if people were rain...

So, I've been stuck with my parents for the past 24 hrs (almost) and I've been dealing in various ways. My coping mechanisms of choice have been drowning in music and READING, which I seldom do... unless it involves BioChem or Art History. Anyways, here is a striking passage I came across today while reading Looking for Alaska by John Green. Alaska is the girl's name in the book... sweet.


I love that last line, "...thinking that if people were rain, I was drizzle and she was hurricane." Lovely. A way with words that Mr. Green has.

Also, some good music...
Grizzly Bear Two Weeks

merry christmas

Very artistic.
Very holiday-ish.
Very niiiice.

Enjoy.

NEW YORK CHRISTMAS from Matthew Brown on Vimeo.

Whatever you celebrate (Christmas, Hannukah, Kwaanza, Mother Earth, etc.) a very special Happy Holidays goes out to you from... me. I hope you eat good food and spend good time with the ones you love. Peace & blessings.

the xx

I'm back... Liberated from the chains which I like to call "Fall Semester Senior Year." In captivity, however, I did come upon a great new band that I think everyone should know about.


They call themselves The XX . They're from London, with a revolutionary style, that brings together traditional guitar-drum-bass rock sounds with the not so traditional era of electronic dance music. When I first listened to them ("Stars" still one of my favorites), I was pleasantly surprised by the simplicity of their music... It's so raw and pure that it sounds live. With every listen, it never gets old, just better. Their debut album is self-titled and IMO is amazing cover-to-cover, from Intro to end. Every song is unique, but inherently similar, so the entire track-listing just flows.

The four teens create bleakly minimal songs that are dark and romantic. The lyrics as well as the talent of the young musicians are definitely to be appreciated. I can always appreciate a band with two vocalist that sing equally... I think, in a way, the vague lyrics are ones which any young person can relate to, making their mysterious and haunting sound even more personal... Not to mention there is a male and a female vocalist, so there is balance.

But don't take my word for it, listen for yourself. (You can download here. You're welcome lol.)

Crystalised

This is a remix The XX did of a Florence + The Machine song (love their music too) You've Got The Love

...and another, Hot Like Fire (Cover)

I enjoy their music and look forward to their new material. I would also love to see them live! Preferably in a cool, dark venue in a great city with other dope people that like the same kind of music that I do.

turkeyday

Even though it's a holiday celebrating the genocide of the Native American people, it's a good excuse to get together with the ones we love, to eat foods we love.

May all your turkeys be juicy!
Happy Thanksgiving.

the other woman pt. 2

The last post had me sounding like an advocate of the “Fuck a Girlfriend, Be a Mistress” campaign… But I’d be doing a grave disservice if I were not to touch on the cold reality of being “the other woman.” If you’re not ready for a physical (loveless) relationship, this position can become very taxing, emotionally and mentally. There are a lot of women who get stuck as the “mistress”, waiting for the day when their “man” is going to up and leave his main squeeze. And then there are the women who don’t even know that they are “the other woman” (another situation altogether… I will not even address it, because it’s even more a lost cause than this one).

In most cases, the woman only agrees to play sideline because she wants to someday get in the game. From day one, she hopes-wishes-prays that the guy will finally realize that he should leave his current relationship, and become involved with her, the obviously better choice (in her eyes). But really, when you’re the other woman, you’re just an escape or a fantasy… Not to be confused with reality.

If he’s told you about his girlfriend, that is a red flag. If you know about her, and have showed no signs of backing off, HE HAS NO INTENTION OF LEAVING HER!! By consenting to becoming involved with him while he is already taken, you’re doing just what he wants, and making it convenient for him because a.) He doesn’t have to lie to you (much) because you already know his situation and b.) You are down for whatever, clearly. You’ll be his best friend, because you’re the one allowing him to “have his cake, and eat it too."

And even if he was honest enough to tell you about his girlfriend, he’s still a liar and a cheater. He’s lying and cheating on his girlfriend, and chances are he’s lying to (and if he ever leaves her for you, will be cheating on) you. It doesn’t matter what crock of shit he told you to win your affection and time, he has to lie in order to maintain the situation (unless you’ve got some sort of deal worked out – but in that case, we would hope that you’re the one running the show). Lying is lying and the only way a guy can juggle two women is by lying… to both of them. If he’s texting you, saying that he can’t stop thinking about you, chances are he’s on the phone with his girlfriend telling her how much he loves her/wants to marry her/blah blah bullshit.


