02.29.2012 Merry Leap Day!

"It's Leap Day. Real life is for March."

One more reason to justify my obsession with "30 Rock." And, for those wondering, I wore blue and yellow to work. Nobody noticed... Just watch the full episode on Hulu, and you'll understand.

02.28.2012 New "Dancing with the Stars" Cast

Let's be clear. I'm not actually too excited for "Dancing with the Stars." I have never been an avid fan of this show and consider it to be filler for the weeks during which some variation of the "Bachelor/Bachelorette" franchise is not on television. However, I'm officially looking forward to this season of non-Bachelor and only for one reason: DONALD DRIVER, my favorite Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver and Milwaukee-area automotive dealer (not sure he's still selling cars, but I like to think he still does).

Thank you, ABC, for giving me something to look forward to during the off-season. Go Pack Go.

Source: People.com

02.27.2012 Smash

There's something about this show that I'm slightly in love with. However, it wasn't a "love at first sight" sort of love. It was more of a "shake my head and roll my eyes every time I see the advertising" sort of love. I saw the advertising for the show which told me to watch on "the Monday after the Super Bowl." Nice try, NBC (that's what I was thinking). Almost no person in the target demographic of this show is also a football fan... Singing, dancing, Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe television show? This is similar to watching the Super Bowl, how?

However, I turned on an episode on Hulu the other day... and couldn't stop watching. One more show about a small town Midwestern girl following her dreams in New York City. And one more opportunity for Debra Messing to try and win me over. Not likely, Deb. Good luck with that.

02.26.2012 Oscar Winners

Best Award Winner: "Man or Muppet" (Best Song)

Written by the guy from Flight of the Conchords AND from a Muppets movie? This is almost as good as when "It's Hard Out There for a Pimp" took home this award in 2006. I mean those two songs are almost the same song. Almost...

Best Presenters: Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis

The white suits were just the icing on the cake after watching these two play the cymbals at Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The look of discomfort on their faces was enough for me.

Best Dressed: Maya Rudolph

Slightly obsessed with this dress, and I'm always a fan of a woman that goes under the radar and also admits that they've got on some serious undergarments to look that good. Maya's just keeping it real.

Best Member of the Von Trapp Family to Win an Oscar:

 

02.25.2012 drinkify.org

Have you ever wished you had a website you could go to that would generate drink suggestions based on the music you're currently listening to? Like you, I have truly been wishing for a site like this to make up for my lack of creativity in the "making drinks" department. Sensing this clear human need, the site drinkify.org was "created in twenty-four boozy hours" to help you broaden your drinking horizons and give you one more website with which to kill time.

I was naturally tempted to push the boundaries of the system and found myself pleasantly surprised. There is a drink suggestion for any artist you could think of, and some of them are actually pretty great drink ideas. Let's just say, for example, that you're still a fan of SoulDecision (I mean, who isn't?). Looks like you'll be drinking whiskey on the rocks tonight. Best part is that the site will start playing the music of the artist you choose... I didn't hate hearing "Faded" once more for old time's sake. 

(act now, and you could be the first to Tweet "The SoulDecision" to your friends!)

02.24.2012 Sophia Grace and Rosie

I remember seeing the first video of these two online and thought it was precious. Then, I recently saw this appearance they made on the Ellen Show. Fast forward to about 1:30 to see this little girl rap, because it's just about the greatest thing ever (besides chocolate milk and power naps... yes, I have a college degree).

02.23.2012 Nike FLYKNIT

Source: nikeblog.com

Can watching a promotional video about a shoe give me goosebumps? Yes. Do I sort of wish I'd waited to buy new running shoes so I could get a pair of these? Also, yes.

02.22.2012 U.S. Subway System

I love any website that has an "Infographic of the Day," so thank you Fast Company for this image of the United States highway system represented as a public transportation map:

Okay, just jump on the westbound 80 at New York City heading toward San Francisco. Transfer at Gary to the 94 going to Milwaukee. Yes, Milwaukee. Cross your fingers that there isn't any scheduled maintenance on the weekends. Wait, really. I do actually love this map. 

