Consistent with my shameless love for Wu-Tang and my prideful New York roots, I have recently been awed by Ratatat's synthed out, electro-hop "Stomp Remix," featuring Young Buck, TI, The Game & Ludacris. Wow, what a roster, right?

While the original version of "Stomp" isn't really my cup of tea, the remix jacks-up all of the collaborator's high-points tenfold and polishes it off with Ratatat's signature overcoat of fun-inducing hip-hop/electro beats. Ratatat's sound is so tight that the duo (Mike Stroud and Evan Mast) manage to even out and earn the ridiculousness of the original track's lyrical content. Face it, if the beat's good enough, it doesn't really matter what nonsense is being boasted about.

For my taste, the lyrical bling of this remix only contributes to my feeling of self-satisfaction as I humorously bump it on the mean (or rather, clean?) streets of Austin whenever I feel the urge. While I am easily amused and often feel the urge, I know moderation is key with any of life's pleasures. So I try to refrain from overindulgence and save it only for the most appropriate of occasions:

The third volume of Drunk History continues to raise the bar of my expectations for the intoxicating Funny or Die series. The premise is win-win, the storyteller gets plastered and colorfully recounts a historical event for the viewers mis-educated enjoyment. I just might have to try this at home!

For this particular production Jen Kirkman drank a bottle and a half of wine and dropped some loosely coherent knowledge, all the while battling her incessant hiccups, which she struggles with for the duration of the short film. The real kicker is the "Trapped in a Closet"-esque character performance synced to Kirkman's drunken delivery. CLASSIC.

The series is a Derek Waters creation, directed by Jeremy Konner. The series' premier episode, Volume 1, features Michael Cera as Alexander Hamilton, and Volume 2 & Volume 2.5 cast Jack Black as a seedy Ben Franklin. It may not be historically accurate, but it's loads of fun!

I can't help but drool in marvel over smart minimalistic design. In my book these houses go above and beyond basics with their beautiful architecture, while simultaneously showcasing a respect for natural surroundings. Of course, their price tag is suitably way out of any foreseeable attainability for me, but window shopping fits my budget just fine. Here's a peek at some of the well crafted works that have been delighting my inner architecture enthusiast. (Also, you should probably note that I know just about as much in the field of architecture as George Castanza.)

Few things in life grant me the simple satisfaction of waking up only to slip into a bathing suit and out the door to the nearest body of water. That is summer. And while with age summer fades into the obscurity of yearly events, I refuse to let such an opportunity pass by altogether. I am thrilled to be leaving Austin tomorrow and finding serenity on the gulf coast shore of Mustang Island State Park.


Throughout my childhood, my family frequented the Jersey Shore points familiarized in east coast cliches and Springsteen songs. For most of my life the Atlantic Ocean was the ultimate summer experience. My parents took me out beyond the breaking waves to the calm, and I fell in love with the gentle disposition of the massive sea.

My unconditional love for the beach eventually spawned my desire to seek distant shores. I've been fortunate to wade in the waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean and Andaman Seas, in Australia, Barbados and Thailand respectively. Such extravagant experiences of carelessly presenting myself as shark bait while surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving and wading in unfamiliar territories eventually awakened an unwavering fear of death by shark (call it foolish, I call it respectful precaution), and have consequently curbed my interest to venture out as far into the water as I did as a child, but never could it deter me altogether.


It's been almost a year since my last bout with the crashing waves which kidnapped my sunglasses in Cape May, NJ, and I've found myself longing for the basic accessories of the shore: the scent, sweet lulling sounds, and the lingering sand that sticks to you for days after departure. I can't wait to bask in the sun and enjoy the sweet, simple pace of the sea. So picture me loving life until I return with an appropriate summer photo montage.

Lately my favorite blog, This Recording, has been running a series in which their contributers list off things they find hilarious. I had so much fun reading through their lists that I decided to compile my own. So la tee da, and here we go . . .


