trashcan fugitives

my tumblr

2011-07-13T23:49:00.002-05:00

lately i've been putting energy into my work blog/page. this blog isn't dead, but newer stuff is on the other one. check it out.

megknobel.tumblr.com

recent tattoos and art

2011-02-27T11:58:00.001-06:00

new art

new

2010-12-12T12:33:00.002-06:00

i work at an incredible new studio, i live in an amazing cabin, i live in a beautiful city that i'm getting to explore, i have great friends, i sold my car, i love my bikes, i'm learning to paint, and i have a wonderful new partner to share exciting new things with.

recent life

2010-07-06T20:42:00.003-05:00

baby i'm yours

2010-06-16T22:44:00.000-05:00

breakbot. baby i'm yours.

why not to have children

2010-05-24T12:44:00.002-05:00

i could give you a million more reasons, but why not look at these hilarious pictures of other parents' problems? they're hilarious, and a natural form of birth control.

shit my kids ruined blog.

organized chaos

2010-05-24T12:26:00.002-05:00

i love this. pretty much defines my life.

organized chaos from apartment therapy. .

ross and vanessa

2010-05-19T21:09:00.003-05:00

so, these guys may not actually know who i am. i had the fortune to meet them very soon before they started their trip across the country by bicycle.....from san diego to NYC. it hasn't been too long, it seems, and they are already in alabama!

i just wanted to mark ross' blog on their updates, show my admiration, and get a little jealous of what is one of my life goals... touring on a very large scale.

i toured with morgan around spain, but not to this extent. we stayed in farm houses, we had a map and a plan and slept in beds...

but yeah. some photos of these guys- how amazing.

Ultimate Tattoo on the news

2010-03-06T21:49:00.000-06:00

Cibo Matto

2010-02-17T15:52:00.001-06:00

from Bigstereo. Cibo Matto video. crazy.

Peaches Christ Superstar Ban

2010-02-17T15:33:00.001-06:00

"PEACHES CHRIST SUPERSTAR CRUCIFIED"

Jesus Christ Superstar Performance Shut Down

This March, electro-shock provocateur Peaches was due to perform a one-woman version of Andrew Lloyd Weber's Jesus Christ Superstar at Berlin's Hebbel Theatre, with piano accompaniment by Chilly Gonzales. But apparently the German people in control of the rights to the musical didn't want to risk a weird Peaches-as-Jesus scandal, so they preemptively shut it down, according to Peaches' Twitter. (Via The Guardian.)

In a statement, Peaches wrote: "It's a shame that the authorities feel threatened by this new fresh approach. I know a lot of people who really love the music and would appreciate this stripped down down solo performance. I have so much respect for the music and lyrics from the original score and this was my way of honouring that." She also added: "PEACHES CHRIST SUPERSTAR CRUCIFIED BEFORE OPENING NIGHT!"

Looks like the sanctity of the Lord is safe...for now.

Posted by Ryan Dombal on February 17, 2010 at 9:55 a.m. on Pitchfork

moving... again

2010-02-11T13:01:00.003-06:00

so i'm moving in a few days to this beautiful 250sq foot studio cottage that overhangs a canyon. surrounded by gardens, palms, and other beautiful trees, this is where i'm starting my new life.

manivela

2010-02-09T10:41:00.002-06:00

Sam at bikesd.org did an article on Trevor at Manivela Delivery. super article. reposted:

The other half of Manivela Bicycle Delivery: Trevor Fray

Posted By Sam Ollinger on February 8, 2010

Shortly after Bike San Diego was launched we did a profile of one of the co-founders of San Diego’s only bicycle delivery service. Since the profile was run when our site was still in its infancy, we thought we’d run an update on Manivela Food Delivery to introduce some of our newer readers to Manivela.

Trevor Fray. Photo by mattlingo.com

Trevor Fray is the other half of Manivela Food Delivery. A resident of San Diego for the past fifteen years he has grown to love this city by traversing it in the best possible way: a bicycle.

Fray belongs to one of those rare but growing breed of individuals who chose to live in San Diego without an automobile. He has learned how to get around San Diego solely by bicycle and has based all his employment around his bike.

In addition to overseeing the day to day operations of Manivela Food Delivery, Trevor also works as a bicycle courier in downtown San Diego and at Pedal Pushing Bike Shop

For the past seven years, Fray has been a bicycle commuter getting more familiar with his city in a manner a growing number of San Diegans are beginning to.

When Matthew Reate initially approached Fray with the idea of opening a bicycle powered business in San Diego, they jointly decided to create the business that would promote certain core values that were important to the both of them. They wanted to open San Diegan’s minds to the possibility of using a bicycle for transportation and raise awareness toward bicyclists. They wanted to stimulate local businesses by delivering for small family owned businesses. Most importantly, they wanted to contribute to the growing San Diego bicycle culture.

Trevor Fray. Photo by mattlingo.com

In addition to delivering restaurant prepared meals, Manivela also fulfills the occasional grocery order. However, Manivela wants to be more than just a bicycle powered delivery service for restaurants. To that end, part of Fray’s focus has been to cater to the disabled and low income population in San Diego. This focus ties into his desire where he envisions that Manivela will eventually operate as a non-profit that not only performs delivery services by bicycle, but also teaches people to reconnect with their community. Fray wants to be a source for delivering food , necessities and entertainment needs to the segment of our population that is often forgotten about or ignored.

When I asked why he wanted Manivela to operate as a non-profit, Fray responded that he didn’t want profit or finances to dictate the goals of Manivela. He instead wanted to focus on the service component and be a source of help in the local community.

Using knowledge gained from working at Pedal Pushing, Fray envisions using the bicycle to empower San Diegans so that the bicycle can be used effectively as a means of transport and grow as a community.

—

Both Fray and Reate are doing wonderful things for the San Diego bicycle community and we wish them much success in their future endeavours. They eventually hope to expand to the San Ysidro within the next year and show other parts of metro San Diego that a bicycle powered business is not only possible but also the way of the future.

