We can break these things because we have before

WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, I went away to a summer writing camp. At the end of the program, we pulled together a compilation of the writing we did that summer, and titled it, "I can break these things because I have before." Although the writing was, for the most part, high school angst poured into high school prose and poetry, I've always thought the title's sentiment was beautiful.

I came out a few years later, and although I was blessed to have a relatively uneventful coming out process, the decision to come out was incredibly hard. Today, when I'm going through a tough spot, I remember that I've faced down bigger demons, and came out better for it.

With everything our country is going through, sometimes I wonder why we don't take a stand more often. Maybe it's because we don't think we'd be effective, or that in the long run it really doesn't matter. Maybe it's because we don't live in a world of clear rights and wrongs. This video, set to the song "Hold On" by Mavis Staples, is a reminder that if we stopped paying lip service to change, stopped spending our nights and weekends in the office or at the bar, and actually tried to make it happen, we could do tremendous good.

Mavis Staples - "Eyes on the Prize"

"Keep your eyes on the prize. Hold on."

What the eff, David Blaine?

IMAGINE PUNK'D, but with David Blaine, and David Blaine's creepy demon eyes staring directly into your soul.

(Thanks A!)


"Stop putting orange soda in our mouths!"

Feist - The Remainder

MY BIRTHDAY IS COMING UP, and I'm hoping that when I show up at the bar, an impromptu dance breaks out along the lines of this video. It's happy, hand-clapping good time. The video practically radiates hippy joy... plus it has sparkly, color coordinated jumpsuits!

The song, by Feist, is called "1234" and it's the second single off her new album, The Remainder. Feist, aka Leslie Feist, sang the song "Mushaboom," which was a minor sensation about two years ago. Her voice is a gorgeous instrument, and even in happy-sounding songs like this one, it has a heartbroken edge. "1234" feels like a day early on in the summer when you want to sit under a fan because the air feels so good and you just want more of it. Fans of Jose Gonzales or the Kings of Convenience will approve.

Feist - "1234"

"I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony."

And for good measure, here's the first single off the album, "My Moon My Man." I love this woman; she's not a great dancer, but she doesn't give two shits and just wants walk to the beat. The video reminds me of what you would want to have happen if the song came on your iPod when you were walking through the airport.

Feist - "My Moon My Man"

"What do you mean, I'm strutting?"

Planet Unicorn, Episode Three

THE LATEST PLANET UNICORN episode just popped up, and I know you're excited to see it.

Also, watch in amazement as I use my newfound blogger skills and assist you watching Episodes 1 and 2. <-- Look at that hyperlink, man!

Episode 3

"It's fun!" "I like to have fun!"

Rihanna - "Umbrella"

LAST WEEKEND, a group of us rented a Zipcar and drove down to Charlottesville to explore the town and help a good friend get excited about going to UVA next year for law school. It worked - Charlottesville is gorgeous, the school is gorgeous (so many hallways!), tons of tasty restaurants, great little community. The only downside? The scores of white chicks wearing identically cut Lilly Pulitzer dresses.

On the way down we heard this song for the first time and became instantly obsessed. We walked all around Charlottesville singing, "Under my um-ber-ella/hey, hey, hey" - the only words we could remember. The entire ride home we set the XM radio to the Top 20 station in the hopes of hearing it again, and when it finally came on we rolled down the windows and sang along, shimmying in our seats.

Rihanna is an R&B artist, but this song, off of her forthcoming album, Good Girl Gone Bad, is an irresistible little slice of weirdly dark synth-pop. Plus, Rihanna takes a distinctly unsexy word ("umbrella") and sells it like a fucking pro!

Last word: this video is also a sort of ad for some new Covergirl lip gloss, so ignore those parts at the beginning and the end and focus on how banging she is, and how the song swells at the 3:08 mark (at which point she starts dancing amidst a shower of sparks - DOPE).

Rihanna - "Umbrella"

"Um-ber-ella"

Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position

PATRICK WOLF'S great new album, The Magic Position, was released stateside this week. It's a rollicking, theatrical hodgepodge of indie rock, pop and electronic music. Lyrically, he's doing interesting things with the standard themes of love, despair, sex and joy, but he's also bringing in war imagery to great effect - in "Overture" he sings, "Was it worth all that war just to win?" which I think sums things up nicely.

Fans of Depeche Mode, Jeff Buckley, Morrissey and men in sparkly clothing will approve. He's like the gayest little girl scout in the East Village! Girl, you know what position he thinks is magical, okay?

Despite his big voice and personality, he can be a little awkward in front of the camera, which means these videos aren't as dope as they could be. I can't hate too much though because I'm sure I would look even more uncomfortable on film. The difference, of course, being that I would be wearing J. Crew, not Hot Topic.

Patrick Wolf - "Accident and Emergency"


Patrick Wolf - "The Magic Position"


Patrick Wolf - "Bluebells"

Cold War Kids - "Hang Me Up To Dry"

I'VE BEEN LOVING THIS SONG for a while now, but just found the video. The video is nothing special, but Nathan Willett's vocals tear me up - I love the way he sounds like he's right on the edge. This song is really fun for sing alongs.

Cold War Kids - "Hang Me Up To Dry"

"All mixed up in the wash/hot water bleeding our colors."

In which I represent for Long Ridge

PROFESSOR, SET THE WAYBACK MACHINE for Westhill High School, circa 1997.

Every year in Health class we learned all about gangs and why they were the devil. While this was valuable learning for certain members of the student body (I'm looking at you, homeroom girl who brought her box cutter to "kill a bitch!"), it was unnecessary for my Honors classmates. That is, unless Long Ridge was going to rumble with High Ridge over who had claim on late nights at the Bulls Head Diner.

Yes, I did just use the word "rumble," and I think that proves the point.

Although a valuable experience in the spirit of "diversity" training and knowing your "community," our primary take away was how to look hard by making the Blood sign in pictures. Which we did constantly over chicken fingers at The Diner - just like the kids in actual gangs!

Thank goodness for Regan-style social engineering - Just Say No to gangs, kids! I mean, I probably signed a fucking pledge about it. But hey, at least I managed to keep that promise.


"Are you stepping to my honey mustard, bitch? Hold me back! Hold me back!"

Gay Robot

Episode 1


Episode 2


Episode 3


Episode 4


Episode 5


Episode 6


Episode 7


Episode 8


... and then I think they lost interest.

Frontiers of Science

GEEK ROCK by a Columbia undergrad. The beat in this song is kind of sick.

This one goes out to all my Ivy League people.

Reni Laine - "Frontiers of Science"

"Sexy ladies, get out your calculators. We're going to do a little thing called back of the envelope calculation."