How to spot an American Idol reject

Last year, Simon said Kenneth Briggs looked like a bush baby. Kind of rough but isn’t that why we watch in the first place. Thank God Simon is really on this year. It’s nearly the only reason to watch the show. His brutal honesty and Paula’s incomprehensible speech make it worth it.

After watching yet another round of American Idol additions, there seems to be a common theme with all the rejects. Here are some ways to spot a reject before they even open their mouths.

1. Elaborate costume
2. Over the top antics
3. Super bright clothing
4. Multiple simultaneous auditions
5. Over confident

And here are the tell tale signs regarding artists:

1. Celine Dion
2. Whitney Houston
3. Aretha Franklin
4. Janis Joplin

Sure, why not attempt songs originally sung by some of the greatest voices of our time. I’m sure you’ll sound just like them. Keep on trying!

Cutting edge interiors – from 1974

These interiors were all the rage back in 1974. Colorful, hip, modern, and cool. Yes sir, this was the cutting edge. Put on your bell bottom jeans, big collar shirt and strut through some three inch shag carpeting. Cue up your favorite 8-track tape and you are ready for some seasons in the sun Terry Jacks.

2003 New Orleans visit

Above are a couple of photos from a visit to New Orleans back in 2003. Most of the shots were taken in and around Bourbon street.

One of my fondest memories was the dinner at Antoines. There were about twenty of us and we had the Rex room all to ourselves. The food and company were amazing. Antoines has been around since 1840. Now that’s some history.

Also see:
New Orleans 2003 Flickr set

Male / Female animated flash type

Here’s a site that animates anything you type. It takes your type and animates via flash with the male and female sign. To see the animation again, simply mouse over. To give it a whirl, click on the mindtoss type.

Four artists, two countries, thirty-six weeks, one sketchbook

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The concept is simple. The artwork is stunning.
Here’s how the sketchbook was created:

For thirty-six weeks, a sketchbook was sent in random order between four artists: two in Brooklyn, two in Belfast.

Every Wednesday, one participant would receive book. In order to maintain schedule, it was sent out the following Monday, giving each artist five days to complete a spread in response to the one that preceded it.

A small portion of each entry extends on to the following page. Beyond this, there was no communication between the artists concerning the content of book during its making.

book’s first trip across the Atlantic was on 2 June, 2003. Its final trip was on 2 February, 2004. By the time it was completed, book had traveled over sixty thousand miles.

Shortly after the book was completed in 2004, the four artists sat down in a room together to discuss what the meaning was behind each spread and how it was interpreted. They did so over a bottle of whiskey.

The artwork was was reproduced and exhibited in Belfast. Each spread was set up at it’s own viewing station. At each station were headphones to listen to the round table discussion about the book.

The book can viewed in it’s entirety at LookAtaBook.com. In addition to viewing there is an option to listen to the artists discussing each spread. It’s very moving to hear the interpretation verses the actual artists intent. I found myself laughing right along as though I were in the room with them. It would have been interesting if a documentary was made of the whole event from start to finish.

The artists:
mac premo
oliver jeffers
duke riley
rory jeffers

Innovative fan marketing

I recently purchased a LASKO fan for a family camping trip. On the flap of the box are these selling points:

Why Buy a Fan?

• Create a Wind Chill
• Circulate Air Conditioning
• Bring Fresh Air In
• Dispel Stale Air & Odors
• Use for Only Pennies a Day
• Get Comfortable!

WHAT? If you’re buying a fan and you’re thinking to yourself Hmmm, I’m not convinced yet and you ask yourself why you should buy a fan – chances are you probably don’t need a fan.

Martin Luther King day – A day of remembrance and reflection

Today, in the United States, it’s Martin Luther King Jr. day. A day or remembrance and reflection on a man whose words are as powerful today as the day he spoke them. One year after King’s famous “I have a dream” speech [28 August 1963], he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway on December 10, 1964. This is an excerpt from his acceptance speech:

Therefore, I must ask why this prize is awarded to a movement which is beleaguered and committed to unrelenting struggle; to a movement which has not won the very peace and brotherhood which is the essence of the Nobel Prize.

Interesting that King graciously accepts the Nobel Peace Prize and at the same time asks why the prize is awarded to a struggle which has yet won the peace and brotherhood which is what the Nobel Prize is all about in the first place. King makes a strong point without disparaging the very award he is given. He merely wants the audience to understand that the movement is ongoing until peace + brotherhood is achieved.

I refuse to accept the cynical notion that nation after nation must spiral down a militaristic stairway into the hell of thermonuclear destruction. I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right temporarily defeated is stronger than evil triumphant. I believe that even amid today’s motor bursts and whining bullets, there is still hope for a brighter tomorrow. I believe that wounded justice, lying prostrate on the blood-flowing streets of our nations, can be lifted from this dust of shame to reign supreme among the children of men. I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down men other-centered can build up. I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive good will proclaim the rule of the land. “And the lion and the lamb shall lie down together and every man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid.” I still believe that We Shall overcome!

“I believe that what self-centered men have torn down men other-centered can build up.” This unto itself is a powerful and relevant statement for our time. Self-centered can be good or bad. It just depends on the focus. I like the positive spin he puts on self-centered. As if to say we can take that self-centered energy and focus it on something positive for all of humanity rather than the opposite. So it is on this day I reflect on King’s words and see so much relevance for today. Like all great leaders and prophets, Martin Luther King life was taken on April 4, 1968 by an assassin’s bullet in Memphis, Tennessee. He was only 39 years old.

Here is a mashup, from an earlier post, of King’s famous “Drum Major Speech.” I took the speech and added music and a female backing voice:

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Dog + pig

Yet another comic that I created over at stripgenerator.com. I like dog + pig. I think I’ll work up some more cartoons with these two characters. They look like ‘ol pals. Dog has a smug look on his face and pig just looks slightly surprised and overwhelmed. [Click the image for a larger version]

If you like this strip, click on the “bookmark” button below and Digg it or add to StumbleUpon.

Digital photos – ten year anniversary

Tonight, while rummaging through some of my flickr photos, it dawned on me that I snapped these photos 10 years ago! All were taken on a very early Sony digital camera. Each image, at full resolution, is a whopping 72dpi and 1024 x 768. Very primitive compared to today’s cameras. The photos were taken in and around Miami, Florida.

There is a grainy dull quality that I just love. To see all the photos from this set, click here.