Trevor Fray. Photo by mattlingo.com

barefoot art article

2010-02-06T22:30:00.001-06:00

came across this old article on barefoot art guild.

need studio furniture

2010-01-27T20:03:00.001-06:00

In the market for a skinny/tall bookshelf, and a table/chair set kinda like this. and some type of clothing storage.

Unhappy Hipsters

2010-01-27T11:19:00.003-06:00

"The Octopus was full of judgment."

Hilarious. Recaptioned photos from Dwell Magazine...

bahn mi

2010-01-22T20:26:00.001-06:00

gonna make these mmmm...

Bánh Mì with Lemongrass Tofu
Makes 2 sandwiches

2 (8-inch) baguettes

Do chua (pickles)
1 cup julienned daikon
1 cup julienned carrots
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white vinegar
1 cup water

Tofu
6 to 8 ounces extra firm tofu (half a standard package)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 bulbs lemongrass, minced
1 clove garlic, minced

Spread
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro
Optional: Maggi seasoning sauce or soy sauce

Additional fillings and garnishes
1 medium cucumber, sliced lengthwise
1 or 2 jalapeño peppers, sliced
Small handful cilantro

For the do chua (pickles)
In a large bowl, combine sugar, salt, vinegar, and water. Add daikon and carrots and toss. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour. Drain completely before using. (Note: The measurements given are guidelines; feel free to adjust the sugar, vinegar, or salt to your own taste.)

For the tofu
Cut tofu into 1/4-inch thick slices and press between clean kitchen towels or paper towels to rid of excess water. In a shallow dish, combine soy sauce, vegetable oil, sesame oil, lemongrass, and garlic. Place tofu in dish, gently coat slices with marinade, and arrange so they overlap as little as possible. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour. Cook in a skillet over medium heat until brown and crisp on each side.

For the spread
In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise and cilantro. Add Maggi or soy sauce to taste, if desired.

To serve
Slice baguettes lengthwise, leaving one side as a hinge. Spread mayonnaise on top and bottom halves. Arrange fillings and garnishes: cucumber, do chua, tofu, jalapeño, cilantro.

more from sleeptrip

2010-01-19T19:00:00.002-06:00

this sleeptrip website has a few project offshoots that i've been really into lately. this is from the "belongings" section

just continue clicking to the next sections as you read.

...

"People always talk about the gaping hole left by a lover's absence, the emptiness that they never even knew about until someone came along and filled it. Why doesn't anyone ever guess the truth? That emptiness wasn't there before. It was carved into you by a lover who knew no other way to find a home except to lodge somewhere inside of you, pushing other things out of the way to make room. Maybe you helped them, shoving kidneys down and lungs up, saying "Don't worry, honey, I can breathe fine!" Maybe you did it together, each of you making nests inside your hearts with feathers pulled from your breast; tiny, warm places, bald spots on your chests.

I used to think that after you died you would get to see yourself through the eyes of everyone you had ever interacted with, and that depending on your behavior this could be heaven or hell.

Imagine how beautiful you are in the eyes of each of your lovers, and how entirely different."

love letters

2010-01-19T12:38:00.004-06:00

300 love letters.
:)

tour de france prank

2009-12-09T15:06:00.001-06:00

this is AMAZING. how happy would this make you? i would play it out as long as possible.

Recent tattoos

2009-12-09T14:37:00.003-06:00

some recent work i've done lately. an update since starting at Ultimate Tattoo in san diego. just a few i had on file with me at the moment.

Metro Area

2009-12-09T14:01:00.002-06:00

Normal Heights Market

2009-12-09T13:55:00.002-06:00

Normal Heights is getting a farmers market!! This coming April, 2010. exciting news.

It's gonna be 2 blocks from my house, every wednesday. While biking to Hillcrest to go to the market on sundays is fun, this will be very convenient to always have fresh produce available.

1st annual SD Tweed bike ride!

2009-12-08T01:35:00.002-06:00

it's this saturday, meeting at velocult at 330pm.

Bike Boulevards

2009-12-03T15:20:00.003-06:00

watch this short video on bicycle boulevards. traffic calming should be a much greater focus in the US.

electro SWING

2009-12-02T20:56:00.007-06:00

love it! samples for you to hear.

parov stelar: matilda

caravan palace: brotherswing and cafe de la danse ..LOVE them

chinese man: artichaut

free the robots: jazzhole

dunkelbunt: cinnamon girl

g-swing: sing sing sing

kormac: scratch marchin

and getting ever so slightly off topic. here's birdy nam nam.

100 Abandoned houses

2009-11-16T21:31:00.003-06:00

100 Abandoned houses, a project by Kevin Bauman... From his website:

The abandoned houses project began innocently enough roughly ten years ago. I actually began photographing abandonment in Detroit in the mid 90’s as a creative outlet, and as a way of satisfying my curiosity with the state of my home town. I had always found it to be amazing, depressing, and perplexing that a once great city could find itself in such great distress, all the while surrounded by such affluence.

Brush Park, on the outskirts of Detroit’s entertainment district was always an area of interest to me. For as long as I can remember the area, housing large houses and mansions, sat largely abandoned just a stones throw away from the Fox Theater, and not far from Wayne State University, the Masonic Theater, and even the central business district. How could an area that was obviously once a wealthy enclave in the city become an example of the downfall of American cities?

For years the area had signs advertising the redevelopment that was about to take place. It finally began to happen, with the construction of the new ballpark for the Tigers, and Ford Field for the Lions. New condos, and town homes began to appear amidst the rubble of burned out mansions turned apartments. Some of the houses were so large they became “loft condos”. As the entertainment district flourished, and Brush Park began to transform into something new, I realized the other approximately 135 square miles of Detroit was largely ignored. The excitement about Detroit’s “rebirth” took center stage, while much of the rest of the city was becoming largely abandoned. Even Brush Park itself was still largely abandoned, but with the remaining tenants of Brush Park buildings being pushed out, and many of the old houses torn down, I moved on to other areas, where Detroiters were attempting to make a life among abandoned and burned out houses. Often times, the neighborhoods were almost completely abandoned. In these neighborhoods I encountered concerned citizens, packs of wild dogs, 20 foot high piles of toilets, and houses with the facades torn off, filled with garbage.

