NICOLE THOMAS

Seriously, I love Starfucker.

2011-12-30T11:43:00.001-05:00

Someone Decorated the Office [XMAS]

2011-12-02T15:11:00.002-05:00

Congratulations, You Look Like A Douche [PEOPLE WHO SUCK]

2011-12-02T10:28:00.006-05:00

From the iPod shuffle clipped to your faux leather jacket to your off-brand Ray Bans and slicked-back greasy guido-tail, your mildly insulting attire makes me want to hurl you (or myself) off the train. Beware of the closing door, please.

P.S. Your dumb f**king designer-paisley-tie makes me want to smack 100 hipsters.
P.P.S. The train conductor just announced the Fulton stop as "Fulton-Wall St-Zucotti Park-99%." Thank you for making me laugh, good sir. You've unknowingly saved a douchy life this morning.

"My 32 G iPhone couldn't handle all my playlists so I grabbed up this sick iPod Shuffle for backup".

Wearing sunglasses under sunless circumstances. Uncomfortable, irritating, creepy. People who do this are an important group featured on the ongoing list: Reasons To Wait Until You're Safely At Work to Put In Your Contacts

"This is my 'I'm Better Than You' Pose. It's taken years to master."

Over It [OWS]

2011-11-17T08:49:00.002-05:00

If I hear one more thing about OWS today, I'm buying a rubber bullet gun. Fuck and it's not even 9 yet.

My Gmail Was Hacked by Someone in Bulgaria Last Night [WTF]

2011-11-15T10:25:00.000-05:00

She Gone Done It Again [Katy Perry]

2011-11-09T18:13:00.004-05:00

Anticipation over Katy's notoriously over-the-top videos has reached a new ridiculousness. Her 39 second trailer for "The One That Got Away" scored over 5 million views in just under 5 days!

How does she do it? I'm impressed.

Katy Perry - The One That Got Away (Trailer)
5,334,400 views - added 5 days ago

Katy Perry - The One That Got Away (Audio)
1,590,233 views - 1 month ago

Why the Current Crop of Twentysomethings Are Going To Be Okay - New York Magazine [SUCKS TO BE US]

2011-10-24T01:20:00.003-04:00

Words from Generation "SUCKS TO BE US": A Slideshow

The Kids Are Actually Sort of Alright

My screwed, coddled, self-absorbed, mocked, surprisingly resilient generation.

By Noreen Malone
Published Oct 16, 2011

One of Those Good Nights [FRIENDS]

2011-10-24T01:19:00.000-04:00

The Antlers - No Widows [OBSESSED]

2011-10-23T23:40:00.001-04:00

And It Really Felt Like It Today [CLAUSTROPHOBIA]

2011-10-19T13:27:00.002-04:00

Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents,^[1] and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, after New York County (Manhattan).^[2] It is also the westernmost county on Long Island.

SEEKING HIPSTERS FOR REALITY T.V. SHOW (Brooklyn)

2011-10-18T14:26:00.000-04:00

SEEKING HIPSTERS FOR REALITY T.V. SHOW (Brooklyn)

Date: 2011-10-17, 10:36PM EDT
Reply to: hipsterhaus@gmail.com ^{[Errors when replying to ads?]}

Hipster Haus, a new reality T.V. show about the "hipster" lifestyle, is currently seeking cool and attractive individuals of discerning taste, ages 21-28, for filming beginning in January 2012. The selected cast of six men and six women will live rent-free in a fully furnished Williamsburg loft and receive complimentary food and drink for the duration of shooting, as well as guaranteed paid entry to exclusive underground clubs, concerts, and cultural events.

Send a link to your YouTube video (no more than five minutes) explaining why you are a "hipster." Show us your friends, your apartment, your music collection, your wardrobe, your job, whatever makes you hip. We're looking for genuine indie cred and cult classic star quality.

hipsterhaus@gmail.com

Location: Brooklyn
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Compensation: Rent-free board, complimentary food and drink, entertainment

PostingID: 2655381674

When Did Apple Ever Offer Free Replacements?

2011-10-11T19:35:00.001-04:00

Never.

Netflix Ditches Quickster Due To Outraged Customers [Netflix]

2011-10-11T12:53:00.000-04:00

'Welfare Queen' - Didn't Know There Was a Term For It.

