Lady Gaga video worst i've ever seen

not much else to say. just watch the "Telephone" video and tell me its not horrible. i dare you...

Top Ten of the last Ten

This is the only way to make a blog comeback. After a brief hiatus, I'm back. These are not up for discussion. Please feel free to post your own




Critics Pick (or what I would hope critics would pick) :

10. Public Enemies (2009)

9. The Lord of The Rings : Two Towers (2002)

8. Children of Men (2006)

7. The Proposition (2005)

6. Gladiator (2000)

5. City of God (2003)

4. Mystic River (2003)

3. District 9 (2009)

2. Traffic (2000)

1. No Country For Old Men ( 2007)

My Top Ten Favorite :

10. A Beautiful Mind ( 2001)

9. Vanilla Sky ( 2002)

8. Traffic ( 2000)

7. Black Hawk Down ( 2001)

6. Kill Bill Volume 2 ( 2004)

5. Public Enemies ( 2009)

4. The Dark Knight (2008)

3. The Beach (2000)

2. The Fountain ( 2006)

1. Gladiator ( 2000)

Self proclaimed self promoter

I have a new website I'd like to share with everyone. Yes, its my personal website. Yes I know I'm self promoting (hence the title of the post). But you should check it out, there's some good stuff here and much more to come. www.danielaerdman.com

Happy Friday (i hate people who say Happy Friday).

Love & Chicken Salad (and potato latkes)

I know, I know, I know. I haven't written in a while. Fuck off. It's my blog.

But here ya go. You will love this, I'm back in a big way. So Whole Foods. Right? Screw dating websites (i know a guy who uses those sites who has a serious girlfriend but cant F any of her friends for obvious reasons, so he just finds girls on there. Genius i know) and blind dates and friend set-ups, if you are in need of companionship just go to Whole Foods. Unfortunately I don't have any insight on whether or not there are hot dudes there, so girls you can stop reading, but for guys there are a plethora of good looking girls. Like crazy amounts, and its completely harmless. I personally recommend the 24th and 7th ave location, weekdays around 1pm, start out at the soup station and go from there. I can't tell you how many conversations I've had with girls about the tomato soup with roasted red pepper, it's insane. Dudes you gotta try this, and you are surrounded by food so you already have an in. No awkward convos, just talk about anything in the freakin' store.

The new Tribeca location is good too. Last time I was there I ran into MKO (mary kate olsen, obviously) and she was loading up on carbs. She was right by the checkout counter (the side one) getting bagels, cookies, bread, muffins, etc. I know, the irony was almost too much to handle. But I refocused and concentrated on the salad bar. Struck up a convo about the cold cheese ravioli they have as an option to put on your salad. Who puts cold pieces of cheese ravioli on their salad?? Really? What the fuck dressing do you use, Newman's Own Marinara? I think you've successfully defeated the definition of a "salad."

If you've heard this before, well, kudos to you. I'm just pointing out, so that everyone knows (i have like 6 followers I'm aware),Whole Foods is a babe haven. Worst case scenario you leave with a half pint of amazing chicken salad and a few potato latkes. What in gods name is a patato latke; not sure I'll ever know? But they are phenomenal ( I recommend drenching them in Tabasco Chipotle sauce. Thank me later).

Moose-Stash

So then there's this. A mustache that my consigliere* decided to grow over the weekend while we were out in the hamptons (ohh the HAMPTONS, how pretentious, what dicks!). Obviously he didn't grow it over the weekend and it took him weeks, probably months to be honest, to take full shape.