As the number of images grew, and a documentary style emerged, I switched from mostly black and white, to color, and decided to name the series 100 Abandoned Houses. 100 seemed like a lot, although the number of abandoned houses in Detroit is more like 12,000. Encompassing an area of over 138 square miles, Detroit has enough room to hold the land mass of San Francisco, Boston, and Manhattan Island, yet the population has fallen from close to 2 million citizens, to most likely less than 800,000. With such a dramatic decline, the abandoned house problem is not likely to go away any time soon.

Girls

2009-11-11T14:26:00.003-06:00

Note to self.

girls is playing at The Loft in La Jolla December 4th at 9pm. Buy tickets.

Music Links

2009-11-11T14:12:00.002-06:00

Just added a bunch of music blog links, in part because I've been really needing to organize that shit, and in part bc hypeFM put up a few that were worth noting for a couple of you guys :)

check them out on the side, there are gems in there.

AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!

2009-09-18T02:05:00.003-05:00

royksopp + karen (theknife) + remix = ear and brain orgasm happening!!!!

turn up the volume.

Royksopp- Tricky Tricky (Volatile Tidy Tidy Remix)

Vela Creations

2009-09-13T16:01:00.003-05:00

This has got to be one of the most inspiring things i've seen in awhile. while there are smaller scale things you can do in large numbers as a renter to lessen your impacts on "the grid" (environmentally speaking), this couple has taken this to an "extreme" by going to a simple lifestyle "off the grid."

they built their own house, and are now building their 2nd, by hand from simple materials. gardens, of course, a roof that channels rainwater to save for months in tanks, chickens, and a an awesome method of potty training their baby to minimize diaper and water waste.

they've also blogged most of their progress in their life projects, thanks to today's technology, so you can see their photos on flickr and read about their creations on their website.

in my near future, of "owning" or building a house of my own, i am dying to incorporate projects such as these (wind turbine, solar power, rainwater collecting for garden use, etc). these people are an example of how simple life could be.

bicycles

2009-08-29T14:21:00.003-05:00

three interesting bicycle articles.

"42 folding bikes vs. 1 car"

and

"cycling saves australia $200 million"

and

"cyclists cause less than 10% of bike/car accidents"

enjoy :)

we're here!

2009-08-09T00:52:00.002-05:00

we made it to san diego!

i've got a few photos of our trip from texas to cali and our new place. check them out:

living in San Diego!

we're moving!

2009-07-15T11:56:00.003-05:00

IT'S OFFICIAL!

we're moving to san diego. finally. after years of planning, it came down to this last 2 weeks of madness and house searching.

we're working out a deal with this lady....... we might get an AMAZING huge house in downtown for half of what it should be (rent). it was a long ordeal, but it just might work out. 2 story, big deck, 2000sf, yard, amid beautiful huge houses, a few blocks from balboa park. who would've thought.

now he just has to get a job.... i've got one, and our savings should last us a few months, but where is that amazing job he's supposed to have? what is wrong with the world today? oh well. we've been told he won't even be considered til he actually lives there, so here goes!

oh, and babu says he's moving with us... hmm.

bubbles

2009-07-06T11:28:00.002-05:00

photos by Richard Heeks.

open air shower

2009-06-17T00:16:00.005-05:00

I GOT A JOB! in San Diego! at a custom tattoo shop!!!

now hopefully lucas will get a job soon so we can actually move.

while in reality, ANYTHING we move into is likely to be amazing compared to the shit hole i live in now, but i've been thinking of all the little upgrades that will make us happy.... cabinets that close, ceilings that aren't falling apart, not having neighbors from bangladesh that scream all day, not having AC vents ducts that are connected to the bangladeshi neighbors' so your whole house smells like curry 24/7, and maybe a sink disposal. maybe lights that work too.

but yeah, anyway. i'd like an outdoor shower too. like clontsy's. pics of that later.

oh, and here's a DIY tutorial to make your own outdoor shower. gonna do it! in SD!

cat workouts

2009-06-10T13:20:00.001-05:00

i saw this on CNN (no joke).

www.catworkout.com

"Nudist" Gardeners

2009-06-09T12:12:00.002-05:00

How do you feel about this?

What I feel:

1. they aren't exactly nude.....??? they are scantily clad.

2. Are they doing it to push the limits on purpose, or are they just burningman people?

3. do they look gross in the clothes? because i feel like i've seen way more disgusting/offensive looking people fully clothed.

tattoo portfolio

2009-05-27T23:57:00.004-05:00

so, I've been trying to get a job tattooing in San Diego. I made a portfolio separate from the PYT website portfolio, for the future... If anyone has connections to a reputable, clean, safe, talented, friendly shop in San Diego, please feel free to pass the link on to the shop and let me know!

TattooMeg Porftolio samples.


Portfolio Samples

enjoy!

Queen Bee

2009-05-24T03:05:00.001-05:00

AAAHHH!!!

just bought one of these. from Queen Bee Creations.

i've been searching for the perfect bag for days and days, and i couldn't avoid the truth, that i wanted this one so bad i had no choice.

expensive, but the best quality/style i've seen anywhere. and handmade in portland.

artististic people

2009-05-04T15:32:00.005-05:00

need to add a couple artists i (and many) love. a little tribute.

jeff soto.. check out his page, and be totally amazed. you probably recognize his work, and it's on juxtapoz all the time.

mike giant updated his website and added art!