There are women who are interested in exercising power over a taken man just for shits and giggles. They want to see just how under their spell they can get him (to appear to be)… but at some point the tables will turn, and she will realize that in actuality, she has no power at all… after all, if she did, she would have walked away weeks ago! Sometimes the power is derived from knowing that you have someone else’s man in the palm of your hand. But it is rarely just about the sex or the power, because as women, the majority of us get drawn in emotionally, and there is only so much power you can derive from a man who pops up when it suits him and then skips home to his wife or girlfriend.

Women in this situation may tell themselves (and friends) over and over again, “I’m strong. I can handle this!” but it’s only a matter of time… I've known many “side-chicks” who profess that they are totally fine with things and that they aren’t getting hurt. They are either completely disconnected emotionally (which is an even bigger problem) or they’re talking out of their bums with bravado. To suggest that you’re not hurting from this, is to suggest that you don’t care about him or what he is doing, which begs the question: Why are you involved with him in the first place?

Also, "other woman" tends to think that the relationship/situation she is in is “different.” "He's different with me. He shows me the real him." or "He can't leave her right now because this, that and third." Men from Texas to Timbuktu are cheating on their wives/girlfriends, using the same old lines on every fish they bait. They claim that their partner doesn’t understand them, that their partner won't give them a BJ, that they’re waiting for the right time to break it off… And as women, we eat it up. If we’re interested, we move right in, thinking that we can solve his relationship or sexual problems. We’re in constant competition with the main, to win her man’s affection, to outdo her. We tie our self-esteem and success to how much attention he gives us or how much we think we’re “winning.” Consequently, the longer he stays with her, the lower our self-esteem drops and the more emotionally unstable we become. And when it becomes apparent that he'll never leave her... Well, I'll let you imagine how that story ends.

Statistics show that he’s not going to leave her… especially if he’s married or in a long-term relationship. And even if he does leave her, why would you want him? If he is cheating on his wife or girlfriend with you, he is not anyone you’d want to be involved with. Haven’t you ever heard, “Once a cheater, always a cheater.” They don’t just pull this shit out of the air, y’know. It’s likely that somewhere down the line when you two become serious, some other chick will suit his fancy and the cycle will start all over again, except this time you won’t be the “other woman.” You’ll be his woman... That he’s stepping out on.

Ultimately, I think that a lot of women look at attached men and think that because they’re married or in a long term relationship they are capable of commitment but just in an unfortunate situation. However, his actions demonstrate that he’s not committed to anyone other than himself and a woman who settles to be “the other woman” shows that despite their proclamations of wanting to be in a proper relationship, they couldn’t possibly want that, as they’ve sought out the a man incapable of giving them that.

Aaliyah I Can Be...

D. Woods One My Side

the other woman

We talk a lot of smack about the other woman. You know, the sidepiece, the jump-off, the biznite (old school Wayne reference… listen here), the one who’ll never achieve “wifey” status. The one you call up for a quick hit and hide from your main. We poke fun at her, pitying her for not knowing that all she’s ever going to be is on the side. We blame her for leading our men astray. She gets cussed out, her hair pulled, and drinks poured on her for tampering with the sanctity of a monogamous relationship. In the words of a friend, “Why doesn’t she just go get her own man and leave mine alone?!” She’s the ho, the two-timing skeezer, the tramp, et cetera. Say what you will, but I can understand why a woman would choose the sideline role… Especially if a serious relationship is not what she seeks.

Guys who are taken are easier to deal with. There’s never an awkward or difficult conversation about where the relationship is headed. And, as the other woman you never have to actually deal with his real life troubles… All the complicated ish just gets passed to the main (that's HER job, right?). You don’t have to clean or cook for him. You don't have to do anything special, unless it’s in the bedroom, and even then, it’s not a requirement. Hey, you’re just a dip! Anything extra is on your terms!! Sex with no strings, plain and simple. So it's not entirely ridiculous if a woman is looking for this type of interaction, as such liberation is not so easily begotten when involving yourself with other singles.

Face it, relationships are drama! Issues with trust, all kinds of deception, and always that underlying uncertainty of mutual feelings. With a taken guy, you know where you stand. As long as both of you want the same thing from the “relationship”, it’s all good.

I digress...

Despite valiant human rights work on behalf of Angelina Jolie and Alicia Keys to make “the other woman” not look like a big ol’ skank, the truth is most people still think “the other woman” is… well, a big ol’ skank. And guess what, ladies?! There’s an awesome double standard where people shrug their shoulders at Mr. Married/Committed But Couldn’t Keep His Pants Zipped and say, “Boys will be boys,” while they give you the stink-eye, you home-wreckin’ ho!