But nonetheless its there and its badass. The bet was could he make out with 4 random girls with the mustache. Could we be any frattier? Answer. No. Did he win the bet? Check back next week when I do a follow up on mustache's and the origin of said (bridge?) mustaches.
****

• Main Entry: con·sig·li·e·re
• Pronunciation: \kōn-(ˌ)sil-ˈye-re, -ˈyer-ē; kän-(ˌ)si-glē-ˈye-rā, -rē, -ˈyer\
• Function: noun
• Inflected Form(s): plural con·sig·li·e·ri \-rē\ also con·sig·li·e·res
• Etymology: Italian, from consiglio advice, counsel, from Latin consilium — more at counsel
• Date: 1615
• counselor, adviser <consigliere of a Mafia family>

Project Commencement Fundraiser Thursday Aug 20th, 2009

As much as I like putting a picture up with three dudes on my blog, I made an exception because this is for a great cause (and yes I know I need to start posting my Hamptons stories). These three fine looking young men (well 2 out of three ain't bad) Evan Kornack, Taylor Breed, & John Falkenberg are venturing down to Nicaragua to build a school in a few weeks and the fundraiser is on Thursday in NYC. If you are around please come its going to be and awesome night and its for a great cause. Details below!!

Host:	Project Commencement
Type:	Party - Benefit
Price:	75 in advance, $90 at the door (for tickets at the door please use cash or checks - please make checks payable to Taylor Breed and note "Project Commencement" as the subject)

Start Time:	Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 8:00pm
End Time:	Friday, August 21, 2009 at 12:00am
Location:	Xchange
Street:	640 W. 28th Street, 9th Floor
City/Town:	New York, NY

" My summer vacation" - By Daniel Alan Erdman

Remember when you would come back from summer vacation and the first thing teachers would have you write about is your summer vacation and everyone's paper was titled "my summer vacation." That wasn't a question. Moving forward I am currently collecting my thoughts (and dignity which was left back in Manhattan months ago) and preparing to write a few journal entries on my experiences here in Amagansett New York, pretentiously known as "THE HAMPTONS!" So prepare yourselves readers. This is the beginning of something great (yes, it is rumored Mussolini said that to Hitler when they first shook hands and decided to take over the world together. They were wrong, but I promise this is the beginning of something great!).

I'm on a BOAT!

I couldn't resist the Lonely Island title rip. I feel like the LI boys (Lonely Island, not Long Island, gross) are similar to the Chappelle Show back in the day. Anything either one does or did is likely to be repeated the next day by dudes everywhere tying to be cool/funny (mostly in Jersey). So this is me being cool/funny (not in Jersey though).

Whats even more exciting about the boat (which is called Sleighride and is ridiculously cool) is the oldschool SX-70 polaroid camera I got on ebay for $15 bucks. Freakin' steal. It just blows the film costs $3 per shot. You are looking at a $3 photo and about a $10 million dollar boat. The film is mine, the boat is not. I got screwed!

Lots more $3 photos to come.....

PIC OF THE DAY: "Tehrans Broken Spine"

This was taken by Espen Rasmussen in Tehran, Iran in June of 2008. A woman golfing. Slightly different scenery in June of 2009....

I LIKE IT A LOT....New(kind of) Phoenix Album

I don't know why it took me a month to figure this album out, but now that I have I can't stop listening to it. Seriously it has to be playing at all times for me. I freaked out because I couldn't listen to it in the shower this morning without waking my roommate up and having one of those awesomely awkward roommate debacles. So obviously I stuck my head out of the shower and used my ipod. It was either that or not listen. F that. Go get this album. NOW.

Wrinkly Dick (just go with it, its a good story)

I don’t know why I was thinking about this, and this is horrible Friday material, but when the last time I did something out of the goodness of my heart was (yes, my heart has goodness) . Opening doors for old ladies, giving a homeless person spare change, wearing underwear, etc. these things don’t count. I’m talking about seriously doing something positive for another human being, regardless of how those actions will affect you personally. This means volunteering at a soup kitchen on a Saturday morning for a program that your investment bank requires you to do, hungover as shit from the night before, feverishly perspiring, blue (frost) Gatorade in one hand ladle in the other, DOES NOT COUNT. Lets be honest we’ve all be there (no I don’t work at an investment bank, but I know the routine). I’m just as guilty here which is probably why I’m writing about it. In my sick mind publicly exploiting this moral dilemma somehow justifies the fact that I haven’t done anything for anyone in a very long time.

