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As you know, one of the semi-recurring themes on this blog is the king of meats - none other than bacon. Salon has written a semi-brainy article deconstructing the current vogue of bacon. Do enjoy it.
A choice excerpt that sums up the content and the tone of the article:
"Bacon is the cocaine of the '00s," says author Sarah Katherine Lewis, "a visible sign of decadent rebellion."
Just to your left here is an image of a bacon-chocolate bar offered by weird, expensive chocolatier Vosges. I have been meaning to try this since it combines two of my favorite foods, but I haven't gotten around to it especially as it's $9. Let me know if you've tried it.
Each video starts as a semi-earnest look at the craft of acting, but it swiftly devolves into sibling rivalry and bickering as only brothers can.
Dave has great, awkward timing a la Michael Cera and oddly expressive eyebrows.
Although I can't figure out how to embed the video, you may also enjoy a series of videos called "Living 'Neath the Law with Jack McBrayer". This wholesome-looking actor (from 30 Rock among other things) teaches you a variety of skills, such as ripping off a drug dealer, or conducting a home invasion.
Be warned about language, if you are concerned with that sort of thing.
However, there is a unknown artist "Poster Boy" who is shaking things up a little bit underground with mashups like the awesome one here, combining ads for Star Wars on TV, Murakami's art exhibit, and what I think might be Taco Bell. When new ads are posted, they are often simply pasted over the old ones. If you cut through or peel the away at it, you get weird juxtapositions. Part of his art seems to be these cutaways. Others are simple cut and paste jobs from other posters in the ads.
His "gallery" is here. A lot of the ads are not that special - elaborately executed but somewhat empty toilet humor, but the ones that are good are very good indeed. Particularly the Star Wars pieces.
This is better than even that legendary Honda commercial.
When I was there, a girl had arranged to meet up with her boyfriend who was in London. It was pretty neat that they could see each other.
The art project is the work of Paul St. George and brought to life by Artichoke who also created the 42-ton Sultan's Elephant, a ginormous sculpture and theater project that they had lumber down the streets of London and around the world. Mr. St. George claims that there is an actual tunnel and the images are conveyed via a long series of mirrors. He's concocted an elaborate Victorian history for his creation.
The term telectroscope does date from the Victorian period and it did refer to either fictional or seriously proposed long-distance optical devices or television-like devices that were never realized.....until now!
While the unimaginative will claim this is just an oversized webcam and frankly old technology, this unexpected window onto another slice of the world and even limited access and interaction with distant strangers is strangely exciting and satisfying.
If you're near the Brooklyn Bridge or Tower Bridge in the next few weeks, definitely check it out - it's up until June 15.
But the internet, in what sounds like the best worst idea ever, has decided to make its own Movie. Using the collaborative film production site Wreck A Movie, a group of Finnish film-makers are trying to make a top notch science fiction film.
The film is called Iron Sky, and a teaser was just released. I'll be honest, it has very high production values.
The premise of the film automatically makes it awesome: In 1945 the Nazis escaped to the Moon, and now they're coming back to Earth. So, if this sounds like the kind of movie you'd like to help produce/shoot/promote/distribute, you can sign on to the project.
Thanks, Finland and internets!
I do some work with Absolut Spirits who also produces the really delicious Level vodka. Recently we sponsored a cool party where some of the hottest chefs in the land made their signature dishes and also created some awesome cocktails with our product. I normally don't go for martinis and not girly, fruity martinis. But I couldn't pass up the Miracle Martini. It included vodka, rhubarb, citrus, and miracle berries creating a sweet-sour pink lemonade-like drink.
I admit I had a couple of these martinis, because I don't know when I'll be able to have miracle fruit again - it seems hard to find. I believe there are few places on the web to order seeds, but these are also a bit difficult to secure. It was a pretty cool experience, although none of the people I was with knew about the magic fruit.
I've covered DJ Earworm's spectacular mashups before, but I must inform you that he has a new song up on his site called "Together As One". Take a listen. It involves U2, The Beatles, Diana Ross, and Mariah Carey. In my opinion this is one of the only ways (besides the mute button) to make Mariah tolerable. That sums up the quality of this track.
Secondly, there is a super secret (or not) cache of youtube videos by what seems to be a small group of French bloggers called La Blogotheque. Their videos have low production values but tend toward the awesome. Filmed mostly in Paris, but sometimes elsewhere, they feature global indie bands big and small including REM, Of Montreal, Beirut, and the Shins. Unlike other music videos, these have an interesting twist - such as performing in public to unsuspecting French people, singing in an apartment bathroom, or shoving the entire Arcade Fire into an elevator. Why? On ne sait pas.
Here are two of my favorite Blogotheque videos. Cold War Kids singing "St. John" while being pushed on a cart through a factory, and Grizzly Bear singing "The Knife" a capella while strolling through Paris. The a capella version is as good or better than the album version.