But seriously, look at the scenario logically… Sure, in some ways the other woman is overstepping her bounds (in the case that she knows that she is involved with a taken man) but, in MOST cases, when analyzing the situation rationally, can the female party really be the one to blame? Sure, there are woman who intentionally go for men with girlfriends/wives (some sort of rush they get out of being desired—having “control” over—by someone else’s man) but in the end who is really playing who? Is the “other woman” in a relationship? Does the “other woman” have any allegiance to the girlfriend/wife?... NO.

So there’s absolutely no sense in blaming the sideline when a man starts cheating! She technically has no loyalties towards to the girlfriend/wife (unless they were friends in the first place… then that’s a WHOLE other situation altogether). The state of the “monogamous” relationship is not her problem. So go get mad at your man!! Regardless of who came onto who, HE is the real perpetrator here!!

Leave the chick out of the equation because the problems in your relationship really don’t have much to do with her.

Anyways, on of my favorite Cheaters clips... Hilar.

blank, amanda

No words. Just listen.

Amanda Blank Might Like You Better

I don't smoke... But I like her earrings.

Dope remix to Santigold's I'm A Lady...

nabil's the best

Mr. Hudson x Nabil = AMAZING.
I love these two in collaboration.


Directed by Nabil.

He's made a lot of dope videos... Check out his Vimeo page to see samples of his work.

cool jewels

I'm a sucker for "conversation-starter" jewelry. Jewelry is art... And I of course easily fall in love with rare masterpieces. I've come across some really great pieces lately that I've added to my "GET LIST" and I thought I'd share because they're quite stunning.

So it appears that the Elizabeth & James Knuckle Ring designed by Robert Lee Morris has returned!! My tears have dried and the sun is out!! Lovex2.


I should marry it. Buy it at Bloomies here for $195.
If that's too steep, there's a pretty damn good imitation here for a fraction of the price. I also came across another knuckle ring that's not as dramatic but pretty cute nonetheless for only $32 here. The alternatives are nice, but I shall splurge this time. I've waited entirely TOO LONG for this thing... Besides I dig the matte finish on the E&J version better.

I'm also obsessed with these beauties.

So quirky... Yet so very chic. Je suis amoureux...
And the fact that they're Marc Jacobs (and not some bull-ish costume jewelry) doesn't hurt. Plus they're only $68. Yessss!! Buy them at Saks, here. But if you're interested in the "costume" version... You can buy them for significantly less here. Gotta give you some alternatives, because I know how it is out here... Dollars are so very precious and dear in these depressed times.

Peaches I Feel Cream

Happy shopping!!

be my muse

I was just hanging out on Vimeo and I came across this. I love Metric... And the concept/style of the video is cool. I wish my life could be as carefree as the girls' in this video but they look like they're having a lot of fun. Reminds me of fun times with my friends. Anyways, hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Metric - Sick Muse from Franck Deron on Vimeo.

1 QUESTION: WHY is that chick sitting on the public toilet?! Yuck.

k-u-d-u

I honestly have NO CLUE how Kudu isn't everywhere because they are amazing and unlike anything I've ever heard!! (Perhaps that's why they aren't.) If you're questioning where all the "real music" went, it's probably because it's being slept on by the mass majority... Typical.

Anyways, Kudu is making music that is way before its time. They're hands down my favorite group of the moment (and every other moment since I discovered them 2 years ago; I put one of their songs in an earlier post). Hailing from Brooklyn, NY (clearly I NEED TO MOVE THERE ASAP, because I'm missing out), the trio includes Sylvia Gordon, the hypnotizing vocalist/songwriter, and Deantoni "D" Parks, an absolute killer on the drums. They're known (or atleast should be known) for their progressive sound, a hybrid of vintage rock, electronica and soul. They've been praised as “one of New York’s most caustic, daringly inventive and criminally underrated dark electronic dance-pop outfits".

One of my favorite videos of all time....
Primitive. Artistic. Revolutionary.

"my heart pumps red blood
big buckets of red love"

ASIDE: Sylvia is such a sexpot... the quintessential femme fatale. I love the rawness of their sound... It's mesmerizing... Rest assure, you'll never come across another band like this one.

RCRDLBL.com says, "Kudu’s formula is to take what's hot and push it forward, while retaining a hauntingly dark artistic simplicity. Their genre-hopping sound ingeniously melds dark synthesizer-pop, gritty voodoo-rock, black metal and arty “no wave” experimentation with feverish punk, glittery future disco, and nihilistic electronic dance grooves underscored by gripping vocals, razor-sharp lyrics, infectious melodies, thunderous drums and maniacal bass synths. It’s an exuberant mixture daring enough to touch several bases while remaining intelligent enough to keep the listener intrigued with an overall edgy and fresh sound."