You see I know this because I can remember exactly when the last time it was I did do something ‘charitable’ (to use the most pretentious word I can think of in the English nomenclature). June 12th, 2004. I was home from college for the summer and decided I needed to have a makeshift office in my bedroom ( I felt very important then so not much has changed). I acquired, through various modes of acquisition, all necessary items that constitute a summer homeoffice/bedroom; save one. The Office Chair. Historically in the United States, a fine office chair represents the pinnacle achievement in our capitalist society. The rich leather, combined with sweet mahogany wood finishing, screams overachievement and success (both monetarily and socially). You can imagine my excitement when, during a garage sale (it’s a midwest thing), I found what can now be described as the “perfect office chair.” It was going to be placed in my homeoffice/bedroom and I was going to finally show my parents that even though I was a moronic undergraduate, who’s tuition was milking them for every penny they’d ever earned, I too had achieved a big part of the modern American Dream (which is of course to be rich and tell everyone else to fuck off).

So I’m there with my glorious chair, already bought & paid for in cash ( $40), and I’m wheeling it out to my American made car with a shiteating grin when out of nowhere I’m jumped by a funny old man (he honestly had great one-liners). This guy was pushing 85-90 yrs old easy at the time. Anyway he tells me he’s been scouring garage sales throughout the city in search of the perfect “office chair” and he can tell just by looking that I’ve got the one he needs. FUCK. What was I supposed to do, throw the chair in my trunk and speed off leaving bob hope with his wrinkly dick in his hand (ha this is getting ridiculous)? Before I got really upset I remember having a moment of clarity and thinking, DAN. You are the asshole here, not wrinkly dick. Life is not always about you and it’s designed that way for a reason: so that we can be kind and generous to one another, setting aside our own personal gains (I read that somewhere).

Anyway to wrap up my ramblings I gave wrinkly dick my office chair. No one saw it. No one knows about it and that’s that. But I’ll tell you, and this and this is the Gods honest truth, about a year later when I was home again for the summer I ran into wrinkly dick at the local Kroger (can’t get more Midwest than that). He approached and recognized me and told me the chair was working out wonderfully. We chatted for a bit and that was it. I walked out of the supermarket that day having gained three things, 1) A Giant bag of Ruffles chips, 2) French Onion dip, and 3) a sense of pride and accomplishment. I was proud of myself for what I gave wrinkly dick out of the goodness of my heart. If you are still reading this I ask that you think about the story of wrinkly dick over the weekend and beginning Monday morning start thinking of selfless acts that you can do to make the world a better place (if you are coming to the 88 Leonard rooftop party tonight you can actually start by paying my roommates and I back for all the alcohol we are generously providing…).

The Money Pit

Everyone’s a sucker for a treasure hunt story (please see box office results for National Treasure and National Treasure 2 if you disagree. 2 horrible movies that made like a billion dollars). I heard this story about the Money Pit over the weekend and couldn’t help but be intrigued.

Long story short there is an island, Oak Island, off the coast of Nova Scotia that supposedly has buried treasure. However in this case it’s not the treasure that’s the big mystery. Explorers and historians are fairly certain the treasure is real. But the elaborate construction of secret shaft ways and boobie (ha boobie) traps are puzzling even today. Oak Island is surrounded by water (yes, it’s an island, hence Oak Island) and the original designers of the Money Pit made it so that anyone who tried to discover the buried treasure would be flooded by the surrounding sea water. But holy shit how did they do this??? Researchers agree it was probably built about 250 years ago and if built today it would still be difficult to construct. So what the hell, how did “they” do this? I want to know who the “they” are as well. Damn it, so many unanswered questions!

Oh also, Lost fans will appreciate this, the picture I attached is an inscription that was found on a stone slab about 150 feet below ground. It reads “Forty feet below two million pounds are buried.” I’m watching the Goonies as we speak and gearing up for a weekend expedition. Who’s coming with me (also if someone could tell me where Nova Scotia is that’d be great) ?!?!?

O-bam-huh?

Hey Dan what'd you do today?
--Nothing. Just watched some history.