02.21.2012 The Monocle

I recently had somebody tell me that they "predicted the monocle trend of 2009." I remember 2009, but I don't remember the monocle making a comeback? However, this got me thinking. I wondered to myself if I've ever seen anyone with a monocle besides the guy on the Monopoly box and the grandfather in the Lindsay Lohan version of "The Parent Trap" (British grandfather... even if he didn't actually use a monocle, I just imagine that he did). No. Nobody uses the monocle anymore.

Why correct the vision in one eye, when you can wear glasses and get correction in both eyes? Plus, it looks like your one eye would hurt from trying to hold that piece of glass in place. But hey, Joseph Chamberlain, you rock that monocle.

Wikipedia

02.18.2012 "Starships" by Nicki Minaj

I haven't really ever latched onto the "Nicki Minaj" thing. That performance at the Grammys honestly terrified me, and I just don't understand what her deal is in general. However, I'm strangely addicted to this song. Throw some guitar together with a few random techno-dance outbursts, and I'm in.

And to the D.J. that claimed he didn't have this song in his collection because "he didn't like it yet," well, sir, you need to fast forward a little and just accept it. It's kind of your job.

02.17.2012 Moon Hooch

This band was brought to my attention a few months ago, and I was pleasantly surprised by the music my ears were hearing. I mean, you really don't know what you're getting into when all you know is that the band is called "Moon Hooch." Let me tell you, you're getting into something good.

Tagged along to their concert at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn not knowing what sort of crowd would greet me. The crowd wasn't shocking, but I was SHOCKED (yes, CAPS LOCK SHOCKED) at the group themselves. I mean, they're young. I'm saying young enough that I just kept making that face you make when you see a really cute puppy. They're adorable.

But besides being adorable, their music is good. This is coming from somebody that generally doesn't feel much affinity for instrumental music. It's instrumental, and it's good. It takes a lot for me to say that, but I said it. Take a listen and decide for yourself if Moon Hooch makes instrumental cool:

More at moonhooch.bandcamp.com

02.16.2012 New York Fashion Week

New York Fashion Week has been in action, and I've been keeping my eyes on the fashion blogs. However, I've found it difficult to really like anything. It all seems to be a strange array of muted tones and an awkward attempt at mixing clean lines with pattern and texture. I am by no means a fashion critic, but it just feels so easy to be critical of the line-up I'm getting this year.

Then, I saw Fashionologie's collection of street style photos. The style of random people on the street has impressed me more than the people who get paid to do that. Not surprising, I guess? A few of my favorite examples:

 If I didn't work in a pretty traditional office where these shoes would almost be more out of place than denim cut-off's on summertime casual Fridays, I would find a way to wear them everyday. Yes, EVERY day.

Among the many things I love about this bag, let's discuss that it has not one, but TWO carrying straps. Fashionable AND practical (if you frequently find yourself wishing that your handbags came with multiple length shoulder and arm straps for carrying... could just be me).

I don't know about you, but I always knew that someday all those hours I spent making friendship bracelets as a child would pay off! Not only do I still have a few that were made back in the day for the number of non-existent friends I apparently had, but I definitely logged enough hours to still know my way around the old knot-tying techniques.

02.15.2012 "5 Hours of Adriana Lima"

Honestly, I'm just going to say that it's a wonder this even exists. I'd act surprised by the number of views this video has but will instead choose to comment only on the background music. That background music is great.

02.14.2012 Singles Awareness Day

Most call it Valentine's Day. The word "most" implies the majority of the population. Hence, there is a minority out there in the world that refer to it as something else. And by "something else," I mean Singles Awareness Day. This is truly a fitting title, considering that it is the one day in the year where single people are most painfully aware of the fact that they are not in a relationship.  Might have taken a while for me to get there, but I got there. Single people have to celebrate Valentine's Day. Let's not forget that.

The concept was always a joke to me, especially after the years of being "accidentally" forgotten in the grade school Valentine distribution (which we all know was intended to be a "have enough cards for everyone" situation). However, I have recently discovered that people take this idea to heart. There are SAD (sorry for only introducing this appropriate acronym to you now) events such as parties and rallies. There is even a Wikipedia page to validate its existence:

"It serves as an alternative to Valentine's Day for people who are single, that is, not involved in a romantic relationship."