...and I couldn't have said it better myself. I wish I had a link where you could download for free but it simply doesn't exist and I'm too lazy to make my own compilation. Besides, you should be BUYING it. You can find the full-length release,"Death Of The Party" (2006), here.

Every song is basically my favorite but here is one of their most popular tracks. I heard it playing in Express once, and I'll admit I was entirely TOO impressed to hear that a store having such a musically advanced playlist. However, it was a fluke... They played something ridiculously whack right after (-_-). Anyhow, Indulge thyself.

**DISCLAIMER** You may need a change of underwear.

Kudu Bar Star

food for thought

As a music lover that listens to music (indie and mainstream alike) practically all day everyday this video I stumbled upon proves VERY disturbing. I mean, I'm not usually one to buy into "conspiracy theories" such as this, but it was convincing enough to have me questioning the actual messages/content in the music I listen to (both conscious and subconscious)... I know it sounds pretty crazy, but with all the craziness in the world today, nothing really surprises me anymore.

Anyway, these videos gives me the creeps (ESPECIALLY the Jay-Z track played backwards, wtf?!! - don't know if it's a hoax or not) but it does offer some interesting points to ponder (alliteration is one of my strong points lol), especially on the whole Michael Jackson murder conspiracy. Some parts seem like whoever made this is reading too much into lyrics or simply seeing something because they are searching for it... but other parts are just weird and pretty blatant if you ask me.

Check it out. It may open your mind... and eyes.





So, what do you believe?
Fact or fiction? Or some complex hybridization of both?

stand next to my fire

LUPE'S BACK!!

I'm not gonna say too much...but I had to say something.

He sampled one of my favorite songs, "Fire" and given my unhealthy obsession of anything Jimi Hendrix I had to post. And that's kind of a big deal seeing as I never update anymore. However, not gonna lie, I like the original better... but you be the judge.

Lupe Fiasco Fire

Jimi Hendrix Fire

make her say

okay, i'm late as EVER!!... and i haven't blogged in about 2 months, but i'm bored/drunk and this is my favorite video ever. not really sure why, it just is! the balloons and randomness just takes me to a happy place and it's got all of my favorite people in it (aside from the random video/model chicks, don't know who they are lol).

ASIDE: funny thing about common is that he looks like one of my mom's old friends from waaaay back that i was in love with... when i was like 4 years old (yes it's possible to be in love at 4). but yea, some freudian type shiiih... Common looks great. man, i love that guy! "BABY, DON'T CHANGE NOTHIN" LMFAO!!

my drive-thru

When I'm not doing HIV/AIDS genetic research or turning 21... I'm posting to my blog (that was a joke!!).

Anyways, I went to an NERD show this past weekend at NU and they performed a new song called Soldier that features Santigold on the track. Needless to say it was hot (two of my favorite artists teaming up couldn't be anything LESS than HOT!). I didn't get it on tape since my camera decided to be an asshole and die but I did find this MTV Spring Break performance which is probably better than the performance I witnessed since Santigold is actually there live. YESSSSS!!



Anywho, it made me think of their earlier collabo with Julian Casablancas of The Strokes which may quite possibly be my favorite music video EVER!

Anyways, here's the hotness. Enjoy!

post-modern world

A postmodern idea is one that recognizes that objectivity is impossible to obtain. It implies the modern era, in which science is the source of truth and reality whereas the pre-modern era was one in which religion was the primary source of truth and reality. However, in the present, the post-modern era, there is no single definitive basis for truth and reality beyond the individual experience. Everything has essentially become subjective.

In post-modern society, truth and reality have been shaped individually. Truth and reality is different for each individual, as they have been developed individually, our personal experiences, history, social class, gender, culture and religion. Ironically, post-modernism's single universal truth is that there is no universal truth. Through the acceptance of this uniform notion it negates uniformity.

We're all just post-modern boys and girls.

The Strokes ft Regina Spektor - Post-Modern Girls

bargain deal

I don't want my blog to start turning into a fashion commentary but...


Well, I fell in love with these Louboutin's that heaven knows I can't afford... so I went searching for the next best thing. I came across some sweet pumps on Endless for SUBSTANTIALLY less... try a grand less (given the $25 off purchases of 100+)!!

Not as hot as the designer pair but fire nonetheless.

a physical thing?

Friends with benefits?