Wow. Today is a large day. June 4th, 2009’s New Beginning Speech from President Obama is going down in the books. I feel like calling Mr. Wolf (7th grade history teacher) and telling him to quickly add this speech in the US/Middle East relations section of his textbook ( which I distinctly remember was published in 1984 some 13 years outdated when I was in his class. I’d bet my right nut he still has the same textbook. Please no one investigate further, I happen to like my right nut). I’m not gonna get all political on you because there’s really no point, but you owe it to yourself to give the speech a read. And remember this is the PRESIDENT of the UNITED STATES saying this to a room full of Muslims.

Seriously did this just happen? I am amped (for better or worse). It’s too bad June 4th, 2009 will be remembered as the day the Lakers beat the Magic in game 1 of the NBA finals (which I sure as shit will be watching. Lakeshow what?!?!?!).

"The biggest surprise in a man's life is old age."

Fear not; this is not a film review. I seldom discuss films (no seriously check the blog, I don’t) because film is so subjective the majority of the time its not worth arguing about. However I watch a lot of movies and I know I’ve been affected when I wake up the next morning and can’t stop thinking about what I saw the night before. And that’s really the whole point of movies, right? To somehow be affected or moved by what you have seen. The immediacy is the hook, any decent movie will hold your attention by a variety of different, textbook, Hollywood tricks. But it’s the lasting impression that separates a film from being pure entertainment to an actual work of art. Rarely films accomplish this, however in my opinion (it’s my blog so I can say this) “Elegy” did so gracefully.

“Elegy” is based on a Philip Roth short story and it’s literary tone is probably what made it successful, mixed with amazing performances by Penelope Cruz and Ben Kingsley of course. Actually Roth wrote “The Human Stain” which starred Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman and wasn’t half as good, so now that I think about it the acting was a major factor. Anyway, like I said, this isn’t a movie review! Just trust me and watch it.

In the film Ben Kingsley’s character talks about how the meaning of a novel changes as you get older. I think that’s perfect and strange. The words on the page don’t change, but you have changed, thus the meaning of those words has changed. This isn’t a giant revelation, I’m aware of that, but it’s so simple it’s often overlooked. I pulled out a few old books from the collection (small collection) and am going to test the theory. I encourage you to do the same. Or not.

"The Imperial" TONIGHT 7pm @ AFI Silver in D.C.

Dead City Films’ “The Imperial” is screening tonight in D.C. as a finalist in the 2009 48hr Film Festival. I was honored to be asked to direct by my good friend and collaborator Brian Stansfield. Lots of people put lots of time and effort to pull this thing off and I wish to thank them all, so thank you all!

I think under the conditions we produced a very strong product. Brian has definitely found his way as a DP (director of photography) and someday, if he masters his craft, his stuff might just be almost as close to as good as my work, yet obviously not as good. If that makes sense. I think it does.

If you are in the DC area go and check this out. I’ll be anxious to see how we fair in the awards categories. If we win best director I’ll say “I told you.” If we win best cinematography I’ll know the competition is rigged.

Unrequited Love ( no homo)

The reason for this post is two fold : 1) I recently watched "The Holiday", a Jude Law romcom (no homo) of the "Love Actually"/"Notting Hill" family of disasters and the British characters adore the phrase "Unrequited Love." Which, when said with a British accent, makes it that much more infuriating to hear, and 2) because I needed an excuse to talk about this "no homo" phenomenon.

If you are unaware, allow me to enlighten. "No homo" is most commonly used after saying something that might be taken in a gay or otherwise homo-ish manor. Saying "no homo" erases all gayness thus rendering it null and void. See example below. If you're still confused you are probably gay (not that there's anything wrong with that , etc etc).

INT. GYM - DAY

Dude #1
Yo lets hit up the showers, no homo.

Dude #2
Hell yea. Nice. Lets get naked and crush it, no homo.

The secret's not on the box, it is the box.

As one of the original fans of Nilla Wafers (Nilla goes back to 1968 - I’m aware of this. In fact it is rumored Sirhan Sirhan had a stash of wafers in his pocket when he shot and killed Robert Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in June that year. He did a terrible thing, but was ahead of the curve in terms of tasty, low fat snacks) I feel embarrassed by what I’m about to admit.