2011-10-11T10:49:00.000-04:00

'Welfare Queen' - collecting excessive welfare payments through fraud or manipulation.

Published: October 10, 2011

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As more Americans turn to government programs for refuge from a merciless economy, a growing number are encountering a new price of admission to the social safety net: a urine sample.

Policy makers in three dozen states this year proposed drug testing for people receiving benefits like welfare, unemployment assistance, job training, food stamps and public housing. Such laws, which proponents say ensure that tax dollars are not being misused and critics say reinforce stereotypes about the poor, have passed in states including Arizona, Indiana and Missouri.

[FULL ARTICLE]

Mourning the Late Steve Jobs? Here Are 7 Articles & Videos To Help [Steve Jobs]

2011-10-06T10:37:00.000-04:00

Tribute Video to Steve Jobs [Video]
Steve Jobs Is Dead [Steve Jobs]
Reactions to Steve Jobs' Death [Blockquote]
Reactions to Steve Jobs' Death [Goodbye Steve Jobs]
A Story of Steve Jobs and Gizmodo [Steve Jobs]
A Photographic Look Back at Steve Jobs [Goodbye Steve Jobs]
Crowds Flock to Apple Stores to Pay Respect to Steve Jobs [Goodbye Steve Jobs]

Been Craving Wooden Eyewear Since March 16th 2009 [eyewear]

2011-10-04T19:48:00.002-04:00

Been craving wooden rimmed glasses or (shades!) since I saw them on a classy tan man in Spain spring break 2009. I've searched high and low for them with no luck. Luckily NOTCOT.COM answered my prayers this morning.

Trendy New Beer Tracking App Arrives on the Scene[apps]

2011-10-03T23:03:00.009-04:00

Foursquare + Microbrew = Untappd. I'm down. Admittedly WAS drinking a Pabst while reviewing this app. No PBR welcome.

Ugly Solar-Powered Backpack Makes My Inner Nerd's Heart Flutter

2011-10-03T11:22:00.000-04:00

Pretty Ugly. Great Idea.

Most Popular Infographics You Can Find Around the Web [DESIGN[

2011-10-03T11:08:00.000-04:00

"LIKE MUH STATUS if you like SLINKYS!" [HILARITY]

2011-09-30T13:14:00.000-04:00

Watch this video if your status has ever included "Like my status if..."

Everybody Loves Halloween [UNANIMITY]

2011-09-28T10:34:00.002-04:00

Halloween: The one thing we all agree on. [Full Article]

via AdAge Daily

Official. iPhone 5: October 4th. [iPhone]

2011-09-27T14:52:00.001-04:00

Who's excited!? I am.
"Super Apple Official: the next iPhone will show up on Tuesday, October 4th at Apple HQ. ... Start saving your pennies—it could be on shelves only a couple weeks later." -Gizmodo

Official iPhone release invitation via Gizmodo

Happy Birthday, Google! [GOOGLE]

2011-09-27T11:18:00.001-04:00

Our beloved Google was born 13 years ago today. What would we do without you, Google?

Swedish hasbeens®: I'm Obsessed [WISHLIST]

2011-09-26T10:52:00.003-04:00

Regretting not buying these while in Sweden.

Quay Eyeware Australia: Sunglasses w/ Attitude [WISHLIST].

2011-09-26T10:14:00.005-04:00

Considering purchasing these.

Everything You Need To Know About the New Facebook [TERRIFYING]

2011-09-23T10:26:00.001-04:00

If you thought yesterday's Facebook changes were dramatic, you'd better sit down before you see what's coming next. - Gizmodo

JOBS? ON MY INTERNET? [HILARITY]

2011-09-22T18:24:00.001-04:00

The first 2 times I watched this, I cried.

R.E.M. Call It Quits [FINALLY]

2011-09-22T18:06:00.001-04:00

Fort Greene/Clinton Hill Dubbed 2nd Most Dangerous Neighborhood in Brooklyn [SCARY]

2011-09-19T11:54:00.004-04:00

This is disheartening if its true. On the other hand, the beer garden opening up on 590 Myrtle sounds delightful.

