Sunday, December 16, 2007

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Best Issue of Bust Ever!

I gasped when I saw this. I was so excited. And then a week later it came. In my mailbox was the new Oct/Nov issue of Bust featuring a cover interview with Miranda July! Ever since I discovered Bust about a year ago (late on the bandwagon) it's been blowing every other woman's magazine out of the water. And now this. Holy crap! And then it got better, I started reading the interview and heard about Learning to Love You More, which I had somehow missed even though the project had been going on for years! (Goodness I feel out of the loop it started in 2002) Loved her movie, loving her short story collection, so I had to preorder the new Learning to Love You More book. (It was supposed to come out last week but I don't think it's out yet) Anyone know more about this project than I do?

All I know is Miranda July and Harrell Fletcher started the project where they volunteered tasks for others to accept and complete and all the responses are posted on the website. It's such a great idea, I cannot tell if the tasks are still active or if they have stopped creating new ones. Definitely would like to give one a try. What a great idea!

Ali's Free Paintings

Several months back I heard about Ali Spagnola's free paintings project. She wants you to have her art and she wants you to have it for free. I really admire what she is doing and was overjoyed when I got an email awhile back saying she had done a painting for me (right), of my favorite animal, the tapir! You can track the paintings she is doing via her blog. Good luck Ali!

Hotel Chevalier

Being a HUGE Wes Anderson fan I scanned ITunes all morning in hopes of finding the free download for Hotel Chevalier. Finally I found it via a link posted on an imdb message board. Check it out!

Royal Tenebaums is my favorite film and my favorite of Wes's films, then Rushmore and then the Life Aquatic. This short has added to my high hopes for the Darjeeling Limited. It looks like it's going to be great possibly greater than the Life Aquatic?

I was somewhat startled (in a good way) to see an ipod in the short. Wes's films have always had the feeling of being set in a different era. It was rather exciting seeing the short being set in what was obviously this time period.

So excited!

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Atonement:Trailers



Here's the trailers for the movie version of Atonement. Looks very promising!

Adrian Tomine interview in the new Giant Robot magazine

I've always been curious about Giant Robot magazine. Just picked this up today. If any of you are fans of him like I am you are going to love this. It's a six page interview!

Friday, September 07, 2007

It's been awhile

I have posted here or on the Ink Engine blog for some time now. I think it was a mix of laziness/feeling I didn't have anything to say/ and being busy reading other blogs! But now I have a list of things I'd like to post about!

Just started reading Atonement by Ian McEwan and Pretty Little Mistakes by Heather McElhatton (very close to each other on the Borders shelf!)

My friend lists Atonement as one of her favorite books so I had always wanted to read it. Then I watched some behind the scenes features on the movie version that's due to come out soon and knew now was my chance to read it. Books are always better before you see the movie versions. It's somehow become a personal goal to try and read books before seeing the movie version. I can say that that was not the case with the first few Harry Potter movies/books.

Pretty Little Mistakes is called a "Do-Over Novel" much like the children's Choose Your Own Adventure books. It's rather fun! It starts the day you graduate from high school and your first choice is to go to college or travel. It boasts 150 endings.

Some good movies to check out, described in two words or less:
Year of the Dog (Comedy/Drama)
The Devil and Daniel Johnston (Heartbreaking)
Cashback (Time stops)
Mirrormask (Sci-Fi/Artsy)
Little Manhattan (Adorable)

Booking Through Thursday

Came across this cute blog called Booking Through Thursday. Every Thursday a new question about books or reading is posted and the reader's post their responses. Very fun.

This Thursday's question: Are you a Goldilocks kind of reader?

Do you need the light just right, the background noise just so loud but not too loud, the chair just right, the distractions at a minimum?
Or can you open a book at any time and dip right in, whether it’s for twenty seconds, while waiting for the kettle to boil, or indefinitely, like while waiting interminably at the hospital–as long as the book is open in front of your nose, you’re happy to read?

My answer: I would say I am a Goldilocks kind of reader. I've realized I try not to be but always end up paying attention to the distractions around me while reading the same page over and over again because I'm unable to pay attention long enough to read more than a sentence at a time.

I also don't like to read for under say 5 minutes. I prefer to read for periods of time closer to 15-30 minutes at a time.

Slightly off subject, once I start a novel (this doesn't count for short stories) I like to finish it in under a few weeks or continuously read it until I'm done. If i put down a book and pick it back up months later I start from the beginning not from where I left off. I also find with most books when I have about 150-100 pages left I'm ready to be done and just read and read and read until I am. I'm not so sure if it's about wanting to know how to book ends or feeling that I'm ready to move on to the next book, I guess it depends on the book.

Monday, August 20, 2007

Gifted: A Review

I recently got the chance to participate in Librarything.com's Early Reviewer's program and was selected to read and review Gifted by Nikita Lalwani. I'd suggest if you aren't doing so already, the join librarything and join their Early Reviewer's program. It's great fun. This book is scheduled for release September 11th.