The Nilla Wafer box. You already know this don’t you? I hate you people. The design that illustrates the scrumptiousness of the cookies and holds the trademark logo is placed vertically on one side and horizontally on the other. Does that not blow your mind? So when the box is placed in its upright, standing position, depending on your location it looks either vertical or horizontal.

I eat them with peanut butter and so should you. By the way, who’s ever in their LIFE, used the recipe on the side and made banana pudding? You purchase the wafers because they’re easy. Simple. Fun. Not to create other foods with. This concludes my Nilla Wafer rant.

NOTE: For all the morons looking at this picture. NO. This is not what I'm describing. It is the other side of the box that is not displayed that would be in the horizontal position right now.

" We're in trouble here champ, there's more badguys than we have bullets."

Ok so this might be my greatest blog entry to date. or worst. either way definitely the most meaningless, however i couldn't help myself.

While watching "24" tonight with my roommates (which sucks because Jack Bauer is a hack. yes i said it) I started some dialog about real movie star badasses. Not your fake Kiefer Sutherland, smoke & mirrors type wannabes; I'm talking real deal action stars. After a few minutes of arguing and getting nowhere i devised a plan (naturally). I'm far from a numbers guy, but for this I went straight up old school 8th grade science class quantitative style. The biggest badass was going to be the man (women were disqualified. bull dike's around the globe deal with it) who has the most confirmed on screen kills. Now all of a sudden I had my roommates undivided attention (joke). I looked it up and instantly had the results (of course I knew who was # 1 before looking, if you know me you know I knew which is both frighting and sad, yes). Here's an excerpt of what happened next...( I am ME (idiots) and my roommate John is JF and Chris is CA . clever i know)

ME: Chris hit pause. Pause. Chris fucking pause. Its DVR you're not gonna miss anything...
JF: Mario Van Peebles
ME: No. Strong guess but he didn't even make the top ten.
CA: Jackie Chan
ME: I believe this list is based strictly on American actors killing, well, any other nationality i guess..
CA: Schwarzenegger isn't American , he on the list?
ME: Fair point. Yes, runner up actually. Fine guys who you can sort of kind of understand what they mumble out of their mouth before they kill someone. I still have no clue what the fuck Jackie Chan is talking about.
JF: You're a huge tool.
ME: I know.
CA: The dude from Double Impact?
ME: Van Damme. Another good guess but wrong, he finished 10th.
JF: Yo just tell us I want to finish the end of this shit and go to bed.
CA: Agreed.
ME: Little actor by the name of Dolph Lundgren.
CA: Who the hell is that?
ME: Ivan Drago douchebag, from Rocky IV.
CA: Whatever 'bauerhour' is still the shit...
ME: Dolph's got 662 confirmed kills in 23 movies. 182 alone from The Punisher.
JF: The Punisher?
ME: The original, 1989.
JF: Lets finish this show I gotta get to bed.
ME: Whats not accounted for in these stats is that I heard from an oldtime union gaffer who became an LD...
CA: What's a gaffer?
ME: a crew guy, thats not important. but that Steven Segal has 3 confirmed real kills under his belt. that should put him at #1 no question.
JF: Ha, real kills. who'd he kill?
ME: Who knows. I believe it though, he can snap your neck in like 3 seconds flat from grab to twist to death.
CA: Fascinating erv. unpausing now.

Tell me you didn't enjoy that??? I don't normally post dialogue but this was so great it deserved the space. To see the full top 10 go here : http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/570751/which_action_hero_actor_has_killed_pg2.html?cat=40
Dave & Andrew (brothers) and WayneO (old man) this post was for you. Just dropped some serious action knowledge on society at large.

Club 88 Leonard, NYC

Anyone who’s anyone in New York City’s elite group of club goers knows that places like Bungalow, Marquee, & Mansion are about as cool as cargo shorts [insert appropriate movie quote here: “Nobody has gotten a hand job in cargo shorts since 'nam! – Superbad]

That being said, a refreshingly new, more residential you could say, spot has popped up in Manhattan’s uber trendy high rent district, Tribeca (ok it’s not exactly tribeca but its friggin’ close). 88 brings with it an eclectic mix of wall street d bags (that’s WALL STREET, ever heard of it?), wanna be actors/directors, new york socialites (what the eff is a socialite anyway? Don’t those grow inside caves or some shit?) and eurotrash galore. Better yet, these people aren’t just coming by for quick bottle service and some table dancing, ohhhhhhh no, these people actually LIVE THERE . With breathtaking views of the city, an unparalleled door staff, and the recent vacancy of none other than Mr. & Mrs. Fatterstein , 88 Leonard is here to stay (assuming they don’t file for bankruptcy and are repo’d by a couple irate middle eastern businessmen).