Nina Simone Narrates Past 5 Weeks of My Life [CREEPY]

2011-09-02T11:56:00.002-04:00

Sometimes lyrics buried in a song from the past feel as if they were written just for you.

DVD Cover in 10 Minutes - Jake v. Nicole [DESIGN]

2011-08-22T15:51:00.004-04:00

Character: Inch Worm
Setting: Wall Street

10 Minutes... GO

Inches to Go
by Jake Levin


The Inch Worm On Wall Street by Nicole Thomas

Classy [MISC]

2010-11-18T22:00:00.002-05:00

Burdens. [UNEMPLOYED]

2010-11-18T00:33:00.003-05:00

6669 (I don't know if you know) - Neon Indian [MUSIC]

2010-11-17T15:27:00.005-05:00

6669 (I don't know if you know) - Neon Indian

Photo-Realistic Digital iPad Painting of Beyonce by Kyle Lambert [ARTIST]

2010-11-11T11:39:00.002-05:00

Is this real?

take a gander at THIS guy...
Kyle Lambert
+ iPad
+ excess time
+ obsession
= Photorealism.

(watch full size on youtube)

Ads That Don't Suck [ADVERTISING]

2010-11-08T17:45:00.002-05:00

Blonde Redhead

2010-11-04T21:40:00.002-04:00

They seem like they've given up... This being one of the last shows of their tour. Im like falling asleep.

P.S. While I was writing this, some guy behind me's like, "they sound like they're on Ambien."

thanks, Domino's

2010-10-26T20:57:00.000-04:00

Now I can surf the web without having to wonder about the status of my pizza.

YES

2010-10-18T15:27:00.000-04:00

The full moon on October 22 will again emphasize money, but this time the news will be much better, even thrilling. This will be the second full moon in a row in the same house of the horoscope, so you seem to be working on figuring out how to appropriate funds you have, but also how to find ways to make more money. You may hear back on a new job offer, or a raise that has been in the pipeline a while but that has not quite been approved yet - until now. News should make you elated at this full moon. After this, you won't be thinking about money nearly as much as you have in September and will through most of October, and you can rest.

-Excerpt from October 2010 Pisces Horoscope by Susan Miller

Heat Wave

2010-07-08T21:05:00.003-04:00

The time has come..

2010-07-01T17:21:00.003-04:00

.. for The Job Hunt.

After a brief hiatus from the daily grind, in which I graduated, moved to a new apartment, and took a short but necessary vacation, the time has come to buckle down and find that dream job I've been working towards for 22 years.

[ A few photos from the break ]

saw a La Roux concert | planted a garden | went to Brighton Beach

So today I've set myself up in the backyard with my laptop and a glass of iced tea to get pumped up. So far all I've been doing is posting my info on creative recruiting sites like heldlloyd.com. The sad thing is that the online forms don't leave much room for.. creativity. I have to copy/paste my beautiful InDesign resume into a box using ASCII plain text. Looking good on paper is a lot harder when you can't.. make it look good..

July 1st, 2010: Job Hunt - Day 1. Cheers.

5.3 Miles!

2010-06-29T23:09:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I ran 5 miles. Today I did 5.3! Baby steps.

I came across a little park around mile 2 that had a playground and a water fountain. Thank god for public water fountains! Until I started running in 90 degree heat I thought those metal fountains were like urban cesspools. It's funny how that opinion changes when you're drenched in sweat, your throat feels like sandpaper, and you know you still have to cover 3 miles of hot-ass sidewalk to get home. I drank from that fountain like I'd never had a drink in my life.

There was a fountain installation in the park, too. The metal spheres spray water. There was a heat rainbow in the middle of the cluster that appeared whenever the sun broke through the clouds. I was able to catch it before running away.

Cheers to 10 miles in 2 days!

I Just Ran 5 Miles

2010-06-28T18:34:00.000-04:00

I'm feeling accomplished today after running 5 miles. It took about an hour which means I was running a mile in about 10 minutes (considering water stops). A 10-minute mile is lame compared to how fast I was when I was playing basketball and field hockey in high school, but it's the best I've done in a long time.

I've gone for a run 9 out of the past 14 days. It's starting to feel easier now. I wasn't really tired until I finished the third mile today. I'm wondering how many miles I could run if I really tried. Running outside (in the summer) is a lot harder than running at the gym but I prefer it because I can't stand running on a treadmill... wayyyy too boring.