Can it be purely physical? Can it stay purely physical? Are our hearts capable of keeping out of the equation? Most importantly... where is the "benefit" in all of it when 9 times out of 10 someone ends up hurt?

Ok, FWBs sound like a good arrangement... little time investment, minimal emotional responsibility, and zero maintenance or commitment. But the risks involved may not be worth the trouble. I've played kissy face with more guy friends than I'd like to admit (and so have most of my friends). But I think we'd all agree that it seemed like a really good idea at the time as most things do after a couple drinks. But we'd also agree that our "friends with benefits" relationships definitely led to future awkwardness... game playing, prank calling, furtive glances, general stalking (kidding... sort of) and heartbreak.

It may seem like fun, but according to a Michigan State study released in 2007, these "booty call" relationships only appear to offer less stress. Sure, you get more action than the casual fling, but you still have to deal with the same fears often experienced by those in “real” romantic relationships, like the fear of unreciprocated affection.

But why is this the case?! Surely, our emotions factor into the scenario unexpectedly. How couldn't "feelings" become entangled in the mess of a FWB arrangement; it IS (contrary to popular belief) a relationship... just not a good one! But the thing about "Friends With Benefits" is that often, only one person gets all the benefits.

Friend With Benefits usually ends up One Friend Falling For the Other. Sometimes it’s because one side already has feelings for the other and is hoping to start something. Other times, it’s an ex who isn’t quite ready to break it off yet. Or it could just be two lonely friends who need some physical comfort. Whatever it is, it usually ends the same.

...And there are also other cons in this sort of relationship. While you’re in the FWB “relationship”, other potential dates may shy away from you if they find out you have such easy access to a booty call. You can hide your FWB, of course, but that leads to you being dishonest (another serious problem in relationships). Furthermore, some people aren’t too gung-ho on the thought of their future boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife having an FWB. Unfortunately, women with FWBs are judged more harshly than guys. It’s a double-standard, but that’s just the way it is.

Then there’s the whole losing-a-good-friend thing. Because once things go awry (95% of the time!) it’s undoubtedly over.

For the Ladies
(because we usually end up at the short end of the deal)

Of course there are some women who have successfully carried on a FWB relationship (formed no attachments, developed no feelings, benefited, etc.). However, based on the dichotomy of typical Male-Female interaction, Friends With Benefits frequently functions to service the physical needs of males while overlooking the more subtle emotional needs of females. Without mentioning the range of exceptions, women are pretty much wired to form emotional attachments to men they are intimate with. That's why having FWBs can get confusing. You feel attached to him, expect him to feel the same about you and so you want him to demonstrate caring (i.e. not being overly-affectionate with other women, having other sexual partners, etc.).

There are other cases in which a woman will become involved in this sort of arrangement because she's interested in having an actual relationship with a man, but FWB is all he's willing to give her. RED FLAG! In this case "Friends with Benefits" translates as "he gets to sleep with her when he wants but doesn't have to give her the love, support and respect that she wants and deserves." Any way you look at it, this guy wants neither to be a proper boyfriend nor to be a proper friend.... and if he doesn't want to be your boyfriend in the first place, he probably still won't later down the line. He has most likely already determined what you mean to him or how far he's willing to go for you. Just leave it alone.

Ladies, if you find yourself in this situation, at least salvage your self-respect. Stop the flow of benefits to him completely. Maybe then he will pay you more attention (or maybe not). All in all, you will have learned a vital lesson: It's just best to reserve sexual intimacy for relationships where there are clear signs of mutual affection. Otherwise, you'll just keep going down the same one-way street, called Disappointment.

It's not the sex that makes friends with benefits a bad bargain for women; it's simply the nature of the deal—lack of equal emotional involvement of the partners. So guys, even if she came to you with sentiments of a "no-strings attached" relationship at first, do not think you are in the clear. What happens when one day she turns to you and says (the all too-common outcome), “I think I’m falling in love you.” Sticky situation. My advice to you, it's less messy to watch porn lol.

Maybe I'm old fashioned in this respect, but my personal opinion is that physical intimacy should be shared between two people that mean something (more than a hook-up) to each other. Far too often people hop form one bed to the next without ever considering the consequences of their actions. Then they wonder why they end up with their heart broken, or why their lover has "lost their damn mind." Ultimately, FWBs are just not worth the drama they (potentially) cause but to each his/her own.

Christina Aguilera - Get Mine, Get Yours

ripped jeans

Destroyed denim is so hot right now! Pull out your scissors, razor blades, and bleach pens because the worn/destroyed/torn look is back for Spring and Summer '09. It's most likely due to the return of "early 90s grunge"... and I'm not mad.