Photo Insert: 88 Leonard patron Jenna Burke this past Saturday. She made a comment how this was her “first time” at 88. Ohh how we all remember our first times….

Photo submitted by Stacey Brown. Thanks Stace.

"I'm a doctor not a pool man!"

Everyone meet Édgar Enrique Hernández, aka patient 0.

gotta give props to my buddy Dan Oberlin (yet again) for digging this up. he is in med school and has access to a very large, expensive, stainless steel, medical database where he found this photo. highly classified. so don't steal it; but make sure you tell people you saw it here first....

PIC OF THE DAY

If their photo’s weren’t so damn powerful I would stop putting them up, but VII has done it again (2nd or 3rd posting on EH I believe). This time they have joined forces with the Red Cross to launch a campaign that raises awareness on today’s most pressing human challenges.

This photo was taken recently in Afghanistan by James Nachtwey. I find it interesting that these types of photos are shown all over the world on international news programs. At one point the BBC devoted an entire segment to sharing ‘conflict photography.’ Meanwhile American news channels are busy instilling fear in its citizens with the Swine Flu or Air Force One flyby in lower Manhattan. I work for a news channel; I’m allowed to say these things.

American media take note; this photo speaks louder than all of the guests on Meet the Press in the last 5 years combined. And there have been some loud guest on MTP, very loud….

"I don't want to put you in a cage....

....i want to love you!"
AH: Same thing!

nothing like waking up on a beautiful Saturday morning to BAT* with AH* on HBO*. Aside from being a wonderful actress, she may or may not be the perfect woman. If you could combine her characters from "Roman Holiday," "Sabrina," and "Breakfast at Tiffany's," I'm fairly certain you would create the ultimate female. Any semi intelligent guy looks for bits of AH in girls they date. Trust me, I know these things.

*Breakfast at Tiffany's
*Audrey Hepburn
*Home Box Office (you moron)

So it's nice outside....lets do some meth!!!

Finally the weather broke in the city (hopefully for good). But seriously it kind of scares me when this happens for the first time. People start to go a bit crazy. It’s like just because the weather’s nice you can do anything you want. “Hey lets go kill that old lady.” What? No, that’s crazy! “Dude it’s like 68, clear skies. Come on bro, don’t be gay!” I’m just as excited as the next person, but please, citizens, humans, friends, lets be rash (like rational, but how the kids say it) about this.
That’s all I got on the weather. Wow it is nice out. Old ladies beware.

It's Wedding Season!

I know everyone talks about this on their blog. So naturally instead of not talking about it I am going to talk about it. But it's wedding season! I just recently got back from a friends wedding to kick off the season (which was completely gorgeous and an amazing time) .

Quick Q&A about weddings.....

Question: Why are weddings so much fun?

Answer: Because they are a valid excuse to drink heavily 2 nights in a row ( which in my current quarter life situation doesn't often happen). The Friday night, post rehearsal dinner, party is like a warm up before the real thing. For guys it sometimes helps to think of it like a combat mission. The night before the attack you go in, survey the scene, see what you are up against, and ultimately how much heavy artillery you'll need to complete the mission. ha right? no?

Question: Can you hit on other people's dates?

Answer: Of course ( I won't elaborate. I'll leave that to you guys).

Question: Do you dance with the flower girl?

Answer: No. Don't be that guy. It was happening long before Wedding Crasher's exposed it and it

was lame then.

Question: Did I dance with the flower girl at the wedding I just attended?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Do you bring a gift?

Answer: No. If you order from the registry it will ship directly to their house (or where ever they live, free shipping of course. easy option). Or get them something cool and creative, but don't physically bring it to the wedding.