Running Around Brooklyn

2010-06-22T18:18:00.000-04:00

I've been going for a run everyday to get in shape!

Today I went for a tour of the Hasidic Jewish community. All the little Hasidic kids were out playing on the sidewalks, riding old tricycles around, and leaving them abandoned to go play something else. That really caught my eye. The kids don't have to lock up their bikes. Unlike where I lived last year in Bed-Stuy. They LOCK their bikes up good in Bed-Stuy. In this picture I took last year near my place in Bed-Stuy, the lock and chain probably cost more than that pink training bike.. which I love.

Today when I was in the heart of the Hasidic community, there was nothing but Hasidic buildings for like a two mile radius. I didn't know it was so big. It's really unusual watching how the children play in the streets here. There are so many. For a little perspective - Hasidic families average around 6.7 children each. On one block each building has around 5 stories. That's a lot of families and a TON of little kids.

They were all outside today playing on the sidewalks, decked out in the usual - immaculate pastel colored dress clothes - the kind I only had to wear for Christmas and Easter. Sisters wear matching dresses like twins and the brothers match, too. It's cute. The area is a little island of safety in the middle of NYC. Even though it's bordered by some of the most dangerous ghettos in the city, this place is removed enough that no one bothers them. The only danger is maybe getting hit by a mini-van.

If you'd like to try this scenic run, view my route here: Loop of Hasidim!

Weekend/Matt's Graduation

2010-06-07T12:19:00.002-04:00

Just got back from a relaxing weekend at home. My little brother graduated from Gonzaga, all boys catholic school in DC. I took pictures of my family's new house which is gorgeous because my mother is brilliant.

There were nasty protestors at the graduation. They went nuts and snuck into the ceremony and screamed at the speaker in the middle of the ceremony. I love the way the boys booed them and the faculty told them to eff off. Here's a video they put up.

Walking out of the graduation ceremony. They wear white tuxes.

The new house in Northern Virginia. It's actually two houses.

Location:Virginia

I'm Losing my Shit

2010-06-05T21:15:00.002-04:00

The Old Brogue. The last time I was here I was 7. Visiting old places is the weirdest.

After dinner I snuck out the back to see if the old gazebo was still there. I played on that gazebo with the kids from the 'burbs every sunday while our parents boozed it up at the free concert on the lawn. Now it's 2010. It's been 15 years. It looks exactly the same.

My little brother posed for the pic.

Location:Great Falls, VA

In love with my backyard.

2010-06-04T19:06:00.000-04:00

As I'm leaving NYC to visit VA for the weekend for my little brother's graduation, I can't help but notice that all I want to do right now is sit in my backyard. Maybe it's this Chinatown bus making me car sick, but either way I just can't wait to get home to BK.

I'm sure I'll forget all about it as soon as I'm off this bus, but it's all I'm thinking about right now.

if all else fails...

2010-05-29T03:00:00.001-04:00

it'll make for a good story.

Diary of the Funemployed

2010-05-24T19:48:00.001-04:00

Spent all day on the fire escape, blowing bubbles and listening to this song.

Japanese parody - We Are the World

2010-04-12T10:26:00.001-04:00

i aspire to be as productive as Ben Franklin

2010-03-31T18:21:00.005-04:00

it's true

2010-03-30T23:58:00.000-04:00

Mario Kart 64 Toad's the Best sound bite Nintendo 64 sound bites

it's tuesday

2010-03-10T04:10:00.000-05:00

it's 4:00 a.m.

i'm watching the curious case of benjamin button while i work.

spring break is only two days away.

thank god.

jealous?

2010-03-04T01:40:00.003-05:00

Jay-Z || at Madison Square Garden - March 2nd, 2010.

new high security Virginia licenses

2010-03-03T16:05:00.006-05:00

THIS THING IS CRAZY || CLICK I.D. TO ENLARGE

So my new Virginia license just came in the mail...

WHAT THE F$#%? This thing looks like it could be an I.D. card for the C.I.A! Its the first one I've seen that I couldn't fake even if I tried my hardest.

I think they must have realized that the old one looked like a membership card to Garden Club.