The story of young Rumi Vasi, math genius, and her family explores many themes including adolescence, the nature of genius, and an Indian family living in England. At a young age it is discovered the Rumi is gifted in mathematics and her father takes it upon himself to nurture those skills and help her get into Oxford at the age of 15.

Immediately the book “The Namesake” by Jhumpa Lahiri and the movie, “Bend it Like Beckham” written and directed by Gurinder Chadha came to mind, both sharing some storylines of Indian family’s displaced. While these two stories memorized me, “Gifted” did not.

I tried desperately to connect to Rumi, succeeding only a few times. I felt bad for her mother, and did not like her father. The parents both seemed confused in their parenting abilities and I wished for them to have more compassion and realize that things were not as they seemed with Rumi.

Three parts of the story were specifically enjoyable for me, Rumi interacting with her little brother Nibu, Rumi’s two trips to India, and Rumi living away from home while attending Oxford. Maybe I enjoyed these small sections because I was in someway able to relate to them, unlike other parts of the story.

I connected to the idea of the story but not the execution. I am sure some people will enjoy this book, it just wasn’t for me and that happens.

1 and 1/2 stars of 5
Manuscript from LibraryThing Early Reviewers

Monday, August 06, 2007

Recently In Movies

Netflix has greatly decreased my need to see movies in the theatre but somehow this past week I went and saw two movies.

When to Hairspray expecting to somewhat enjoy it and man was it fantastic. The whole time I just kept thinking about how much better it was than Dreamgirls. Sometimes musicals get on my nerves but this one was a grand slam. I've also been enjoying the director, Adam Shankman as a guest judge on "So You Think You Can Dance" recently. Fun stuff.

Also went to the Bourne Ultimatum, which I also enjoyed more than I thought i would. It was non-stop action except for a few scenes involving peole sitting at desks and/or computer. I really liked the casting of the two assasins, they weren't boring and I actually was hoping they wouldn't die, but they were not allowed to kill Bourne in the process. I won't spoil too much for you so I'll stop there.

Sunday, July 29, 2007

New In Trailers

I'm a big fan of trailers so I thought I'd do some of the work for you and let you know what I've discovered recently.

The Darjeeling Limited -Wes Anderson. That's all I need to say.

August Rush- Some of my favorite actors in a heartbreakingly beautiful fairytale

The Ten
- 10 vignettes of the 10 commandments, hilarious, especially the listing of the cast.

Lions for Lambs-very relevant, reminds me of the storytelling interweaving of Babel.

Rocket Science- looks promising!

Oh lord

Poor Jason Behr first an alien and now a "skinwalker" why can't the poor dude ever play a human!

Saturday, July 28, 2007

If you didn't know already...

I'm also posting over on the Ink Engine Blog. Ink Engine is a zine some friends and I created and are pretty excited about. So if you get bored over here go check it out!

Couldn't be more excited!


This weekends Entertainment Weekly's cover story is all about Harry Potter the book series! Two weeks ago the cover story was about the Order of the Phoenix movie no mention of the book. Now I see why... they were saving it all for this sweet issue. Cannot wait! Sure to be helpful in mourning the end of the series and remembering it in the years to come! Pick up your copy Harry fans! Mine should be coming in the mail tomorrow!

UPDATE: got my issue and it was fantastic! pretty good overview of all the books, a yearbook, history of harry potter in popular culture and many other things!

Friday, July 27, 2007

Currently Enjoying






The Movie The Host








The Little Miss Sunshine Soundtrack










The Plain Janes Graphic Novel










August/September Issue of Bust Magazine




What are you enjoying? I really would love to hear!!!!

Thursday, July 26, 2007

I went, I recorded, I read, I knew!

Like a lot of you I went out last friday night and got my copy of the final installment of Harry Potter. Read two chapters before I passed out and proceeded to finished at 9:30 pm on Sunday. Great great stuff. That's all I'll say no spoilers here. Anyways, I captured some footage during the countdown to the book release. Thought it might be a fun thing to do. Enjoy!

"Snape" passing out the final Harry Potter book


Countdown to the final Harry Potter book Midnight release

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Animals. The Zine




After selling our zine this weekend at the Zine Fest I've tried to stay inspired and create something. Apparently it's worked. In the past two days I put together this little cutie. I'm hoping to go print some out soon!

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Book Meme

Via Your Friendly Neighborhood Book Dragon

If you end up doing it let me know. I'll love to see your answers

Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror? Fantasy, is that what Harry Potter would fit under?

Hardback or Trade Paperback or Mass Market Paperback?
Trade Paperback, hardcovers are alright just hard to hold for long periods of time. Pretty much hate Mass Market paperbacks.

Amazon or Brick and Mortar?
Amazon for expensive design books, Brick and Mortar for used books and books I really want right now with a coupon of course!