Make no mistake, I am not a bitter single person. I have no issues with a holiday that boosts the American economy and supports flower sales, during the typically off-season winter months for the business.Yeah... Let's just leave it at that... Actually, let's just leave it at this:

02.13.2012 Valentine's Economics

To prepare yourself for a romantic Valentine's Day, here is the link to a page of... less-than-romantic Valentines. Can you call them Valentines? An article called "14 Ways an Economist Says I Love You" might not strike you as romantic, but I ask you not to judge a book too harshly by its admittedly nerdy cover. If you look beyond the graphs and charts (and that sinking feeling you have when you see the graphs and charts, because you, like most, do not consider Economics your finest subject), it's really quite sweet.

Oh, jokes about diminishing returns, production possibility frontiers, and elasticity... Those NEVER get old!

02.12.2012 Grammy Night Best Dressed

Adele love fest continues here. She's obviously a fantastic singer, only coupled with the fact that she does, in fact, sing when performing. She cleans up on the awards front already, so let me just add one more: my Grammy night "best dressed" (clearly a very high honor).

Source: Huff Post

Other notable fashion choices include DeadMau5 and Weird Al. Anybody trying to make a case for Nicki Minaj can stop. You're judgment is questionable. I recommend a good night's sleep.

02.11.2012 Whitney Houston

The music of Whitney Houston is truly a wonder of a lifetime, and I will forever be in her debt., not only for my name (fact: my household was filled with some serious Whitney Houston fans in the late 80's) but also for my favorite karaoke song (above). 

02.10.2012 Jeremy Lin

Clearly, I'm on a bit of a sports kick this week. I would have chosen a different topic for today to avoid alienating those that could care less about sports (shame on you), but this kid is 100% the biggest news story of the day. I became a fan of the New York Knicks since moving out to Knicks territory, but since they added Lin to the starting line-up (no offense, Carmelo) I actually check full stats after the game instead of shake my head in disappointment at a losing score or air punch when we get a win on the board. There's a whole lot of air punching going on for Jeremy Lin.

If you don't know the full background, look it up. He's got a lot going for him. The Knicks love him. New York City loves him. The people who sell Knicks merchandise love him. He went to Harvard, so Harvard loves him (and nerds everywhere, I'm guessing). Magic Johnson loves him. And I love him. Bring on the Lin-sanity.

02.09.2012 Best NBA Starting Line-up Ever

Basically just throw Will Ferrell into anything, and it's fantastic. Case and point? Announcing the starting line-ups for the New Orleans Hornets and Chicago Bulls game. This should really happen more often, if you ask me. Oh yeah, and the Hornets decided to have an 80s night. Awkward. 

Note: There's an bit of a break between the Bulls and Hornets introductions (forward up to 3:00, and you're good), but he actually covers both teams.

02.08.2012 Meme

Sounds familiar, right? Seems like you can't go on Facebook these days without somebody talking about it. You know they wouldn't talk about it in person, because you're certain nobody knows how to correctly pronounce it. It makes you laugh, even though it feels like it's almost too low brow and simple. But what is it? (Prepare for the knowledge... and if you don't actually care, just skip this part.)

"A meme is 'an idea, behavior or style that spreads from person to person within a culture.' A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols or practices, which can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals or other imitable phenomena."

- or -

"The term 'Internet meme' refers to a concept that spreads rapidly from person to person via the Internet, largely through Internet-based email,blogs, forums, Imageboards, social networking sites, instant messaging and video streaming sites such as YouTube." (Source: Wikipedia)

This is what people have labeled as a "meme," though it's only one form of meme in a whole universe of meme options. But let's not get particular, and let's just enjoy Ryan Reynolds for a moment.

02.07.2012 "Hey Jimmy Kimmel I Unplugged the TV During the Game"

It's one thing to wear a Jets jersey when you're watching a Giants vs. Patriots Super Bowl game. If you're wearing a Brett Favre Jets jersey when you're watching a Giants vs. Patriots Super Bowl game, you don't deserve to be watching. Same goes for the woman dancing along to Madonna's halftime show. 