The look is rooted in a punk mindset and era where fashion was rebellious and seemingly unintentional. So, as an advocate of rocker chic (and effortless styling) I am loving today's trends. There's really nothing more comfortable than a perfectly ripped jean that looks good and fits well. There's nothing wrong with easy seamless style... that whole "oh, this old thing?!" mentality. In my eyes, the key is to make your outfit look "un-thought"... not over-thought! I'm pretty sure I'm not alone. Just check out Zoe Kravitz (LOVE HER!!) and you'll know all too well what I mean lol.

Some of my favorites that I've seen around town are pretty high end (for denim) but they seem well worth the money.

• J Brand 12'' Destroyed Pencil Leg It comes in acid washes as well as simple white and black.
• Current/Elliott's entire denim line is nice. They've gotten "ripping" down to an art. Their jeans are torn and shredded in all of the right places. Here's a great pair, the Skinny Jean.
• Abercrombie & Fitch is the brand that practically brought destroyed denim back, and they did it in a major way. This season their destroyed skinny jean is called The Erin and it certainly lives up to the A&F name. The price is great too!!
  

...and for those who can't bring themselves to pay so much for a pair of jeans that is already broken in, there is always Forever 21. DIY is always an option as well... I mean, why spend money on a pair of ripped jeans when you can easily do-it-yourself. Here's a simple instructional video for distressing your denim (I haven't tried it myself so I don't know if it turns out well):



As always, just because it sort of fits...
Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

back from the dead

Hello all!!
I'm back from hiatus. My brief absence was everything short of a "hiatus" but now that I'm done with school for the summer it will feel a little more like vacation. So I'm back to my blogging ways now that I have my life back.

Anywaysss...
My absolute favorite designer is Alexander Wang and he has a hot collection for Spring '09 (view the AWESOME LookBook here!!). I was shopping around online and I came across the T collection, Wang apparel for under $100 dollars. Designer on a budget is always right up my alley (it's a recession people!!). Anways, I found everything "ready-to-own" on Shopbop. Alexander W. for the low?!! It's the best thing I've heard all month... Shop it here!!

My favorite piece from the '09 Spring collection...

Amber Rose wore it well... but I'm thinking her 15 minutes are up so I won't mention her anymore lol. Anyways, Alexander Wang is amazing!!... and now everyone can afford to look fabulous in his clothes (no matter how simple and chic they are!).

Good song... they played it on the latest episode of Gossip Girl (sad to say that it's my favorite show. I think I just like TV that makes me feel like my life is fairly normal lol). The song get's better about 2:45 minutes in lol... Be patient because it's wonderful when it picks up.

Gotye - Heart's A Mess

one night stand

It's always nice to have a sense of humor about your "moments of weakness"...

This song makes me feel like I'm 12 again. So long story short... an unsuspecting victim meets a *Borat voice* 'geeenuiiine Rico Suave' at a bar while "drinking mojitos." Clearly under the influence of alcohol, she brings him home to continue their fun. Well, low and behold, in the morning when she awakes he is gone, and so is her "beloved" guitar. Ultimately a valuable lesson can be learned from this anecdotal piece: hide your valuables when strangers are the company in your home... or one-night stands just aren't such a good idea (unless on Spring Break or in Vegas lol). I'm favoring the latter.


So corny haha.

the golden age

Because it's beautiful...

Composition (L'age d'or)
Derain, 1903-05
Tehran: Museum of Contemporary Art (now privately owned)

I stumbled across this painting haphazardly as I was doing research for a modern art history research paper I'm writing about Andre Derain. As my paper is about his Fauve landscapes, I won't be including this piece in my paper, but it really caught my eye (and partly because I've never seen it before--not that I'm an expert) so I thought I'd put it someplace I'd never forget/lose it.

"a golden hue that suppresses the shadows."

Derain on the virtues of Collioure

Animal Collective - In The Flowers

the penis song

The Sweetest Thing (watch it free online HERE) is one of the best "chick flicks" ever made. Fun, syrup-y sweet, and effing hilarious.

The infamous Penis Song... even though the entire movie pretty much keeps me in stitches. Definitely a must see, enjoy!!

My absolute FAVORITE clip from the movie!!

"Hello is Jane there?!... Have a LOOOVELY day!!"

bal' astro boots

These boots are to die for!!
It was love at first sight... they're made for me.

I blogged about them before in my Amber Rose post when I didn't know who made them... But I stumbled across them a second time on Rihanna's style blog Rihanna Daily (loooove her style!! if only I had the funds... I could do some serious damage).