Question: Can you ask other people's dates to go home with you at the end of the night?

Answer: No. You've taken it to far. Hitting on is one thing. That takes it to another level.

Question: Did I ask someone else's date to go home with me at the wedding I just......

You can see where this is going....it's wedding season....Woohoo!

DUDE, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

A few technical difficulties have prevented me from posting lately. Please stayed tuned because once this is fixed I will make up for it ten fold. folded ten times.

John Daniels...

I hadn't seen "Scent of a Woman" in a long time. But like a fine whiskey it gets better with age.

I think they should retroactively give Pacino another Oscar for the all shitty Best Actor performances since. The tango scene? Top notch.

Brainbow

Gotta give my buddy Dan Oberlin props for this "brainbow" article. As an BAM-DIP (Bad Ass Medical Doctor In Progress, yes that's official) Dan dropped the following knowledge on me this afternoon:

"This kind of imaging might help us better understand the circuitry connections in the brain because a lot of what we currently understand is only based on outcomes from brain accidents, etc. leading to deficits. "

If this were painted by some dude with a mustache in a loft in Brooklyn it would sell for millions. Guaranteed. Artists beware. Doctors might be moving to Williamsburg (and they actually have money) ! Ha.

Check out the full article here: http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/multimedia/2007/10/gallery_fluorescentneurons

The Lucky Ones

Neil Burger's tiny road film " The Lucky Ones" is a breath of fresh air when it comes to films about our soldiers overseas.

It's not that I am not a fan of violence but Burger goes an alternate route in exploring the psyche of our soldiers today. The script is solid and the performances are really good. Definitely check this out on DVD, one of my favorite films of the year.

Day & Night March 21st, 2009

Bro's Daniel & Derek Koch are doing big things for the NYC nightlife. Or should I say daylife? Is that a word?

My buddy Sean Martin shot this video and I cut it. Check out www.dualgroupe.com to see what the brothers have poppin' next. Whatever it is I can guarantee it will be out of control!

BLUE SKY BLACK DEATH

very into this band. check them out.
so chill. album is Slow Burning Lights.

perfect for a sunday evening.

Hills Like White Elephants

Really good short story by Hemingway. If you haven't read it make some time it has a lot going on.

Ever heard of Hedonism? Yeah me neither. Read this though, its great.

PIC OF THE DAY

I like this pic. sure it's mine. self promoting asshole I know. Thank you Robby Tucker.

It was taken in Crested Butte, Colorado. Not sure why I like it, but I do.

ART BATTLES NYC!

Art Battles NYC. If you haven't heard of it. BAM. Now you have.

This is for my boys Brian Butnick and Sean Bono. They worked hard to develop this idea and it has really taken off. Here's the rundown: a spot in the city is picked out, chosen. A goup of artists are invited to battle. Big night arrives, clock starts, and the battle begins. At the end of the night judges make their pick and a new art king is crowned. Oh, forgot to mention all the while the crowd's going nuts and a DJ is spinning some sick beats.

Total scene. Be there this Friday Night 11pm. Go to www.artbattles.com for tickets and location (only $12!).



Art by: Leif McIlwaine

PIC OF THE DAY

This is a photograph by Rob Chiu, aka The Ronin (UK based director).

This guy rocks. His stills are thought provoking and his video montages are out of control.

Rob if you read this I'm singing your praises here. Will post some video links as well.

He calls this photo "Long Distance"
http://theronin.co.uk

Ever dance with the devil in the pale moon light?

(that's rhetorical, no need to comment)

PIC OF THE DAY

This story is out of control. I frequently check Pano's Pictures (www.panos.co.uk) a site that showcases the work of many premiere photojournalists of the world (including Martin Adler who was killed ironically in Mogadishu. One of my earlier posts was taken recently in Somalia by another journalist. Not a good place).