02.06.2012 Trader Joe's Instant Coffee

Until the United States government recognizes the day after the Super Bowl as "Super Bowl Sunday Observed," American football fans everywhere will be in need of a little pick-me-up today (unless they can actually get away with calling in sick). Might I suggest...

Source: eBay

(yeah, you can buy instant coffee on eBay)

I don't own a coffee maker and therefore subject myself to instant coffee on a daily basis, which I might say puts me in "expert" territory. Of all the terrible instant coffee I've tasted, this is certainly the least terrible. I mean that in the best way possible.

Ordinarily, I load my instant coffee with cream and sugar to mask the taste of the instant coffee. Thanks to Trader Joe's, this instant coffee comes in single-serve packets with the cream and sugar already included! I can now get my morning caffeine fix in record time... or take a packet to the office to avoid drinking the office coffee.

And hold yourself back from suggesting I just go buy some Starbucks or invest in a coffee maker. Predictable. Overrated. Slightly out of my current budget...

02.05.2012 New York Giant Eli Manning

This year's Super Bowl MVP. Ladies and gentlemen, everybody's favorite New York Giants quarterback (besides back-up David Carr): Eli Manning. Let's just say that he's no Aaron Rodgers...

When I see the Lombardi trophy, I see an icon of the National Football League and a true part of American tradition and history. It looks like Eli Manning sees himself. Reflective surfaces tend to do that kind of thing.

In all fairness, I'll let Eli Manning have his moment... Okay, and while we allow that moment, let's enjoy this brief interview, possibly one of the most awkward 60 seconds I have ever had the joy of finding on YouTube.

"Can I have your home address?"

02.04.2012 Super Bowl Buzz

'Twas the night before the Super Bowl... fill in the rest with your own clever parallel, because I want to get straight to these articles.

When you get down to the final two teams in the NFL, you're left with 30 teams' worth of fans that are disgruntled, bitter, and, above all, sadly and optimistically awaiting the start of a new football season. This results in some great articles and commentary on the big game.

The debate over athletic skills and the comparison of season statistics is overdone. Let's get down to the more important question: "Who's the Bigger Baby: Manning or Brady?" (Buzz Feed)

And if you can't bring yourself to place bets based on the performance of two teams you despise, here are a few more bets to consider "Super Bowl 2012 Prop Bets: Outrageous Wagers You Simply Must Avoid" (Bleacher Report)

Finally, let me just say. The Packers would never have messed up like this: "Giants' website declares Super Bowl winner early" (USA Today)



02.03.2012 Mock Turtleneck

Words cannot accurately describe my contempt for the mock turtleneck. There is a time and place for most fashion pieces, but our society has somehow been convinced that the turtleneck never has been, and never will be, out of style. Is your neck cold? Get a scarf. Do you like to cover yourself up as much as possible? Move to Antarctica. Are you asserting your belief in existentialism? Don't get me started.
Why write about something I dislike, you ask? Because while I dislike the shirt itself, I find great joy in seeing other people sport a great turtleneck. Honestly, if you want to wear it, go ahead. I won't stop you. I will have a difficult time controlling a look of distaste, but then I will remind myself that at least you aren't wearing acid washed jeans (you aren't still wearing acid washed jeans, are you?).

Source: L.L. Bean

(because what other source would I use to show off a turtleneck?)

02.02.2012 Kristen Bell's Sloth Meltdown

Forget Groundhog Day. Instead of determining the remaining length of winter based on the presence or absence of a groundhog's shadow, let's make that decision based on the reaction of Kristen Bell to seeing a sloth. The decision criteria isn't well defined, but let's just assume that a crazed response equates to the groundhog seeing his shadow, whatever that means.

02.01.2012 Midwestern Courtesy

I love that this is a real sign, on a street curb, outside a row of bars in the Mount Adams neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. I love it for many reasons, one of which is because it reminds me of the considerate nature of Midwestern folk (yes, folk).

But beyond the fact that this sign exists, I love that it still exists on this street. It has been spared by the intoxicated passers-by, and this simple request may actually have been obeyed (or blatantly ignored in a misguided show of rebellion). I propose we get a few hundred of these dispersed around New York City and see what happens. Only in America's heartland would a directive of this nature stand a chance.