Amanda Wachob is a tattoo artist who pushes boundaries between fine art and tattooing.

all modern houses

2009-04-30T15:24:00.002-05:00

new site i'm exploring, with tons of modern houses!!! great photos.

inspiring- check it out. Plastolux.

police give helmets and hugs

2009-04-28T17:31:00.002-05:00

in denmark. promoting helmets in an area with huge bike culture and awareness.

death rides on my left

2009-04-23T13:31:00.003-05:00

a video that a bicycle commuter made about the dangers of riding the streets.

makes good points... makes you remember your mortality.

cannondale update

2009-04-23T00:05:00.004-05:00

today i did it... forked over the money... to do a major upgrade/change on my old cannondale road bike.

it's in storage at my mom's for the move, and i've been dying to ride a new style of bike (comfy, upright, geared, with a rack/panniers, vintagey but smooth..).

so, i finally put 2 and 2 together, and bought stuff. silver fenders, soma sparrow bars, some cross brakes, cute grips, and a green b67 s brooks saddle (hell yes) for $50 (where? it's a secret).

photos of her in a week or 2.

pool day

2009-04-19T13:22:00.004-05:00

it's getting warmer, and we're all dying for pool days.

this will be one lazy summer... last summer in texas. forever.

Olle Lundberg

2009-04-18T14:07:00.004-05:00

wow.

olle lundberg is an architect, scraps salvager, ikea designer. he has 2 incredible homes, one being a salvaged car ferry boat in the san fransisco bay, and the other being a gorgeous "cabin" in northern california.

here's the apartment therapy article, and here's a longer NYtimes article on him. you absolutely have to look at all the photos of his 2 homes. you will be amazed.

here are some to get inspired.

and his ferry home:

suitcase kitties

2009-03-25T10:33:00.003-05:00

haven't been writing, been MOVING, working, camping, going to the vet- ing, etc. today is the day we finally get lucas OUT of his old house, thankfully...... it's been super stressful to all of us.

a quickie:

fonchi already sleeps in my vintage suitcase.... but i think i might have to make some alterations, because these are really awesome.

joe's tattoo

2009-03-06T01:02:00.005-06:00

my highschool friend Joe visited CS the other day. Flew in from LA to visit parents, get tattooed, etc. He's got an awesome job as a clothing (graphic) designer for Dreamworks!! not sure of the exact title................ but yeah.

tattooed him, and he took some panoramas from his phone. check them out (click for full size)

cop fired

2009-02-21T14:02:00.001-06:00

remember last july when that cop in NYC body checked a cyclist during a critical mass? the video was all over the internet. well, he got his ass fired.

here's the original video if you need a recap.

Next Thursday

2009-02-19T18:13:00.004-06:00

The 26th of Feb!
At the Stafford on Main.
Downtown Bryan.
3 DJs, dance your face off!

Here's the facebook event link.

starts evening.... 9pm. $5 cover.

Lucas, Birdkiller, Cody Marx Bailey

dog + elephant

2009-02-18T19:56:00.000-06:00

cute...watch this:

Watch CBS Videos Online

tattoo artist art

2009-02-18T11:03:00.002-06:00

just found a site with lots of different tattoo artists' prints and stuff. really good! check it out.

fat zombie.

derek (at our shop) just bought a flash set from derek noble... it's pretty evil looking.

anyway, worth a glance.

vans

2009-02-16T23:09:00.003-06:00

short post.

need new shoes. old ones have holes.

and these bags... wow. too expensive, but awesome.

Obama unveils Salary cap

2009-02-04T19:56:00.002-06:00

i've been happily enjoying each bit of news these days... what a nice change.

salary cap for execs of businesses who are in need of govt aid. bbc article.

President Obama said it was "shameful" that top bankers had awarded themselves giant bonuses last year.

Firms will also have to publicly disclose "all the perks and luxuries bestowed upon senior executives, and provide an explanation to taxpayers and to shareholders as to why these expenses are justified". "We're asking these firms to take responsibility, to recognize the nature of this crisis and their role in it," said the president.

"We all need to take responsibility," said President Obama.

"And this includes executives at major financial firms who turned to the American people, hat in hand, when they were in trouble, even as they paid themselves their customary lavish bonuses.

izzy in a box

2009-02-01T02:32:00.005-06:00

IZZY!

there is such a thing as the cat in a box contest......... and izzy will be a finalist.

amazing. wish us (her) luck. not that she needs it... she's box-addicted.

actually, she just likes to get inside things.

and one more for extreme cute overload:

the cutest little baby ever! wow.

.

feel like cooking

2009-02-01T02:23:00.002-06:00

maybe it's because lucas made 3 flans in a week, who knows.

coconut custard... wow. i don't even bake. going to make this soon.

Coconut Custard

5 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups milk
1/2 cup half-and-half
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup shredded, sweetened coconut (I'm sorry, for those commenters questioning, I don't know what this is called or how it's sold in other countries; in the U.S. it comes in a bag, or you can buy it in bulk.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In large mixing bowl, beat eggs well, then add the sugar, milk, half-and-half, and vanilla. Stir in coconut. Pour custard into a two-quart glass casserole dish and bake for 35-45 minutes until center is set. If the top looks like it's getting too dark, cover the dish with aluminum foil. Serve warm.

my new love: lisa bengtsson

2009-01-30T14:46:00.004-06:00

first, check out artist/graphic designer lisa bengtsson's portfolio. then check out the site Bunny Maxwell, which sells her wallpaper along with other super fun stuff that i can't afford.

i'm thinking lisa's roses....are going in my next tattoo. i've been waiting for an image that clicked, and i think i found it.

bicycle tidbits

2009-01-28T12:47:00.003-06:00

think about these things while you're out happily and healthily biking :)

• More than half of cars trips made by Americans would take less than 20 minutes on a bike, but ninety percent of all trips of between one and three miles or less are taken by car. Likewise, fifty-nine percent of trips less than one mile are made by car. (Source: Federal Highway Administration, National Household Travel Survey, 2001).

• Increasing the bicycle and pedestrian share of trips between one and three miles from the current level of 4 percent to about 10 percent would avoid approximately 21 billions miles of driving. (Source: Active Transportation for America, 2008.)

• For the consumer, the costs of driving per mile traveled far outweighs the cost of biking per mile. (Source: Active Transportation for America, 2008.) Note: There's no point using hard numbers as obviously they shift considerably as gas prices and other factors vary, but there’s no way around the reality that bikes are far more affordable as this website details.

• Building a single mile of a four lane urban highway costs $20 to $80 million per mile, while building a mile of bicycle path costs between a few thousand dollars per mile to $1 million dollars per mile. (Source: Active Transportation for America, 2008.)