The old I.D. was really easy to mess with. When I was a senior in high school, some smart ass realized all he had to do was use an Exact-O blade to scratch off the black on the second '8' in 1988 to a make a '3' and our D.O.B. dropped to 1983. You could shoot from 18 to 23 in 90 seconds. We gave our shiny new driver's licenses to this badass named John Esteves and he'd do it for us for 20 bucks. I'm pretty sure he made a fortune. Within weeks were all drunks. MADD would have had a fit. So much for the good old days.

Sorry kids, but now you'd need to be Harry Potter to fudge your I.D. No Natty Light after prom this year!

I love sending/receiving postcards

2010-03-03T15:08:00.003-05:00

This one is from my step-sister Caroline who'e studying abroad this semester in Prague.

Look how awesome those stamps are! One is huge and you can't really see the other one but they're both really beautiful.

Hopefully I have a couple more cool postcards coming my way :)

don't care if it's pop

2010-02-27T02:30:00.006-05:00

attractive DJ promo?

2010-02-25T15:58:00.009-05:00

I need to make a DJ promo flyer. I need inspiration! The problem is that most flyers/promo I see are really kind of ugly and busy and ICK>

Im LOST. Where can i find good music design. Some research needs to be done,

delivery man with Thom Browne bag

2010-02-24T18:03:00.006-05:00

Just saw a delivery man carrying a shopping bag with very expensive contents. I think he was from like Seamless web or something. I wonder who it's going to. What are the circumstances? "I need a humpday treat, I'll order a $5,000 suit," or "Coffee stain? No problem, I'll send another one over."

I can't even imagine buying something that expensive in a store; having it delivered by a man on foot during workday rush hour takes it to a whole new level.
My favorite part is that the delivery man was reading a magazine about weed AND taking notes on different varieties. The bag was just sitting on the ground. The BEAUTIFUL bag. It was pretttty.

laundry on my lunch break

2010-02-18T16:30:00.010-05:00

Its finally come to this. I'm doing laundry on my lunch break.

I'm back home from bombing an anthropology test. I can't believe how little of the information I retained from the first three weeks of class, even though I was paying attention and taking copious notes.

If I can get through this semester, I know it'll be worth it. Between two senior project classes, web design class, liberal arts classes, preparing my portfolio, and interviewing for jobs, my spare time has been reduced to when I'm asleep. Add an on-campus job I have for the sole purpose of putting money into savings for after graduation, excruciating visits to the bed-stuy YMCA 4 night/week, grocery shopping at C-TOWN-Town-town, throwing together 3 meals a day (more like 1 meal stretched into 3) and whatever other bullshit surprises I have to deal with on a regular basis (i.e. texting my landlord at 3am begging for heat, picking up 20 pairs of shoes spread over 2 flights of stairs from a broken shoe rack, etc.) and I'm literally out of time. My best friend, Dan stopped by my job at the school computer lab yesterday to see if I'm alive, here's our paraphrased conversation:

"Wanna get dinner after work?"
"I can't spend money on anything, especially take-out."
"Well, we can make dinner then."
"I don't have time, I have to go the gym tonight."
"I liked you better before you were responsible."
"I think everyone did."

My mom doesn't even call me anymore. She knows better. I either ask for impossible advice or money.

I need to go build a flash website now. Oh, no, I don't know how to build a flash website. Maybe I'll be able to get it done in half an hour? I have be at work by 5... :)

olympic ads, courtesy of:

2010-02-17T01:10:00.009-05:00

This brand new flatscreen TV!

I mean it's about time.

This is Juan and the TV - my two new room mates - lucky me.

Now that I have a TV worth watching (the one it replaced was a 50-lb craiglist-mistake), I can watch all kinds of worthless crap on basic cable.

Ok so I'm not actually interested in the shows for the most part, but it's been a long time since I've had access to TV spots - which are mostly appalling but every once in a while something nice flicks by.

