will.i.am is back with a second video in support of Obama, and I have to sort of say, I'm amazed. When was the last time a presidential candidate inspired so much art, and passion?
Levi Weaver is also part of the Team Genius Nashville ensemble-- and this is one of the most clever animated music videos I've seen in a good bit. Why is it that a tiny cartoon man with no arms can elicit such empathy?
Levi's toured with Imogen Heap and is looking for doppelgangers over at Last.fm-- check out his cover of Radiohead's Idioteque at Last.fm, too.
I couldn't watch this trailer for Coraline with the sound on. It's early, and people are sleeping, and the pitter-patter of my little keyboard keys is bad enough. But let me tell you, shiny black buttons for eyes are--if anything--even creepier when viewed in silence.
Quicktime and DivX versions, courtesy of Neil Gaiman's website, located here.
Really sad puppets. I have a crush on the kids at Team Genius -- first it was Another Robot Sunset, and now it's puppets in the aftermath of heartbreak. I want to start drinking the water from Nashville.
I discovered Aya Kakeba's deceptively simple, lovely drawings of girls while browsing Parskid's site a couple of weeks ago. "They are weak. They are strong. They are beautiful." That pretty much sums girls up, doesn't it?
Kakeba's drawings are universal, but her site is in a mixture of Japanese and English. So be brave and click on some things that may lead you who knows where. I found I was pleasantly rewarded when I did.
And I thought I was being a rebel when I was too lazy to find two matching shoes in the morning. Check out this perfectly mismatched pair of Mary Janes by Camper Shoes--they seem to have stores scattered all over the globe, so perhaps they're even sitting in a shop across the street from you. And you never would have known if I hadn't told you!
If I were likely to encounter accordian players, tuba players and violinists on MY stairs, I'd take the stairs a damn lot more often. Beirut are clearly hanging out in the right part of town.
(Can you imagine singing this song while going UP the stairs? Definitely not the same peaceful, relaxing experience).
I was just wondering what was going on with The Boy Least Likely To-- and then they go and release a new bouncy track of happiness. (I was wondering partially because I was watching their video for Be Gentle With Me-- if you haven't seen it, it will bring joy into your life. Followed by possibly an eensy bit of sadness. Because it's wrong to leave cute boys for amorous bunny puppets.)
From an interview with Nick Cave in the Guardian last Saturday:
"He asks if I've seen the video he and Harvey made for the song Henry Lee, and raises an eyebrow.
"Fucking hell! That's a one-take video. Nothing is rehearsed at all except we sit on this 'love seat'. We didn't know each other well, and this thing happens while we're making the video. There's a certain awkwardness, and afterwards it's like, oh..."
So you were beginning the relationship in this three-minute video? "Yeah, exactly."
Wow. From the way they move... their naked sensuality... I'd presumed their relationship long, long pre-dated the... Wow. Full interview reproduced here.
This Maija Louekari lady. She's a bit of a problem, really. I'd been all set to link to her for her adorable dress prints; I deeply, deeply covet the spectacle frock. It's the very best in eyeware AND it looks like you've a stockpile of ideas for your next spy disguise, conveniently sketched out on your person. Some people wear their hearts on their sleeves; I like to wear my dastardly masquerades on my dresses.
And THEN I realised that she'd a prototype for the best tablecloth EVER - complete with integrated bibs for both diners. I've done this before anyway (sssh, don't tell my Mam), but never have I had such fine bijou prints decorating the whole enterprise. Damn, that lady's classy.
But the thing that's utterly enchanted me? Scroll along the design link. Lurking back there, near the end of the list, are such lovely touches of everyday wonder, that I was totally disarmed. I actually stopped and grinned at my screen. Why not replace the lead of my bathroom plug with a necklace? Or spell out messages with my plant pots? Or draw a tattoo on my mirror?
They're simple, they're beautiful, and they're (almost entirely) free for the picking, to any of us. The acetate's my favourite. Go, create! In the words of a certain (Academy Award winning!) fine gent, MAKE ART!
P. S.
If you don't have an acetate handy, I've always found whiteboard markers are brilliant for drawing on windowpanes. They're cheap, they're easy to find, and they only wipe off to powder, so it's not as messy as paint. Undertake at your own risk, obviously, but I've never had a problem (handy tip: if the lines are a wee bit difficult to remove, draw over the lines again with the same whiteboard marker. Wipe. It's like magic!). Now, scoot! You've some art to get a-making!
We've already shared the magic that is the Terrordactyls with you, but we have to poke our heads out and sing their praises yet again, because they've just put out a video for Devices. And? It's ADORABLE. As is to be expected from a musical group named after dinosaurs.
washthis on 