Anyways they are Balenciaga Astro Girl Boots.
Hidden wedge, knee high, soft leather, amazing silhouette... what's not to love?! They're hot. And for a whopping $1,199 they can be yours (courtesy of Ebay). They supposedly retailed for $1,695+ originally, but they're "sold out everywhere."

Looks like I won't be getting these anytime soon (lol), student loans are a bish.

music that makes you dumb

So there was a recent study done done by psychology professor Adrian North, from Hariot-Watt University (a survey of 36,000 people nationwide) that scientifically proves the direct correlation between musical preference and personality traits. I've always suspected this... but I guess now it's legit that its scientifically supported.

Just like you can learn a lot about a person by their reading material or looking through their closet, you can definitely come to KNOW a person through their music collection. However, I do not believe you can JUDGE a person by their musical tastes... we're individuals!! Disparities in musical preference are a sorry excuse to dislike someone. All in all, it's just as shallow as judging someone by the clothes they wear. Yes, certain people may be drawn to a particular genre of music, but nowadays with the amount of cross influence between musical and artistic styles, everyone is listening to a little bit of everything. Music is forever changing. But if someone has good taste in music (in your opinion), by all means they are certainly deserving of some cool points.

So the research done suggests that your personality plays a major role in the music that you prefer to listen to. They've made conclusions including:

• Country-western listeners are hardworking and shy.
• Rap/hip-hop listeners are generally outgoing.
• Pop fans are uncreative.
• Indie lovers lack self-esteem and motivation but are creative.
  
• Soul music lovers are creative, outgoing, gentle, at ease with themselves and have high self -esteem.
• Heavy metal and punk listeners are gentle.
• Those who listen to exciting music are more likely to be in a higher earning bracket and conversely those who listen to relaxing sounds tend to be lower down in the pay scale.
• Jazz and classical music fans are creative with high self-esteem, although the former are much more outgoing than the latter.

These conclusions are pretty ridiculous if you ask me. Yes, I do believe musical preference can reveal the social nature of a person (extrovert vs. introvert, open-mindedness, creativity and even political views) but as far as determining how much money one is capable of earning, or their self-esteem... that's completely illogical. There a number of variables that can confound these conclusions, and surely these findings have been inaccurately established. Saying that indie-listeners have low self-esteem is reaching... waaaaayy across the table (and I'm not just saying that because I'm an indie-lover myself). Today, indie incorporates so many different genres (indie hip-hop, indie folk, indie electronic)... it's simply much to broad to say that all indie lovers are insecure.

I also came across some music-intelligence research done by a grad student from CalTech which studied the relationship between musical styles (artists & bands) and the SAT scores of the people who listened to them. He found that the smartest students listened to Beethoven (average SAT of 1371) and the students who rung in at the bottom of the SAT scores listened to Lil’ Wayne (average SAT of 889). The average SAT score is around the 1000-1100 mark, and unsurprisingly most bands’ listeners fit into this range. I must say that the results are hilariously predictable LOL!! The low scores are correlated with Lil’ Wayne, Beyonce, and Reggaeton and on the high score side there’s Radiohead, Sufjan Stevens (man after my own heart), and Beethoven.

See where your favorite bands/artists fall - click the pic.

BEWARE: Your music might be making you DUMBER.
All the Wayne-heads better watch out!!

gifted... yesss

Quite possibly the best combination of artists ever !!

N.A.S.A. (Mr. Beatmaker himself)
+ Kanye + Santigold + Lykke Li = Pure magic.

Great song. Cool video. Check it out.



Side note: I've noticed that the outer-space/martian/cosmic theme is in. Everything resolves around a futuristic space motif nowadays... whether it be in music, fashion, or art. Everyone's hopping on the bandwagon I guess.

let's get blitzed

blitz [blits] –noun: any swift, vigorous attack, barrage, or defeat

It's BLITZ all right... the Yeah Yeah Yeahs do it again.
They are absolutely genius and by far one of my favorite bands of all time. I've been following them since the 9th grade... now, that's what I call loyalty... and for good reason. They never disappoint.

So... get down with the get down (lol)
DOWNLOAD their newest album It's Blitz HERE

Some older material from their self-titled album.
Pretty sweet ackshully.

"it's a mad house... this modern life"

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Art Star

2 for 1 Special lol
Here's the link to download my 'fav' YYYs album Fever To Tell
Amazing-ness made tangible... and better yet audible.
DOWNLOAD HERE

warhol-ly goodness

"Don't pay any attention to what they write about you.
Just measure it in inches"
-Andy Warhol-

Take it all in stride... if someone keeps your name in their mouth, you're probably doing something right (most of the time lol... drunk whores don't count lol).