Especially tonight. The winter Olympics are on. Juan and I like to watch the figure skating - it's easy for both of us to contribute. He's still working on his english so ice-skating is a relief at the end of the day because we can just sit and drink Casa del Toro and throw out one-liners when the skaters fuck up. Tonight is men's long program. This year every man is beautiful. Gorgeous. I've never seen so many many physically blessed men in one place. I hear myself gasp almost every time one enters the rink. Juan reminds me that they're gay. "Nicole, look at this tranny!" I guess I'm not paying that much attention but I'm concerned because that thought hadn't occurred to me, even though the skater on screen is wearing a pink and purple sequin leotard. He looks good.

Between the sequined gays, a couple good commercials come on.

I like the new Audi spot even though the car's like.. i'm sorry.. really ugly. Call me old fashioned, but.. what is that black part on the side at the end? Yikes?

And then this little Sun Chips gem came on! I love it! I don't know if it's the song or the time lapse or the fact that the bag is BIODEGRADABLE, but I smiled.

But tonight AT&T's 3G spot took the cake because their timing is RIGHT ON: I've been obsessed with the song in this spot - Intro by The xx - for the last 48 hours. iTunes can't even keep up with my play count. When this ad came on, Intro was playing on my laptop already. I thought I was hullucinating. I like it when I hear a new album and I get to have it all to myself for a while but it's only been 2 days and the Olympics went ahead and blasted it front and center for the whole country. I guess I'm late to the party.

The xx. I'm obsessed.

2010-02-15T13:50:00.007-05:00

well fuck valentine's day

2010-02-13T20:12:00.003-05:00

my bedroom is 40 degrees

2010-02-12T08:46:00.008-05:00

When I wake up this morning it’s too cold to get up. I know what will happen if I break the seal of the covers but I have to do it. I whip the covers off, scramble into the kitchen, open the oven and turn it up to 400 degrees. I go in the living room and turn on the space heater. I fill a kettle with water and turn it on to boil. I run back to bed.

I do this almost every morning. I don’t know why my Guyanese landlord doesn't turn on the heat past 3am, but this can't be legal. My first alarm clock of the day is my phone which wakes me up. My second alarm clock is the tea kettle. I turn on as many heat sources as possible including the stovetop, and then I get back in bed. Every day. By the time the kettle whistles and I get up to turn it off I'm able to stand in my room with full PJs and a polar fleece bathrobe because the oven has raised the room temperature to from 40 to 47. It's like getting up on the wrong side of the bed EVERY DAY.

After half an hour the two rooms are starting to feel habitable for human life, so I take two cupcakes to the living room for breakfast in front of the TV. I watch the clock as it approaches 1:45p.m. the time I need to leave for class. Under many warm blankets on the couch I envision my journey: suiting up in my toughest winter gear, shoving enormous skiing gloves over my hands, fully covering my head, strapping my heavy backpack with laptop onto my tired back, fumbling in the gloves that are too big for my hands to unlock my freezing bike, chaining the heavy frozen lock over my waist and enormous coat, and finally fighting freezing wind all the way to school. My iPhone tells me it’s 21 degrees out.

I make a decision I had promised myself I wouldn’t make this semester. I’m not sick or out of town and I’m skipping class anyways. The apartment is finally warm; It feels like a cocoon. How could I leave now when it’s just gotten warm enough to relax my shoulders and breathe normally? Class can wait until spring.

A few hours later I force myself out into the frozen concrete to go to work. At nine I get off and decide to go to the gym. Astonishingly, I’m able to run 3.3 miles and end up burning 400 calories. I feel proud. As I’m pushing through my last mile and acute dehydration, all I can think about is getting home, having a hot shower and sleeping like a baby for hours. What actually happens was different. After the shower I’m preparing to take out my contacts when Josh gets home from work and rushes in, “Ok we don’t have much time, but put your pants on – Rustik is having a karaoke contest!” Rustik is the bar next to our apartment. Josh is a fantastic singer. “No way.” I say, thinking of my plans with my bed. “The winner gets an iPod touch!” I reconsider. Watching Josh sing karaoke at 11p on a Wednesday night in a bar in the projects of Bed-Stuy might be too good to miss. If I don’t go, what’s the point of me living here at all? I might as well move back to the Virginia suburbs and pay cheap rent if I’m going to pass up magic like this. “Give me 5 minutes.” I mentally note that this will mean I get only 7 hours of sleep but it’s still the right decision. I’ve never heard Josh sing real karaoke, only belt stuff out around the apartment so I’m excited for this.

