Candy From a Stranger

And Then the Recession Went Cultural

mrb247 — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:15:27 +0000

After five years of successful events, the Guggenheim’s Young Collectors Council Artist’s Ball has been cancelled. The Young Collectors Council (YCC) is a vital group of international collectors, artists, and otherwise creative individuals, ages 21-45, who are dedicated to supporting the Guggenheim Museum’s worldwide exhibition and acquisition programs.

The highly anticipated event has always drawn premiere crowds from the hautest worlds of art, celebrity, and fashion. Last year,, the event was sponsored by Chloé and attended by the likes of Natalia Vodianova, Blake Lively, Erin Wasson, Julia Restoin Roitfeld, Ryan McGinley, Piper Perabo, and plenty more–including packs of press and photographers. In 2006, the ball was sponsored by Armani, and Dior underwrote the event in 2005.

When it was discovered that the event would feature neither a fashion sponsorship nor press coverage, Guggenheim reps confirmed its retirement. In lieu of the over-the-top gala, the museum will host a small cocktail event for the YCC and friends this Thursday. Yet, there is reason to be hopeful: A Geggenheim rep revealed that they “are in the process of developing a new project for 2009, which [they] will announce on Thursday.”

Credit: FWD’s Emily Gyben

“The Following Material Originally Aired at 12:40am and May Not be Suitable for Younger Viewers.”

mrb247 — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:59:05 +0000

In 2006, “Dick in a Box” took America by storm, just in time for the holidays. And this weekend, the Lonely Island guys debuted a new SNL digital short that made Tina Fey’s giddy lark seem tame in comparison. Read it all and watch the video after the jump!

“Jizz in My Pants” stars Andy Samberg as a haughty faux European club-goer who gets a little too excited in an encounter with Molly Sims. Jorma Taccone is Samberg’s equally excitable friend and he seals his fate at the checkout counter with sexy cashier Jamie Lynn Sigler. Justin Timberlake rounds out this star-studded group with a maintenance guy cameo. During this two-and-a-half-minute sketch, the group managed to utter the phrase “Jizzed in My Pants” ninteen times. NINETEEN TIMES!

Put in your headphone, this you don’t want to miss!

Extra! Extra! Have You Read Times Extra Yet?

mrb247 — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:13:40 +0000

Times they are a-changin’ but lucky for us, The New York Times never skips a beat. Today, The New York Times Co. announced the launch of Times Extra. The site is an alternative view of their home page aimed at collecting headlines from across the Web and matching the most relevant ones–sources are highlighted in green–with lead articles from the NYTimes.com home page.

To access the site, just click on the “Times Extra” button above the search bar on the traditional home page. The switch only lasts for 24 hours, after which you’ll need to to reactivate Times Extra for another 24 hours. If you don’t want to wait that long, the “Switch Back” button at the top of the Times Extra view will bring you back to the standard homepage view.

Where do the other news stories come from? Blogrunner, a news aggregator owned by The Times Company, is in charge of scouring more than 10,000 sources and picking out links. Article rankings on Blogrunner are determined by their perceived popularity on the web.

Read the full press release here and make sure you never skip a beat.

It’s Official: We’re in a Recession

mrb247 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:31:55 +0000

The Dow spent the last hour or so of trading dropping 680 points (7.7%) as the National Bureau of Economic Research finally declared that we are in a recession. According to the Business Cycle Dating Committee, which is made up of seven prominent economists, most from the academic sector, we actually entered a recession one year ago in December 2007.

What exactly is a recession? It is a “significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in production, employment, real income, and other indicators,” the members of the Business Cycle Dating Committee said in a statement. “A recession begins when the economy reaches a peak of activity and ends when the economy reaches its trough.”

So how does this make me feel? Depressed. And nervous, due to less-than-encouraging quotes like this one from Ian Shepherdson of High Frequency Economics: “We see no prospect for near-term improvement.” And annoyed, because we probably won’t see an end to statements like that anytime soon.

Historians most often cite the October 29, 1929 stock market crash–Black Tuesday–as the start of the great Depression. Yet, optimism persisted for a time after the crash, as evidenced by John D. Rockefeller’s statement: “These are days when many are discouraged. In the 93 years of my life, depressions have come and gone. Prosperity has always returned and will again.” The most recent series of plunges have inspired a bit of witticism among even the most austere of publications. Then again, “Party Like it’s 1929″ tends to lose its flair after the first three publications:

Newsweek: “Show Us the Money: The Wall Street mess changes the campaign conversation from lipstick to liquidity. Let’s party like it’s 1929!”

New York Observer: “Bringing Back Gatsby: Brooke Geahan’s Accompanied Literary Society Parties Like It’s 1929″ (“I like how the photographer Patrick McMullan just told us that this is like the apartment of a 21st century Gatsby,” he said. “It’s kind of interesting because Gatsby was right before Wall Street collapsed and this is like right before the total collapse.)

London’s Sunday Times: “Let’s party like it’s 1929″ (“What recession? While the rest of the world fretted about financial crises, the socialite Nicky Haslam threw open his family’s former south London palace on Thursday night to 800 of his “closest friends” for a ball that resembled a scene out of The Great Gatsby.)

