The Fail Bubble

The fail business is in full growth. First, FailDogs. Next, Lolcats, and the list goes on.

Our next new bubble perhaps? Or, the best time time waster since solitaire?

One of the more entertaining fail blogs out there is, appropriately URL'd, failblog.org.

More great new music

Cover of The Family Afloat
Bound Stems - Happens To Us All Otherwise: These guys are serious cerebral musicians, sometimes to their detriment. Most of the tracks on their new album, The Family Afloat, stray from traditional song patterns, which produces the effect of wondering where the song is going. Regardless, they are an awesome band, reminiscent of Bright Eyes (though less whiney) and Arcade Fire (though much less epic from my standpoint).

Apse - From the North. These Cape Codders churn out some great modern instrumental psychedelia. They share some musical similarities to Deerhunter, another great new band I'm enjoying right now. I had a hard time finding this tune in particular, so check out Shade of the Moor.

Sigur Ros - Gobbeldegook. I had the pleasure of seeing Sigor Ros this past fall, and it was one of the most enjoyable concerts of the year for me. They closed with this song, full of energy and emotion. Great way to finish a concert. And, if you're like me, you won't care that you have no figgin' idea what they're talking about.

Wireless Electricity

Image via WikipediaVery cool developing technology with so many applications...

http://multimedia.boston.com/pub/tn/100/innovation_economy.htm?bctid=2942411001

Good Jobs vs. Good Work

Book cover via AmazonAs always, I imbibed in my weekly Sunday New York Times reading at Starbucks. I read this article in the business section, and I liked it because it's a common struggle for many people I know. The author, prefacing some groundbreaking work by the renowned Harvard University psychologist, Howard Gardner, elucidates on the question of what makes a good work, not just a good job.

"There are, Mr. Gardner said, three questions people can ask about their jobs to evaluate their good-work level: Does it fit your values? Does it evoke excellence; are you highly competent and effective at what you do? Does it bring you that subjective barometer of engagement, joy?"

More great new music...

Check out these tunes... More to come in a week...

Kaiser Chiefs - Never Miss A Beat. This is a great song off their new album, Off With Their Heads. Watch out for cops - this song will make you want to drive fast.

Raphael Saadiq - 100 Yard Dash. Believe it or not, I found this song from a Starbucks free iTunes download. Raphael Saadiq is great - his sound is a throwback to days when R&B musicians used to play instruments.

Deerhunter - Nothing Ever Happened. I haven't heard much of these guys on the radio, but I think it's only a matter of time. Make sure you listen the whole way through, as it gets pretty interesting after 2:30 when the lyrics stop and the song morphs into a sweet instrumental jam.

Google helps you fill in the blank...

http://upload.gaiatools.com/files/googlesuggest_1.png

Makes for hours of good fun.

More amazing photos...

... that I didn't take.

http://www.noupe.com/inspiration/nature-scenic-photos-30-angry-soft-masterpieces.html

New Dutch Music

You may be wondering about the radio silence from D.E. in regards to new music selections. Quite honestly, my StinkPad is on its death bed, and cannot handle, on most days, iTunes and the internet at the same time. Makes it kinda hard to sample new songs when the old laptop refuses to type sometimes.

Anyway, here are a few long overdue fun songs to get your mood over the sour economy.

Flobots - No Handlebars. 'Cause I can ride my bike with no handlebars. Enuff said.

Benji Hughes - Tee Shirt. From the man who brought you "Let's Duet" from Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story comes some more serious tunes. Not that serious though.

The Hold Steady - Stay Positive. Just because.

DIY Seinfeld Moments

Image by Zesmerelda via FlickrThe DIY ("do it yourself") movement has empowered many consumers to build their own additions. fix their own plumbing, and pimp their own rides. A little known subset of the DIY movement is what I call "DIY Seinfeld Moments." Read on for this free, exclusive tutorial.

Bill of Materials:
Kindly midwest girlfriend - Check
Active/aggressive east coast boyfriend - Check (that's me)
Pizza joint hopping with busy suburban uber-moms - Check
Uber toddlers, wearing Crocks (Crox?) - Check

Instructions:
Sit down to enjoy pizza on a nice Friday eveneing with your lovely girlfriend. Locate seat near busy aisle of traffic. Initiate consumption.

As the uber-mom (with uber-toddler on hip) walks past your table, notice how the uber-mom stops at your table to ensure her flock of other uber-toddlers are following. When uber-mom pivots, see how uber-toddler's Crock foot lands in the middle of your pizza. (read that again).

As uber-toddler Crock, now covered in mozzarella and tomato sauce leaves pizza, promptly inform uber-mom about said pizza crockprint.

Raise volume of voice to uber-mom to get her attention as she tries to leave scene. Casually ignore kindly midwest girlfriend giving you "stare of death."

Upon uber-mom's return, decribe said crockprint. Describe again, then again until understood.

Kindly refuse answer to uber-mom's question of , "What do you want me to do?" and wish her a pleasant evening.

Avoid sleeping on the couch by accepting kindly midwestern girlfriend's barbs of inappropriateness.

Rinse and repeat.

Thank You, Gmail

Image via CrunchBaseI get the feeling that Google is really looking after me nowadays. First, they create a Gmail feature which attempts to thwart drunk emailing. (Nice.) Next, they add an intelligent calendar feature that allows you to simply describe the event, date, and time in order to get it on your calendar. I repeat - describe.

For a guy who is frequently in trouble for forgetting commitments to his girlfriend, thank you. You have significantly reduced the reason for stupid relationship fights in my life - with both innovations.