kung fu grippe

“Hey Nineteen,” in Context

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 06:14:00 -0700

Google Docs - “Hey, Nineteen,” in Context

I’m obsessed with calculating the equivalent years-difference between experiences people have had in different eras or generations (for example, my Mom’s “Time After Time” is my “Piña Colada Song”). Always have been. If pop culture has had the effect on you that it has on me, you probably do this, too.

But, if getting a little older has made you as intensely aware of these differences as it has me, you may enjoy some informal data on a song about this very topic: “Hey Nineteen,” a song written by Walter Becker and Donald Fagan from their 1980 Steely Dan album, Gaucho. Wikipedia says:

The song’s primary theme is generational differences. Most troublingly to the narrator, his companion is too young to “remember the Queen of Soul”, Aretha Franklin.

So there you go. I added a few hasty guesses on likely contemporaneous music (and added Tinysong links for each). I may work on it more later, but I think this gives you the gist: one gal’s “Glow Worm” is another gal’s “Pop that Pussy.”

Contemplating her hat by madmann

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:31:44 -0700

Contemplating her hat by madmann

David Bowie - “Oh You Pretty Things”

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:57:25 -0700

David Bowie - “Oh You Pretty Things”

Bruce Springsteen - “Thunder Road” (Live, 1975) At...

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:23:00 -0700

Bruce Springsteen - “Thunder Road” (Live, 1975)

At Hammersmith Odeon, London ‘75.

The last verse of this song — particularly in this performance — has become one of my favorite things ever.

There were ghosts in the eyes
Of all the boys you sent away.
They haunt this dusty beach road In the skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets.
They scream your name at night in the street!
Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet.
And, in the lonely cool before dawn,
From your room, you hear their engines roar on.
But, when you get to the porch, they’re gone on the wind. So, Mary climb in.
It’s a town full of losers, And I’m pulling outta here to win.

Life Hacking Documentary - You 2.0 Teaser Trailer Apparently,...

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 06:18:25 -0700

Life Hacking Documentary - You 2.0 Teaser Trailer

Apparently, Danny has been adopted by the Pernice Brothers.

A Real Cool Hand

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 08:11:30 -0700

A Real Cool Hand

Hold Me Back!! by mgtrott I could see them eventually becoming...

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 04:00:35 -0700

Hold Me Back!! by mgtrott

I could see them eventually becoming a comedy team.

Luckily, our own Jim Cramer’s here to lend today’s developments a much needed dose of...

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:06:53 -0700

Luckily, our own Jim Cramer’s here to lend today’s developments a much needed dose of sanity and perspective. And, when we return, Chriss Angel, Dr. Phil, and Flavor Flav join host, Corey Feldman, for a lively discussion of macroeconomics, fluid dynamics, plus 11 surprising new places where hot chicks tell us they love to tan.

Monty Python’s Flying Circus - “Raymond Luxury...

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 06:10:21 -0700

Monty Python’s Flying Circus - “Raymond Luxury Yacht”

How to Blog

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 12:30:00 -0700

Here’s some totally choppy video of a dude named “Marilyn,” talking about How to Blog.

Hint: Van Hœt cameo at 32:07.

Look at me streaming!

TL;DW? Here’s everything that I know about blogging in one slide:

I like this talk. It felt great to do. I think it might be my secret love letter to Gruber, David Simon, and my boys on YLNT; they each make me want to be better.

Added 2008-09-15 04:13:54 EDT

Here’s my slide deck for this (cleaned up a little).

HOWTO process your new hotel room Replace any partial roll of...

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 02:27:33 -0700

HOWTO process your new hotel room

Replace any partial roll of toilet paper with a fresh one
Gather all signs, placards, ads, offers, “magazines,” Gideon Bibles, or other marketing materials strewn throughout the room; place in lowest dresser drawer; close (and optionally duct-tape) drawer
Collect all fake plants, fake art objects, and other distracting kipple; place in closet; close closet door
On one newly marketing-free surface, prominently place photo of family you miss
Hang up thing to wear tomorrow; if wrinkled, hang in bathroom with shower running
Google for local public radio or college radio stations; retune radio accordingly
Set at least two alarms
Call room service; order large pot of coffee to arrive 30 minutes before you plan to wake up in the morning (this becomes another alarm)
Call family to say Good night
Turn TV to wherever Law & Order is playing (somewhere, Law & Order is always playing)
Wash hands
Brush teeth
Miss family
Try to sleep without obsessing over who used the first half of that toilet paper. Then slept where you are right now. Maybe naked.
Put on more layers; try to sleep again

Here's a life hack.

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:41:59 -0700

To determine within 75% confidence whether you were incredibly frustrated at the time you named a document, project, setting, or client file: check whether the name you chose begins with the adjective, “Fucking.”

⊗

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:50:00 -0700

Multiplied By

Not sure what this is yet. Just something I’m playing with.

One approach

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:30:35 -0700

One approach

HOWTO: 149 Surprising Ways to Turbocharge Your Blog With Credibility! Also there’s this. John...

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:45:00 -0700

HOWTO: 149 Surprising Ways to Turbocharge Your Blog With Credibility!

Also there’s this.

John Gruber (DaringFireball.net) and Merlin Mann (43Folders.com) discuss the current state of blogging as a medium for creative expression, weighing the opportunities and challenges of building a thoughtful online presence in a world where everybody owns a printing press. They’ll consider the ascendance of Digg-friendly “problogs” and debate the subtler pleasures of careful writing that reaches smaller, but potentially less “profitable” audiences.

The Narcissism of Minor Differences

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:49:35 -0700

The Narcissism of Minor Differences

“Reblogging” sounds like the cause-of-death for a sorority girl who shotgunned 21...

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:29:19 -0700

“Reblogging” sounds like the cause-of-death for a sorority girl who shotgunned 21 straight cans of blog.

Joan’s New Technology This is already making my eyes...

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:26:58 -0700

Joan’s New Technology

This is already making my eyes throb, but, Jesus, it’s just so great. As is wow, wow, and wow.

Full set of Mad Men Illustrated by the WILDLY talented person who doesn’t yet realize she’s my new best friend: Dyna Moe.

Now, DM, just quote me what it will cost to get a 1920x1200 of Bobbie Barrett tied to the bed; it’s for…oh, let’s say, “a sick friend.” PayPal is standing by. No. Really. Send me the number.

[via Rock n Roll Meg]

Brainstorming family Halloween costumes

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:33:21 -0700

Every idea Mad or I have had so far seems to involve Ellie having a beard.

I’m thinking this must be instructive. But I’m not sure of what.

I’ll just say that once you have a clear mental image of a one-year-old baby with a realistic-looking beard, it is extremely hard to shake.

Cindy, from Men in the Cities series, 1984 by Robert Longo

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:32:30 -0700

Cindy, from Men in the Cities series, 1984 by Robert Longo