Michael Ian Black vs. David Sedaris, Canadians, mustaches, baby animals, Wesley Willis, the Elaine dance, My Cousin Vinny, hungry hippos, RZA, monkeys, horoscopes, Tim McNamara, The Jerky Boys, zoomba pants, that's what she said, Jerry Stiller, comb overs, Pootie Tang, Mad Libs, Charlie's America Song:



The Muppets in Space, miniature golf, Florida, urban cowboys, Jens Lekman, Keith Richards, the Jimmy's down Seinfeld episode, the old men in the Muppets, Wanda Sykes, Dr. Katz, Elmer Fudd, Michael Cera, roller disco, Snoop Dogg, Joey Buttafucco, sarahspy, this AFSME parody:



Aziz Ansari's Shittiest Mixtape, Vik Prjonsdottir's Beard Cap design, 80's night, kitchen banter, Kevin Smith, Home Movies, Kevin James, The King of Queens, Jim Gaffigan, synchronized swimming, the monster mash, That 70's Show, hula hoops, drunk boxing on Tricor, Home Movies' Guitarmageddon episode, Ken Marino casting himself as the asshole in Diggers, $240 dollars worth of pudding, Bill Murray, the Beastie Boys' video for Futterman's Rule:



Real talk, Bel Biv DeVoe, David Arquette and Luke Perry in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie, dogs in sweaters, Napoleon Dynamite, celebrities, Wet Hot American Summer, The Flight of the Conchords, Redman, Arrested Development, Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report, when Kate and I go too far with a joke, Grand Royal Magazine, bro-downs, pinatas, the bible belt, politics, Mahna Mahna, Steve Martin, toupees, fat guy in a little coat, Kramer, shoulder pads, 30 Rock:



Snicker doodles, Greg King, Bob Dylan, James Franco, Michael Showalter, Demetri Martin's Trendspotting segments on the Daily Show, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The New Kids on the Block, when Jon Stewart bros down and has giggle fits with his guest, how Jacob loves Ludacris, Arnold Schwartzenagger's resume, George Bush senior skydiving on his 80th birthday, Seinfeld, Fuzz the Musical on Mr. Show, my google search for "inappropriate dinosaur", David Letterman prime-time specials:



And of course, Legends of Springsteen:



Related Posts:
My Top 5 Pics from the "50 Greatest Comedy Sketches of All Time"
Top Ten: Most Ridiculous Road-Trip Events

When my infatuation with The Felice Brothers peaked a few months back, I came across a precious little project called Black Cab Sessions, for which the brothers performed a haunting true story of a Ruby Mae, a murdered cabaret singer. The song is beautifully heartbreaking to begin with, and the intimacy provided by the close corners of a cab turned makeshift venue, somehow seems strangely appropriate.

The concept of the Black Cab Sessions is the most simplified of formats, "One song. One take. One cab." The project is a Just So Films creation in collaboration with Hidden Fruit, and the goal is to provide a vehicle to promote newly discovered acts. What's neat is that each performance is marked as a chapter, chronologically, and you can literally watch the sessions evolve from a humble and uncertain start in chapter one, to a somewhat established organization at chapter forty-six, which is the present span of their work.

The unique nature of this experiment makes for consistent spontaneity, given the setting. The format itself lacks certainty in it's fundamental elements. For one, the cab drivers don't always seem thrilled by the activities taking place within their ride. Also, in many cases the band has to select which members perform, due to limited space. All sets are acoustic, thus the musicians have to be resourceful and improvise when necessary. Still each performance feels full of energy and possibility. I'm consistently impressed by the wide array of instruments that make their way into the cabs, including fiddles, accordions, casio keyboards, etc.

In addition to the Felice Brothers set, a few other performances really stand out in my opinion. So of course I will share my favorites with you. Here are the Black Cab Sessions of Lykke Li (which Sarah left uncovered in her review of "I'm Good, I'm Gone" acoustic sets), My Morning Jacket, Spoon, and Sunset Rubdown.