Anyway, was checking today and came across a slideshow by Nic Dunlop called " The Lost Executioner." I had heard of Pol Pot, the leader of the Cambodian communist movement called Khmer Rouge in the 70's. 1.7 million Cambodians were tortured and murdered under his control (I didn't know it was that many!) . The story is Nic became obsessed with tracking down this guy Comrade Duch (pictured above) Pol Pot's chief executioner. One day in 1999, while on assignment, Nic recognized a guy who turned out to be Comrade Duch (Nic physically took this picture!). He was a born-again Christian working for an American charity. This is for real, it blows my mind.

Duch was arrested and eventually confessed to his part in the killing machine that was Khmer Rouge and now, FINALLY, in February 2009 is standing trial by the United Nations for the murders. This has to be made into a movie, right???? More importantly some sense of justice and closure will finally be given to the families of those murdered. Oh, and Dunlap's book " The Lost Executioner" came out back in 2006, but I can't wait to read it.

Comes With a Sword

He might be old news, whatever. I'm diggin' Sufjan Stevens today. If, by chance, you've missed him download some of his tunes. 'Chicago' obviously, but ' The Avalanche' is chill too. Sufjan mean's "comes with a sword." Enough said.

When does life really start??

I'm not stoned, honestly, I know the conversation "when does life really start?" frequently comes up when you're high, but this is for serious. Big news on Embryonic Stem Cell research. In case you've been living in a cave, Obama lifted a ban that restricted certain stem cell research methods and procedures. I won't get into the specifics you can read about them pretty much anywhere BUT what it reminded me of was Next, written by the late Michael Crichton. Great book that explores some of these heavy topics. Although it's fiction Crichton includes some actual medical reports and essays from journals that are informative and scare the shit out of you. Check this out if you have time, very interesting. Crichton recently lost a battle with cancer. The world recently lost one of it's greatest novelists.

PIC OF THE DAY

No, my own pics won't be the pic of the day all the time. But this is a rare occasion where I get to be alone with my grandparents. Old people really put things in perspective. Especially when it comes to what's important.

Good company. Great food. Generous amounts of wine. I can't wait to retire.

Pictured Above:
Angelo & Sylvia Ciotola
Pompano Beach, FL
March 6th, 2009

Because it's FRIDAY!!!

There's no way I could post this on a Monday, BUT, being as it's Friday I think it's appropriate. Not sure who took the photo but I think it's great.

Why this photo? Well, it reminds me of something you'd find on Libertine Lust (www.libertinelust.com). Everyone needs to check out this website. It's about love, sex, life (mostly sex it's awesome). Emma is the host and she's from NYC and she's great. I specifically recommend reading some of her "20 Questions With" to find out what people think about dating and sex these days.

This isn't guys get tips, girls will be grateful in bed Maxim bullshit. This is for everyone, so check it out. Perfect material to kick off the weekend. Enjoy.

Ha, Banks (no not Adam Banks of Mighty Ducks fame, but banks banks, like money)

PIC OF THE DAY

This photo, by Franco Pagetti, was taken November 13th, 2008 in Mogadishu, Somalia.

" Nearly two years after Ethiopian forces led an armed intervention to oust Somalia's Islamic Courts Union from power, the impoverished country has seen some of the deadliest violence in its history. Devastated by an Islamist insurgency, Somalia is facing a humanitarian catastrophe that rivals Darfur, with Mogadishu at the forefront. A staggering 600,000 Somalis have fled the capital city from February to November of 2007 alone. Nearly half of the city is deserted with over one million internally displaced persons, IDPs, taking refuge in one of the hundreds of over crowded camps in and around the city, predisposed to fatal diseases due to unsanitary conditions and malnutrition."

Pagetti is part of the photography group, VII. www.viiphoto.com Please go to their site and support their work. They are changing the world with camera lens's. Phenomenal stuff.

GONZALEZ Y GONZALEZ

Jose Gonzalez. He's like John Mayer but doesn't suck. Look him up.

DEPP,BALE,MANN.GENIUS.

This is HOT off the press ( I think it was officially released yesterday?). The first poster for Michael Mann's new crime saga Public Enemies (or as I refer to it "Heat 2"). Yes, word around town is Mann is a total D-Bag to work with, but F*CK if he doesn't make the most bada$$ movies of the last 15 years. I plan on working with him in the future so I'll be the judge on his level of D-Bagness. Enjoy.