Monthly Archives: June 2010
The History of the Typewriter (recited by Michael Winslow)
Not too long ago, I was wondering whatever became of Michael Winslow (Jones!), the sound effects dude who was such an indispensable part of all the Police Academy movies. Turns out he’s still around. In the short film by Ignacio Uriarte, he recites the history of the typewriter.
Beyond Whitman: Levi’s Attempts Sincerity With ‘Go Forth’ Campaign
Last year, when Levi’s launched its “Go Forth” advertising campaign, it was greeted with less-than-favorable reactions from the citizens of the Internet (see here, here, and here). Critiques ranged from claims the campaign was racist (print ads featured mostly white men and women) and depicted misplaced interpretations of freedom, to it being hopelessly vague in its themes of hard work…
Levi’s Attempts to Salvage ‘Go Forth’ Campaign With Sincerity
Last year, when Levi‚Äôs launched its ‚ÄúGo Forth‚Äù advertising campaign, it was greeted with less-than-favorable reactions from the citizens of the Internet (see here, here, and here). Critiques ranged from claims the campaign was racist (print ads featured mostly white men and women) and depicted misplaced interpretations of freedom, to it being hopelessly vague in its themes of hard…
[Made You Look] Bloodshot Eye And The Infinite Teeth
Joe is from Utah. He’s a fair-skinned kid with reddish-brown hair that falls in ringlets around his face. I’m uncertain of his age. But if I had to guess, I’d bet on 13. A chicken claw scratched across the surface of his right eye. Now it’s bloodhsot, and looks like hell. (Image via Trinki Jankapoka)
Swan Songs: America’s Vanishing Tradesmen
Back in 2007, I wrote a piece for Swindle magazine titled “American Twilight.” It was a longform narrative story focusing on America’s vanishing tradesmen. I profiled the lives and work of three specific individuals: Rudy Lehman (typesetter), Joe Feldman (barber), and Crock Hunter (blacksmith). For whatever reason, the story was heavily edited and partially rewritten after I submitted it, and…
[Made You Look] Where’s The Beef?
Vintage photograph of Burger King on 5th Avenue in 1970s New York City, before Wendy’s and Clara Peller instigated the Burger Wars of the 1980s. (Photo: Christian Montone)
Terry Riley: A Rainbow In Curved Air
“I had already done A Rainbow in Curved Air and had a big record on CBS. I was launched to have a long career and then I just dropped out and went to India.” -Terry Riley
Satan Lost The Battle, Jesus Won The Fight
According to the Christian Pirate Puppets, Satan is a blabbermouth who’s been a loser ever since Jesus broke his back. In this video, our foam-mouthed friends tell a heartwarming tale of paralysis and broken teeth — two cornerstones of Christianity.
Atlanta’s Krog Street Tunnel Painters Send A Message To BP
The oil gusher in the Gulf is maddening, especially in how slow BP and the U.S. government have been in their efforts to solve the problem. However, I’ve had little interest in writing about it because, well, everyone is writing about it, and I’m certainly no expert when it comes to energy and environment (though that little detail hasn’t stopped…
The Business Of The Card
Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) proudly displays his new business card to his fellow investment bankers in this scene from American Psycho. Bateman’s moment is quickly eclipsed, however, when each of the men at the table attempts to outshine the other by slapping down their respective cards and referencing the chosen typeface and slight color variations. It’s a beautifully satirical scene,…
The Awkward Shadow Of Puberty
I stumbled across this post this morning, “The 1970s Puberty Pin-Up Wars: Farrah Fawcett Vs. Cheryl Tiegs,” by Jon Patrick over at The Selvedge Yard. It’s a brief post, but Patrick makes a point toward the end that triggered my brain:
Running On Empty: Imagining L.A. Without People, Traffic
If you’ve ever worked a nightshift job, and were arriving home just as most other people were rolling out of bed, then the scenes from Ross Ching‘s “Running on Empty” will appear familiar. Inspired by Matt Logue’s Empty LA, Ching’s short film does a good job of setting the scene for those peaceful moments of public solitude. Especially in…
Attack Of The Brands: ‘Logorama’ Takes Global Advertising To Task
In this short film, titled Logorama, French animation collective H5 depict — quite literally — an America (and beyond) besieged by brands and advertising. Corporate logos and brand mascots are brought to life, humanized with the kind of traits we see in our fellow man each day — arrogance, anger, stupidity, and yes, even compassion. The 16-minute film begins…
Phil Collins And The Legend of Drowning Man
For years now, rumors have swirled that the Phil Collins song, “In The Air Tonight” from his Face Value album, is based on a real event. Supposedly Collins wrote the song after witnessing an incident in which an unknown man refused to save a swimmer who was drowning. It all seems fairly absurd. However, there’s a full chronology of…
Anatomy Of A Moment: Life Viewed At 1000 Frames Per Second
Slow-motion video has always fascinated me. But now, with high-definition cameras in the hands of so many filmmakers, the results are increasingly astounding. This morning I stumbled across this reel, put together by Brain Farm Digital Cinema. It’s a very short piece, but fascinating to see such fleeting moments slowed down to 1000 frames per second in crisp detail.…
What Goes Around Comes Around
What goes around comes around, by Mark Ward. (via Spaceknuckle)
To The Victor Belong The Spoils
When most people tell humorless jokes, they get booed off the stage. When Jay Leno does it, he gets paid $20 million a year. The only silver lining to The Mighty Chin’s bottomless bank account, however, is his taste in cars. See Jay Leno’s insane car collection over at Lifelounge.
Ghosts Of The Recession, A Break From The Past
It’s been a year, last Monday, since I lost my job (read about it here and here, if you care). I had worked there, in a Good Job With Good Benefits, and done my best to convince myself it was all for good reason — no matter how much I struggled, how much I hated myself for being where I…
Escape From Death Star!
“Who’s blocking the path to the Millennium Falcon? To find out, use your colored pencils to fill in the picture.” Included above is a page pulled from Darth Vader’s Activity Book (1979). Unless you had major perception problems as a kid, it’s obvious who we’re all talking about here.
Farewell Dennis Hopper
Woke up several weeks ago, before his death, thinking of Dennis Hopper for some odd reason. Read his Wiki page, which threw me into an Internet vortex. Came out on the other side with his Nike commercials from the mid-1990s, where he played a deranged referee named Stanley (see here, here, and here). He’s the quintessential Hopper character —…