More words to live by...

Sometimes I think I should have been born in the 1960s (minus the whole racism thing... that just aint cool). I find myself idolizing iconic people of this era and falling in love with the whole culture in general. The music, the fashion, the art... it's all pretty dope.

One of my favorite portraits by Andy...

Che, 1962

Ok, random but...
Wanna Warhol a picture? Here are the links...
PHOTOSHOP METHOD (comes out niiiice)
ONLINE METHOD (looks pretty cheesy)

Some Jimi Hendrix...
Even though he is practically the opposite of Warhol's "Hollywood" persona, the two are of the same time. And Hendrix is THE BEST.

Jimi Hendrix - Foxey Lady

brazil's nice

No Brazilians and only one girl... but the Brazilian Girls are still amazing !! This Downtown NYC combo out of the Nublu club has hipster cred, an alluring international feel and straight-up sex appeal. A mix of electronica, jazz and good ol' disco, this rhythm-happy combo is euphorically eclectic. Not to mention just plain wacky.

This song is basically what sex would sound like if it got a record deal. You can't listen to this and still call yourself a virgin (LOL).

"come back to earth...
let's drink some tea, smoke some herb"

Another Brazilian Girls song with more of a Reggae feel... I get a good chuckle. Ridiculous lyrics.

Brazilian Girls - Pussy

but i love you

Depressing news...
Kid Cudi announced his retirement from "the industry."
Read his blog post HERE.

Cudi, you can't leave yet !!... You just arrived. I mean, dang, take off your coat and stay a while. He didn't even release the album... I wonder if there is anything anyone could say to change his mind? Welp, they always did say Hollyweird isn't for everyone. I myself don't think I could survive. I can't stand the HYPE.

Stay up Kid !! I still love you and your music... just be sure to move back to Cleveland so we can make babies lol.

leon - lolita

If you thought Lolita was sick and twisted...
Just add in some crooked cops, the mafia, and a bunch of killing and you've got Léon (arguably even MORE sick and twisted...)

But don't get me wrong... this movie is pretty sweet !! It's about a professional hit-man, Léon (Jean Reno), who winds up taking care of his neighbor, a 12-year-old girl named Mathilda (Natalie Portman - one of her best films for sure), when her parents are murdered. One thing leads to another and he ends up teaching her his trade of assassination. Oh, and they fall in love !! It's actually really romantic... in a dis-functional and disturbing kind of way of course.

The odd couple's attraction comes from a deeper, more heartfelt love (caring, appreciation, respect) rather than sexual desire. It's the circumstances of their life, the violence and drama, the unique people they are that cause them to care so deeply for one another.

Needless to say, it's a really good movie (aside from some uncomfortable moments when they interact a little TOO intimately). It's pretty high action too (dude is literally a killing machine !! it's craaaazzyy... he takes out like 50+ guys in one scene) and the couple's dynamic is pretty amazing. Watch it HERE.

Good song.
Elefant - Lolita

the kiss by klimt

Gustav Klimt is my favorite artist of the Art Nouveau era... come to think of it, he's actually one of my favorite artists of all time (and that's saying a lot coming from me... I'm an Art History major).

The Kiss, 1907

The Kiss is one of his most famous works and it's absolutely stunning! It is my favorite piece of 20th century artwork. Klimt painted it during his golden period (telling by his use of gold leaf). It depicts a couple, painted primarily in symbols and colored decoration, sharing a warm kiss against an elegant gold background. The Kiss is, like many of his other pieces, a subtle expression of Klimt's interest in eroticism and the liberation of human sensuality (can't go wrong with that lol). It falls in line with the artist's exploration of the power of emotion through art, which he is well known for. Niiiiice.

Another one of his masterpieces... it's mesmerizing...

The Girls (Virgin), 1912-13

It illustrates the phases of life that women go through. Typical of Klimt, it is another piece exploring the emotional aspect of art through symbolism and fascinating color schemes. Lovely.

For more information about these pieces visit Artsy.net

f*#! me pumps

OMMMGGG
Got these in the mail yesterday...

Dolce Vita 'Chastity' Gladiator Pump

MY LIFE IS COMPLETE !!

They're on sale at Nordstrom and Endless (FREE SHIPPING !!)
Get 'em quick... only a couple sizes left.

This song is MADE for these boots!
Kudu - Thrill of the Night

I really really REALLY want to see Kudu's live show !!
I bet it's insane !!