• Over the width of one traffic lane, bicycling and walking can move five to 10 times more people than driving can. (Cycling: The Way Ahead for Towns and Cities, 1999)

• In 2007, less than half of all Americans met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation of at least 30 minutes of modest physical activity on most days. (Source: Active Transportation for America, 2008.)

• Americans spend some $33 billion a year on weight-loss products and services. (NIDDK, 1999)

• Modest increases in bicycling and walking for short trips could provide enough exercise for 50 million inactive Americans to meet recommended activity levels, erasing a sizable chunk of America’s activity deficit. (Source: Active Transportation for America, 2008.)

merrill lynch exec spends over a million revamping his office

2009-01-28T12:42:00.003-06:00

yeah...after his company went into crisis and was sold to bank of america, he spends $1.22 millio n on his personal office area. oh yeah, of company money...

check it out:

$2,700 for six wall sconces.
$5,000 for a mirror in his private dining room.
$11,000 for fabric for a "Roman Shade."
$13,000 for a chandelier in the private dining room.
$15,000 for a sofa.
$16,000 for a "custom coffee table."
$18,000 for a "George IV Desk." $25,000 for a "mahogany pedestal table."
$28,000 for four pairs of curtains. $35,000 for something called a "commode on legs."
$37,000 for six chairs in his private dining room.
$68,000 for a "19th Century Credenza" in his office.
$87,000 for a pair of guest chairs.
$87,000 for an area rug in Thain's conference room and another area rug for $44,000.

and the one i especially like:

$800,000 to hire celebrity designer Michael Smith, who is currently redesigning the White House for the Obama family for just $100,000.

wow. and people think that those on welfare and food stamps are the ones with the most affect on the economy. no, it's people like this, millions of them, who are comfortable with laying off workers and then proceeding to spend a fortune on guest chairs, just because they can.

fuck the rich.

Donate and help our Neighbors

2009-01-25T21:22:00.007-06:00

Hey everyone.

If you attended the Drasco Pen-Ultimate Dance party and had a BLAST, please consider donating a few bucks towards their noise violation ticket they are having to pay.

The party was free, they provided tons of alcohol, and the music was awesome. You can donate whatever your are comfortable with. They will appreciate any help!

Click the button below to donate with paypal or credit card. It goes to my paypal account marked as "Drasco Donation," and I will be giving them the money in a lump sum (or you can give cash to them directly, or to me and i will pass it on).

where's your head at?!

2009-01-25T13:50:00.004-06:00

went to a dance party last night... MUCH needed!!

This song reminds me of the DEEP END at burningman :)! can't get enough. i wonder if the deep end will be around next year... supposedly last year was the LAST year, but who knows. my theory is that they return, with half the returning members leading it, with new name and look. hopefully same location.

the deep end:

four cats in my house

2009-01-25T13:40:00.002-06:00

wow. scary....................................... look at sheemo's face. her head is about to start spinning exorcist style.

.

tv polaroid

2009-01-15T22:13:00.003-06:00

love these pictures. going to use them.............. need more tvs.

your meat is mine

2009-01-08T10:41:00.002-06:00

wow.

awhile back, lucas and i saw these tattoos... didn't bookmark the page, and kind of forgot about them.

tattoo artist Yann in Montreal (?) has this simple style that is absolutely amazing.

check out his work at YOUR MEAT IS MINE. there's an option for english at the top left, or just click on each gallery to see his work.

Best of 2008

2009-01-05T10:46:00.003-06:00

happy new year!

January... an important month. My birthday, MLK's birthday, Obama's presidential inauguration, and a plethora of lists of the "best of ______ of 2008."

Here is my top 10 list of websites of the year, not including obvious sites like google or facebook. Also in no particular order.

1. Etsy. Handmade inspiration.
2. Juxtapoz. Art and Culture.
3. BBC News. You should read it every day.
4. Apartment Therapy. Covers all the basics.
5. Design Sponge. By far the most comprehensive, organized, and enjoyable design site to browse through.
6. Sheldon Brown. Any technical information you need on ANY bicycle...ever. RIP SB.
7. BIGSTEREO. electro electro electro remix extradordinaire
8. Craigslist. I use it almost every day.
9. FFFOUND! Photo bookmarking. addicting.
10. Wikipedia. Get a grasp of what you're talking about...

Here are some existing lists for you to enjoy:

Craft: Top 100 Tutorials (projects). This list is AMAZING. go do some projects.

PitchforkMedia's Top 50 Albums. Whether or not we all agree on the order, it is a great place to find new music, or to re-evaluate music you haven't listened to closely enough.

Time Magazine- Top 50 Websites. Definitely worth a look... some really great resources you may not know about here.

Time Magazine- Top 10 EVERYTHING of 2008! SO MUCH fun stuff to read. Includes recipes, political blunders, underreported news stories, green ideas, scandals, etc.

Apartment Therapy's Best Small Space Solutions (has a list of links for ideas)

BIGSTEREO's top 10 downloaded tracks of the year... have fun :)

photos from buenos aires. more to come soon!

2008-12-30T15:24:00.003-06:00

Our pictures we've uploaded so far.

Hope everyone had good holidays!