When we arrive at the bar seven minutes later, there’s a woman singing a soulful song I hope will end soon. She has an amazing voice but the song is uncomfortably sad and she’s really too loud. Josh asks the co-host if she has room for one more singer. She has the most amazing ass I’ve ever seen. I literally am amazed. I mean this thing is noteworthy. It’s straight up – the biggest booty I’ve ever seen on a woman – black, white, Puerto-Rican, whatever, it’s like half of her body mass. Anyways Bootylicious gives us a sideways look and says she’ll try to fit him in. We’re the only white people in the bar, as usual, but tonight the crowd seems easygoing. We endure another monotonous song by a man with a pretty good voice but the song is just way too long and he seems to get bored in the middle of it. When he finishes, Bootylicious takes a popular applause vote to determine the finalist who will be invited back on Feb. 25th to compete in the final contest for the iPod. The woman with the loud voice wins. I wonder if Josh is disappointed. If he is, he doesn’t show it – a true performer. “Now that the finalist’s have been chosen, let’s resume karaoke night.”

I’m confused by this and wonder why anyone would sing if not to win an iPod touch. Apparently Josh would! She calls him up and his song’s instrumentals start up. A song I haven’t heard since high school begins. Josh belts out the first line and I’m sold. He’s really good. Heads whip around, mouths open and gape at the tiny white boy in purple-striped cashmere singing the shit out of “Back at One” by Brian McKnight. If you close your eyes, you would think the voice is coming from a sassy, three-hundred pound black woman. All of a sudden people erupt with applause and cheers. Even I get loud. People at the bar turn to Juan and I and give us a look that says, “Are you with him?” I smile really big in return. Yes. I’m with him. And I’m really proud.

He gets applause louder than any of the previous contestants when he finishes, and BootyBooty invites him back on the 25th as a finalist. I can’t wait.

(To be continued.)

second-semester senior

2010-01-25T13:50:00.005-05:00

Well it's finally here - my last semester at Pratt! I'm graduating at Radio City Music Hall on May 17th. I'm so excited, I can barely stand it. I've already ordered, addressed and stamped my graduation announcements and it's not even February yet.

Things I need to do in the next few weeks:
1. Photograph my portfolio
2. Build a website using the photos
3. Finish my badass resume
4. Apply for jobs
5. Get a job

Here goes!

clients from hell

2009-11-20T09:30:00.003-05:00

Hilarious blog of anonymously posted horror stories from designers.

"I’m not sure about the color that you’ve used for the background, I guess it looks OK on screen but when I print it on our office printer it kinda reminds me of a pair of corduroys I had as a child."

what purpose does this serve?

2009-11-19T13:53:00.000-05:00

QR codes

2009-11-17T22:05:00.008-05:00

QR Codes are awesome! I'd never heard of them until my teacher assigned an interesting homework project -- make a teeshirt with your blog's QR code.

People use their phones to take a picture of your code on posters, teeshirts, flyers, magazine spreads, etc. and it links directly to to your site right on your phone. Everyone in my class did it, it really works! Apparently they've been using them in Japan for ages.

if you have a blog/website, its easy to get a QR Code - go to a generator site and follow the steps.

makes me want to upgrade to 3GS...

2009-11-17T17:39:00.007-05:00

New York Nearest Subway augmented Reality App

ahhhh i wish I had 3GS. iPhone 3G doesn't have the essential compass software to make this awesome program work.

people to know

2009-11-08T16:47:00.013-05:00

the beginning of a (hopefully) ongoing list of designers, design projects and graphic styles to look up and be aware of.

