don’t – I hated TRL for cutting off my favorite videos. No, it’s probably just the excitement of an unknown film, the snippets of a plot yet to be unfolded and the (usually) spotless editing techniques that build tension. In any case, here’s my current list of movies I’m excited for:
Honorable mention (will probably watch it, just have to find it:)
Update! How could I forget: District 9 – Peter Jackson puts his skills to use directing a movie about an alien refugee camp. Looks very BSG meets V.
What would a machine intelligence that could consume our bodies for sustenance need to thrive?
Snap.
Actually, maybe the brain part isn’t necessary.