We will be home very soon......... to love on the kitties and dance at the Drasco party :)

click below:

Buenos Aires 2008 Christmas

boca

2008-12-21T12:10:00.003-06:00

yesterday we went to BOCA and walked around the historic/artsy district. went to a super cute "handmade" type trendy store, and ate amazing food at don juan something or other. the lunch was interesting... you basically pay a flat rate, then the cook makes whatever he wants for the whole restaurant.

we had cheesey potatoes, spinach truffle thingies, strange creamy pizza, roasted red peppers and eggplant, several steaks, chorizo, smoked fish, bread and cheese, empanaditas, meatballs, fried provalogne cheese, coke zero from glass bottles and numerous desserts.... flan, terramizu (sp?), candied fruit, ice cream, apple tart, pastries, chocolates...... insane.

and today, we're all in bed with upset stomachs. good thing it's raining.

yesterday:

doomsday

2008-12-16T14:27:00.003-06:00

Saturday the 13th of Dec was the TX premier of the Council of Doom DVD. Our friends hosted it... we were (not sadly) in Buenos Aires at the time :)

Here is the Raven Feeders vid of our CSTX guys that also premiered after the alleycat.

almost done

2008-12-12T01:48:00.002-06:00

about to leave.... argentina here we come!

in 2 days ish lucas and i will be in buenos aires, lounging by the pool, drinking wine, and totally vegging out.

going to miss the kitties a TON.......... makes me sad. it's okay. julie will love on them..... and protect my house.

i'll be putting photos up possibly daily from lucas' parents' house, so check up frequently! :)

here's some of argentina, just to get excited:

felting

2008-12-05T11:32:00.003-06:00

trying to do some felting. lucas makes fun of me.................. but trying new things lately has kept my mind off of all that college station DOESN'T have to offer. making my own things is therapy during hard economic times, lack of work, and cold gross weather.

i'll put up pics of stuff i made soon.... it's not hard at all!

here's stuff i like.

where the hell is matt dot com

2008-11-27T13:42:00.002-06:00

never seen or heard of this before, but watch the video..... really nice!

i have an etsy shop

2008-11-25T21:46:00.004-06:00

it's not very big. it's growing i guess. it's my first time using etsy from a selling point of view, and it seems like your stuff would just get lost in the mix of things. there are like 10 million people selling things on there.

anyone had any luck? i haven't yet in my 2 days with items up. patience... and making more things. stuff to keep me busy while i'm having slow times at the tattoo shop.

but yeah, check it out and buy stuff from it. ha. really! i will be adding stuff frequently, and it's all VERY moderately priced.

meghee's shop.

in the market for...

2008-11-25T21:34:00.002-06:00

a new drawing/drafting/crafting whatever table.

something with drawers attached, or nothing at all (no little clip attached sections... those are crappy and fall off).

this one would be perfect, so i could have my laptop on the side.

has anyone seen/used this one before? Safco brand again? oh wait... it's just for the top of it.

let me know if you see anything good.........

christmas list.

2008-11-23T14:31:00.008-06:00

i feel like... i wish i had more business at work. i'm stressed out about things like... rent. and trying to save money for more rent while lucas and i are in argentina. i knew it would be rough, but how was i to predict the amount of damage reckless wealthy individuals and companies would cause? deregulation......what a scary word. see what happens when there isn't ENOUGH regulation?

i'm looking forward to the day when i can say that i do not live week by week on my pay. and i'm doing pretty well.. i think. i mean, i think i manage just fine. i eat every day, and by careful calculations, live very comfortably!

then i think about people who have $800 electricity bills, and people that spend more money on things like clothing than i make in a month. people that give their children lexus SUVs for their birthday. that's sickening... all i want is to have a few "grown up" things like maybe new towels and a semi-consistent not-crappy silverware drawer.

so, i'm going to go into a pretend magical world right now and make an unrealistic christmas list. things that i would LOVE to have, but would expect anyone to actually buy them. some of them aren't expensive i guess, i just won't ask for stuff. i just want to dream about it and look at pretty pictures, because that gives me a lot of happiness in itself.

THULE roof rack for my MINI! please!

i need a new coat, a quality and warm one.

i'd love some boots. not that i need them in tx.

had no luck in thrift stores with my size wingtips or oxfords.

these are really nice.

someone please organize my art stuff.

and my art area.

cutie tables.

a nice armchair to replace my lawnchair furniture.

a beautiful and useful kitchen.

oriental shorthair kitties!

a nice little house in North Park or Normal Heights or Hillcrest. San Diego.

with a back yard/porch.

teapot.

hat that actually fits.

a t@b (or similar) camper!! burningman solved!

knog panniers... for real.

so tired of here.

2008-11-18T12:37:00.003-06:00

today we got some interesting news from the physics dept. it's his project/degree/etc, so i won't go into it very much...but the details make me livid.

the physics department... every time someone i know talks about their masters/phD program here at aTm, i'm disgusted with everything. they are unorganized. they use their students for labor, with threats to cut their funding. they expect ridiculous hours. being involved in anything else? Out of the question. then they tell you that you don't have the background in your field that they are looking for....but they have no way to provide it for you. how are you supposed to learn anything or keep a job that way? your race DOES matter. so do your glasses, and your haircut, and you will be told that outright. you've been here for 10 years and you're almost done with your thesis? oh sorry, we've brought in someone new and we're not going to give you your PhD. your experiment isn't doing well? looks like another 10 years of labor. you have kids? too bad, you won't get home until 3am EVERY DAY.

it makes me not want to go back to grad school. why would anyone want to go through that? the TAMU physics department is the model of exactly what i would NEVER sign up for. too bad none of the incoming grad student have any clue of that. additionally, the foreign students have to deal with so much aggression from the white redneck undergraduates and locals that they live in fear of biking to the university and back every day.

now, all the wonderful things i've experienced here aside(the neighborhood, lucas, my friends, biking, the wheelers, art guild, aTm club soccer, the awesome political science dept, poking you tattoo and my job, the long road trip to burningman each summer...).. those mostly uniquely created experiences aside... college station texas/TAMU is probably one of the absolutely worst places i have EVER found myself in. the city culture provides close to nothing, if not causing backwards momentum against any sort of progressive or even slightly different culture. we have to create things like the art guild, the wheelers and the neighborhood for our own sanity, and just hope that someone similar to us will continue the trend for THEIR own sanity. i have to say, we started from scratch and it was tough. i wonder who will come after us? hopefully we've made enough of an impact for others to follow with a little bit of leftover direction. but college station will never change.

it's a town founded on tradition, racism/sexism, religion and bigotry. it absolutely disgusts me.

i am very thankful for those trying to make it a better place for moderates and progressive types of culture to simply survive. model individuals like the members of The Neighborhood, all those creating the art culture center in downtown Bryan, Rola and Revolution, Dr. Crompton at TAMU and in the city council, Andrew Pitts and his work with the community, Maroon Bike Project, Barbara Moore in the neighborhood department in the city... sensible and kind cops like Officer Fleeger and the bicycle cops who don't simply give foreign students tickets for not having lights, but are the first ones to the scene when there are drunken fights behind northgate. all the professors who stick it out among students, on the DAY of the election, still think Obama is "not black, but muslim."

i've learned so much here that it makes my brain hurt. it's time to learn in ways that aren't quite as painful. my friends and i deserve better.... it's been too many years here. good luck to the rest of you. get out, there are abundant opportunities for you in places in the world that WANT your input, and where your creativity can be used to its FULL potential.

leaf

2008-11-06T00:35:00.001-06:00

mobile. going to make this tomorrow.