Barnes & Noble or Borders?
Borders! Love the Borders Rewards program

Hitchhiker or Discworld?
Not following this question

Bookmark or Dogear?
Bookmark always

Alphabetize by author, Alphabetize by title, or random?
Right now, by genre
Keep, Throw Away or Sell? Keep it unless I hate the book, usually something I was forced to buy for school, I sell those

Keep dust-jacket or toss it?
Keep

Read with dustjacket or remove it?
Remove it

Short story or novel?
I started off on novels but I definitely like short stories as well

Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket?
Harry Potter, Lemony Snicket is great though too

Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks?
Half and half, depending
"It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time?" Once upon a time

Buy or Borrow?
Both depending on how much I want the book, what type of book it is, if I can borrow it or not

Buying choice: Book Reviews, Recommendation or Browse?
Browse

Lewis or Tolkien?
Lewis, I rather don't like anything having to do with the Lord of the Rings

Collection (short stories by the same author) or Anthology (short stories by different authors)?
Both, I own more anthologies though

Tidy ending or Cliffhanger?
Two tidy endings for every cliffhanger

Morning reading, Afternoon reading or Nighttime reading?
Mostly nighttime, sometimes afternoon, and when I'm really hardcore, morning as well

Standalone or Series?
Both, probably read more standalone though

New or used?
Either as long as there isn't too much water damage or strange sticky substances

Favorite book of which nobody else has heard?
Kissing in Manhattan by David Schickler

Top 5 favorite genre books of all time?
Genre books? My favorite book is the Great Gatsby, also like The Namesake, The Tipping Point, lots of stuff

Favorite genre series?
Genre series? I guess my favorite series would be Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Harry Potter, and Megan McCafferty's books

Currently Reading?
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld and No One Belongs Here More Than You by Miranda July

Monday, July 09, 2007

A Word on Younger Women's Magazines



With the almost confirmed rumor that Jane magazine has folded, i've been thinking about the state of younger women's magazines. I had just recently begun reading Jane magazine and was very much enjoying it. I had not realized that according to most it was going downhill. So what are we left with in my opinion? Nylon magazine which is continually putting tabloid celebrities on their covers in between the rare more interesting cover stories. I find it strange that month after month they publish readers letters protesting that they do away with the celebrities we hear about everyday and go for someone else (Zooey Deschanel for example) Kinda funny she's on the cover of the last issue of Jane. What I like even more than Nylon is Bust magazine. Love their cover stories and range of articles. The only problem is it only comes out once every two months and is very very small. So I subscribed to Nylon to try and supplement the in between time. When I originally subscribed to Nylon they were featuring people such as Kirsten Dunst and Amber Tamblyn. Wish they would bring that back! So yes, any of you magazine readers out there. Comments, thoughts, suggestions?

Sunday, July 01, 2007

Podcast Interview with Miranda July!

She's amazing! Listen

Clever Advertising

Watch me

don't click anything, it will go ahead and reveal it's self for you, just gotta wait a bit, not too long a promise.

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Flight of the Concords!

Check out this clip from the hilarious new show Flight of the Concords!

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Four Eyed Monsters

Check out this great little film. It will only be online for one week.


Check out Four Eyed Monsters!

Video Podcast | Film Trailer | Shirts | Stickers



Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Reaedy Made Magazine project archive

Check out this video and the mentioned Readymade magazine project archive. Awesome!

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Camille Rose Garcia

I happened across a great in depth series of videos on Camille Rose Garcia's body of work. It was put together for the exhibit Tragic Kingdom: The Art of Camille Rose Garcia at the San Jose Museum of Art. So far there are 12 videos but apparently there will be more. It's really exciting that a museum has embraced the technology You Tube has created. Yay!

To see all the videos visit the link for Tragic Kingdom.

Friday, June 01, 2007

Monday, April 30, 2007

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Nylon Magazine May Issue

Check out the new issue of Nylon Magazine. Not for the Lindsay Lohan cover article cause that's just strange. But for the 21 stars of tomorrow article. I recognized about 4 of the people so it's pretty sweet. Not like your normal "new young stars" article when you know all of the people but one. Definately worth the 4 dollar cover price.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Some new stuff

(based on a photo of my sister)

(just some silliness with some chickens i found at harry and david)

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Saturday, April 14, 2007

We Need Girlfriends

This is a cute little webshow I found the other day. Pretty darn good for internet television!

Friday, April 13, 2007

SNL Digital Short: Body Fusion

One of the funniest things I've probably seen on SNL in probably 5 or so years.

Grindhouse Fake Trailers Documentary

Though short this documentary gives some great insight and behind the scenes looks at the fake trailers of grindhouse.

Friday, March 23, 2007

umm what!?!? part two



apparently happenstance prefered the picture of audrey tautou from another one of her movies, venus beauty institute for their american release. that is really strange...

Friday, March 16, 2007

Colorful Rainbow of Shoes


I just had to share the wonderful colors of this spring's shoes. Beautiful! Go get yourself some! Celebrate the season! Celebrate the polka dots!

Friday, March 09, 2007

Found Magazine

I'm not sure that anyone actually looks at this anymore so this is a test i suppose... are you reading this. As some of you know I've recently been reading my way through the Found books and magazines. Picked up 3 issues of the magazine this week. Though there is some overlap between the books and the magazines most of the content is not repeated. I would definately suggest checking out their website. Basically it's a collection of things that people find on the ground or in the trash that provide a tidbit of information about the person that wrote it. It's pretty fascinating if you ask me. Take a look.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

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