Art Chantry

Segura

Paul Rand

Paula Scher

Steven Sagmeister

Things I've Learned in My Life So Far

finally

2009-11-07T17:54:00.006-05:00

i'm into the new ad campaign by Brooklyn Fare which pokes fun at trendy coffee drink sizes.

translated freestyle battle

2009-11-06T18:59:00.003-05:00

the "blog" of "unecessary" quotations

2009-11-05T18:12:00.006-05:00

CHECK IT OUT - The "Blog" of "Unnecessary" Quotation Marks

"the". funniest. thing. ever.

the biggest reason i love apple

2009-11-04T15:28:00.003-05:00

i love this service! Apple Expert is awesome! The other day my 3 1/2 year old macbook pro power adapter burst into flames at work. the smell was terrible. my adapter is well out of warranty so i was sad because i knew i'd have to buy another one for $80.

i kind of moped around for a week and procrastinated. i hate that Apple's warranty for any product seems to expire approximately 90 seconds before the product finally breaks. anyways i almost bought a new charger until my friend told me about calling Apple. If you call these people, they do SO much for you. The awesome customer service almost makes up for the aesthetically pleasing but exceptionally fragile design of their products. they agreed to send me a new charger for free. i was surprised when it showed up FedEx the next day!

because im out of warranty, usually i would have to return the old charger, but they excused that part because the fact that the charger was flaming is a safety hazard. i guess they wanted to keep me happy so i wouldn't tell anyone :)

finally! biodegradeable trash bags!

2009-10-30T11:22:00.007-04:00

if you're like me then you'll be really excited about these new fully biodegradeable trash bags from Green Genius. all material is made from 100% recycled materials. they'll be hitting shelves soon, it's been a long time coming but better late than never :)

typograsms

2009-10-27T12:07:00.007-04:00

Vier5 is a french design duo, and they're tearing it up! Their "modern" ( aka contemporary ) aesthetics are bad ass. Vier5 is "...adamant that our times require their own letterforms - the typefaces of yesterday will not suffice."

i really enjoy these minimalist prints from Present Joys

magic hour

2009-10-25T17:35:00.005-04:00

wish list

2009-10-25T13:55:00.011-04:00

this is art in the form of a $550 macbook pro case

Mulberry for Apple

what do i have to do to get my hands on one of these?

package inspiration

2009-10-24T14:07:00.007-04:00

wish list?

please??

this design is so fun i just want to order it right now and play with it. its like a toy for adults - it comes with everything one could need to have fun - a shark tooth, a message in a bottle, a feather-quill, and of course, delicious black spiced rum. check out the packaging greatness.

Verve Clicquot Yellowboam

handcrafted lacquered box holding a gold + stingray leather coated 3L bottle of champagne! STINGRAY LEATHER?!?!!? that's really cool.

obsessed

2009-10-24T13:58:00.006-04:00

for Pad See Ew lovers

2009-10-24T13:09:00.010-04:00

If you live near me in Bed-Stuy, heads up - i have rock-hard research concluding that the best Pad See Ew and all-around Thai goodness in the Clinton hill/Bed-Stuy area can be found at Manee Thai.

it's at Myrtle & Clermont. it's affordable and delicious. I've tried Thai 101 and Myrtle Thai but compared to Manee, they're gross. My room mates and i are die-hard Thai lovers. we've done the research - order Manee.

p.s. that new place that just opened up this spring at Dekalb & Classon called Umi Nom was a huge disappointment. the prices are whack and the food was SO boring. they don't have their liquor license yet so it's BYOB ( like Zaytoons ) which is about the only thing worth going for. that said, the service was very good and the environment was really pleasant. i give them props for opening up right in front of Lafayette gardens. the table up front is a fun experience when its nice enough to open the big window because the people-watching is great. it's like an interactive dining experience.

people are creative

2009-10-23T16:13:00.011-04:00

I spent last week at my brother's wedding in the UK. The wedding was held at Stoke Park Club, a gorgeous golf club and event venue. It's often featured in of films, one of which was Goldfinger (1964) which showed the most memorable game of golf in cinema history, when James Bond defeated Auric Goldfinger on the 18th green. During the reception a silhouette cutter came round making one-of-a-kind hand-cut silhouettes out of thin matte-black paper for each of the guests to take home. Each cutting took barely 3 minutes - the woman was an absolute pro - and after cutting your profile out, she taped it onto a cream-colored sleeve. a copy of each one goes to the newly-weds so they can have a scrapbook of all their guests. ( luckily there were only 80 people at this wedding, but imagine a larger wedding! ) My mom ended up taking mine home with her but the image above is one i found on facebook belonging to another guest from our wedding. i fully intend on framing mine when i get my hands on it :)

lina at a big party

2009-10-04T13:22:00.004-04:00

bike

2009-10-02T17:30:00.002-04:00