OBAMA & THE PEOPLE WIN!

2008-11-05T23:53:00.003-06:00

EXCITING! for the first time in the last 8 years, I have cried out of HAPPINESS during the election. I remember 4 years ago, when Bush got his 2nd term. I was laying on the couch crying until around 3am, hoping maybe it was all a fuck-up and it would be retracted somehow. Those days are over, at least for a few years.

Obama Obama Obama! By campaigning in not only classically democratic states, but republican states also, he has successfully won the trust of areas untouched for YEARS by the color blue.

Obama took Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Florida, Nevada, Colorado, North Carolina, West Virginia, and New Mexico.

I tattooed for like 8 hours straight, trying to check online in between, but everyone in the shop kept updating me with the electoral vote count. Around 10pm, we SHUT DOWN the shop and all took off to celebrate! What a great bike ride home from work... Phone calls to my family, close friends, and the thought that riding my bike was a concept that my president SUPPORTS. Maybe in the near future, the bicycle commuter act will have more support and standing!

okay. we could all go on and on. on every topic. but i'm tired now. some photos.

AUSTIN critical mass: ON HALLOWEEN!

2008-10-28T21:51:00.003-05:00

Critical Mass is on Halloween this year in Austin!

Let's go! get hold of me if you'd like to go... I'll be headed up that way for my brother's soccer game the next day anyway.

Hooray.

When Palin gets annoyed, her brain stops working entirely.

2008-10-27T10:37:00.003-05:00

ha............................ is this real? if you're supporting this woman in any way, in all seriousness, you should be ashamed of yourself. voting for a washed out pushover old man is supporting her bid for the presidency. please reevaluate your decision, it is very important.

Palin was annoyed by Couric's questions on the CBS interview... That's why her flustered responses made absolutely no sense, and she showed absolutely no knowledge regarding very heavy US current events.

wow.

if you need a refresher, here is a video of the interview.

other interesting articles that never cease to amaze me:

palin's makeup girl gets $22,300 paycheck (2weeks). this is relevant in terms of how poorly their budget is distributed, considering their political advisors get around $12000 each 2 weeks. Her hairdresser gets about the same as the political advisors, if not more. this is also important news in regard to how their paychecks are reported- as "personnel svc/equipment" and "communications consulting." palin has a record of using taxpayer's money for her own use (the police jet in alaska), using her position of power for personal gain (troopergate, using the local alaskan police jet for personal travel), not regarding what she is told to do by her own party/advisors (using alaskan tax money for flying/hotels for her children at campaign events they are not invited to, speaking to the press when advised not to). the list goes on!

the republican national commitee spends $150,000 "outfitting" Palin and her family... I could LIVE on that amount of money for more than a few YEARS. her makeup artist's single paycheck could pay off my college debt!!!!!!! disgusting.

and, palin left her small town of wasilla, alaska more than $20 million in long-term debt after her time in office as mayor. she was known as the "ear-mark queen."

bicycle commuter act?!

2008-10-22T19:39:00.006-05:00

CHECK THIS OUT! haven't heard it in the news or anything... saw it on apartment therapy re-nest article and on cycling blogs.

So it seems like us cyclists never get any deserved benefits (aside from being in shape and super sexy til we're old), but George Bush must not have read the bail out plan's details very carefully, and we got the good end of the deal.

Included in the bail-out plan signed into law a couple weeks ago was a very short act called the "Bicycle Commuter Act." Apparently, Congressman Earl Blumenauer and Senator Ron Wyden (both Oregon Democrats) have been pushing this type of act for almost a decade. Their persistence, and our choice of alternative transportation, finally got that act written in the bail-out plan under the larger chapter of Renewable Energy Tax Credit Initiatives legislation.

Thanks to hardworking representatives, strategic and intelligent legislation was passed. Looks like us lower income people might actually have just ONE benefit from the bailout bill. Who would've guessed it would involve our bikes.

HERE ARE THE BASICS:

Starting January 1, 2009, this will be the LAW, if you are a bicycle commuter (to your job).

Discuss with your employer- they will have to fill out forms (not yet created) to make this tax break happen.

You can/will be reimbursed up to $20 (taxable...) a month for almost any bicycle related expenses.

Your employer will be reimbursed what they pay you. Also, they get an income tax break at the end of the year.

EVERYONE BENEFITS.

Now, you might be thinking... "$20 a month ain't shit." BUT, the act was FINALLY passed into legislation. SUPPORT IT, and those representing us will be working very hard to get us MORE of a break! It was originally supposed to be $80 a month, but $20 is a good start.

RIDE YOUR BIKE!
please update me if you hear any new info!

check out the League of American Bicyclists page for the FAQ on this bill so far. here it is as of now, in the bailout plan:

SEC. 211. TRANSPORTATION FRINGE BENEFIT TO BICYCLE COMMUTERS.

(a) In General- Paragraph (1) of section 132(f) is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘(D) Any qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement.’.

(b) Limitation on Exclusion- Paragraph (2) of section 132(f) is amended by striking ‘and’ at the end of subparagraph (A), by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting ‘, and’, and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ‘(C) the applicable annual limitation in the case of any qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement.’.

(c) Definitions- Paragraph (5) of section 132(f) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(d) Constructive Receipt of Benefit- Paragraph (4) of section 132(f) is amended by inserting ‘(other than a qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement)’ after ‘qualified transportation fringe’.

(e) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2008.

sad guys on trading floors

2008-10-21T02:50:00.002-05:00

this is hilarious.

the economic crisis isn't.... but my disgust for richness, greed, irresponsibility, gambling, and money in general makes this one of my new favorite photo blogs.

Sad Guys on Trading Floors.

hah.

flings

2008-10-21T02:33:00.002-05:00

saw this on design boner's weekly fling.

hilarious. why can't you see their leg hair through the pantyhose? you could definitely see sergio's through his 80s stirrup turquoise panty hose last weekend! :)

for additional hilariousness, checkout the e-mancipate instructions on how to put on male pantyhose.

omfg.

2008-10-21T02:08:00.004-05:00

i need a new (old) tv.

wow. look at this. $350? hmm....i prefer thrift store finds..... but this one is beautiful:

some more.

ha.

hey this one looks like my tattoo. strange

979 represent

2008-10-17T14:09:00.003-05:00

atarimatt's site, 979represent, has a photo up of his t-shirts made in support of jesse/lucas/bicycle"assault" business.

THANKS MATT!

(atarimatt at Zapatos, College Station, TX)

Soccer Update- Morgan

2008-10-15T12:08:00.004-05:00

So my brother recently began playing college soccer for Southwestern University . They had him on the freshman team, but started playing him on the first team when they realized he would win games for them.

They keep their season updated on the Pirates Soccer blog. Check out the most recent article: Knobel Nets Two Game Winners.

NYPD cyclist attack

2008-10-14T14:58:00.002-05:00

This is from a couple months ago, but I noticed it and felt strongly enough to post it because of what happened to us recently in college station, with the local State Troopers who refused to take our statements after being assaulted by a drunk couple in a pickup truck several times in a row.

The article is on The Convergence Factor blog, check out the video.

ugh

10 easy minutes.

2008-10-07T22:07:00.002-05:00

an edited version of the Biden-Palin vice presidential debate. not edited like manipulated too much... basically a cut to the chase removal of pauses and "ums." it shows you what is left... besides, we all already watched it so we know how ridiculous it was anyway.

if this 10 minutes doesn't leave you with the thought that Palin is mentally retarded or on some kind of medication, you should make sure you're watching the same video. because damn.

gotta love texas.

2008-10-07T00:41:00.002-05:00

we get assaulted on bicycles at 2am by a drunk driver, and we end up with an assault charge ourselves.

etc etc etc. there's a lot more but i'm sick of telling the story.

HERE's to texas......... the great state of ignorance, conservatism, and good ole boy tradition. things we see everyday:

"i vote christian"

"vote the bible"

douchebag neck

2008-10-01T16:04:00.001-05:00

funny- on design boner.

sex doll death

2008-09-28T11:48:00.002-05:00

check out the sex doll homicide article on Aesthetic Poetic. Apparently, her wrists and ankles were tied. Funny and strange. Lucas and i watched a bbc documentary on these Real Dolls and their "partners," it was pretty eye opening. especially since i had no idea that concept existed.

the real doll site is really interesting... because it's so serious and there is an actual market for these dolls.

artist Sean Barber

2008-09-28T00:18:00.003-05:00

Sean Barber paints... mostly tattoo artists and their body art. and, he does an INCREDIBLE job.

Here's an article on Mike Giant's site, fecal face, about him. shows where to buy his book, etc. check it out for a summary.

what you should really do though is go to his art site. an amazing collection of his paintings over the last few years. Checkout the doll project- creepy!

Mike Brodie aka The Polaroid Kidd

2008-09-27T23:48:00.003-05:00

So, periodically looking at the polaroid kidd's website (ridindirtyfaces.com) was something worth anyone's time, until the site suddenly disappeared.

mike brodie, born 1985, took a series of photos on the railways of runaways, homeless people, squatters, etc. which is incredibly intriguing...

Here are a few of his photo collection, in an exhibition in LA. And here is an interview on Mike Giant's site, fecal face. Oh, and more on fecal face, a great collection of Mike Brodie's photos.

The guy in the middle here is mike brodie, at his final show apparently.

mgmt remixes lately

2008-09-23T19:24:00.002-05:00

how fun is this................... if only i didn't live in texas, and i lived in europe instead.

KEDS!

2008-09-22T20:24:00.003-05:00

what!!!!

check this out. customize a pair of keds on zazzle! i made these awesome record player stamps for lucas a few years ago on zazzle, but now apparently you can do lots of things on the site. worth a look!

doll chandaliers

2008-09-22T20:01:00.003-05:00

amazing! reminds me of barbie death camp (BRC). check these light fixtures out from apartment therapy.

things that you can't not like

2008-09-21T16:12:00.001-05:00

hurricane ike

2008-09-17T16:36:00.006-05:00

Read this article...

well, college station didn't exactly get much of the expected 70mph winds from hurricane ike... a few power outages, broken branches, and some rain was about all. we stayed up til 4am (when the first rain hit), waiting on a roof (smart, i know), but a very anticlimactic ending it was for us. luckily.

there are 1000s of people in college station, either transferring from aTm galveston, or just waiting for their power to return in houston or the surrounding area.

the house in the photo- which stands alone on the Bolivar Peninsula- is thought to be one of the experimental "hurricane proof" houses built in the area. click on the photos for larger images.

here are some images of where the storm did its damage... the galveston area is completely devastated.

to see specific areas to check on homes/neighborhoods, look at the noaa website of flyover images on hurricane damage areas (including houston). you can really see the broader spectrum of the coast that way. just click the little squares and then zoom in on the images.

kittywalk

2008-09-08T12:21:00.002-05:00

i was looking for something like this...

but on "canadianpetessentials.com" (hah!) i found this:

oh yeah, the olympics

2008-08-15T12:11:00.005-05:00

went to carrie's parents' house in houston the other day, and watched a little olympics (i have no TV here). reminds me of being a kid and watching all the events...

too bad (as usual) the political/cultural controversies of the time put such a damper on everything.

anyway. check out george bush at the 2008 olympics. he's being himself. make sure you don't miss the photos/captions after the article.

olympic bush

haha.