Time Out: “1930s New York was positively sizzling. Can hard-times London grab some of that glamour? Tom Huddleston looks at the films, Lisa Mullen finds out how to party like it’s 1929 and Maggie Davis shows you how to glam up like a guy or doll of the decade.”

Euroweek: “The Naked Broker: Party Like It’s 1929.”

Washington Post: “One Night to Fight for Health, Education.” (“Venture capitalist Fernandez, who is a part owner of the Washington Capitals and Verizon Center, said that, at least for one night, people will try to forget the economy. “We’re going to party like it’s 1929,” Fernandez said.)

New York Times: “We’re Going to Party Like it’s 1929″

Thanks for the 1929 idea, Gawker!

It’s A Lucky Day for Springsteen Fans

mrb247 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:45:47 +0000

Back in the day, MTV was all about the music. Now its all about the MySpace page. And on Bruce Springsteen’s, you can now officially watch a new video for “My Lucky Day” accompanied by two minutes of behind-the-scenes footage. “My Lucky Day” is the second song released from his upcoming album Working On A Dream. Watch the music video and read more after the jump!

Starting today, you can download the song exclusively through Amazon’s MP3 Store for one week only. Springsteen recorded Working on a Dream with the E Street Band and it’s the fourth collaboration with Brendan O’Brien, who produced and mixed the album. It is a solid follow-up to last year’s hit Magic, and is due out in stores January 27th; five days later, Springsteen will take the 50-yard line as part of this year’s Super Bowl halftime show.

Baby you were born to run!

Light Cavity Exhibition – You Don’t Want to Miss it!

mrb247 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:05:15 +0000

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Which, given the state of your room, could be extremely bad news for your social life. It’s nice to know that some Cornellians are dedicating themselves to the art of impeccable first impressions–aka interior design.

Human Ecology’s Design and Environmental Analysis (DEA) major offers an Interior Design concentration. It is the only program of it’s kind in the Ivy League. Students learn not just technical design skills, but also ways to think imaginatively and constructively about design and its role in our lives. That includes understanding the impact of design decisions on the environment and our planet, as well as on the people who inhabit the settings we help create–first impressions!

And now, for everyone’s enjoyment, DEA 2010′s Light Cavity exhibition is officially on display at Mann Library! Head up to the second floor gallery, see the dynamic, individual process of design, and learn the vocabulary that the designers use to identify design problems and critique solutions. As stated in the Facebook event:

Design is a journey, an exploration of the self and the environment through which we discover the interplay between space, light, form, scale, and color, and the impact that these elements have on our perceptions.

The opening reception is this Wednesday, December 3rd from 1:30-3:30pm and the exhibit will be up until December 12th.

Move Over Uggs, Make Way For Rubber Duck Snowjoggers

mrb247 — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:05:05 +0000

Yes, Snowjoggers. They’re part Rainbow Bright, part Napoleon Dynamite, ’80s-inspired Scandinavian boots that will keep your feet safe and sound in the Ithaca snowfest. Moreover, they’ve recently taken Hollywood by storm–literally! Liv Tyler, Sienna Miller, Victoria Beckham, Hilary Duff, Jessica Alba, and Paris Hilton, just to name a few, have been seen sporting these awesome kicks.So what are they? According to designer Eik Ottosen, “They are party sneaker, part snow boot and are available in bright patent-leather colors, futuristic metals, and retro striped designs. The boots are made of waterproof nylon with suede and rubber trip around the outer sole.”

Get a pair now and you’ll be one lucky duck!

Warning: A Colbert Christmas is Seriously Funny

mrb247 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:36:32 +0000

Last night, a cardigan-and-turtleneck clad Stephen Colbert hosted the premier of his one-hour original musical holiday special, ”A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!”

According to the summary on Comedy Central Insider, in the special, Colbert is on his way to sing and dance with Elvis Costello in New York City but is trapped by snow in his cabin in upstate New York aka bear country…Luckily, his friends Feist, Toby Keith (who declares war on the war on Christmas), John Legend (crooning a sexy song about nutmeg), Willie Nelson (“The Little Dealer Boy”), and Jon Stewart, who drops by for a duet about the potato-pancaked joy of Hanukkah, stop by to help Colbert celebrate the season. Every song wass written by “The Daily Show” executive producer David Javerbaum and composer Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne). Listen to one of my favorites here!

The DVD will hit stores Tomorrow, Tuesday, November 25th! The bonus features include a book burning Yule log, video advent calendar, alternate endings, and more. Comedy Central Records will also release the songs from the special as a digital album available exclusively on iTunes. A portion of the proceeds from both the DVD and iTunes will benefit the charity Feeding America.

Feeding America, (formerly known as America’s Second Harvest), feeds America’s hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engages the country in the fight to end hunger. It is the nation’s largest charitable hunger-relief organization, with a network of more than 200 Member food banks and food rescue organizations serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit www.feedingamerica.org.

You Don’t Have to be a Barista to Understand Coffee

mrb247 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 15:37:30 +0000

The best part of waking up? Literally crawling to the closest coffee source–be it CTB, Martha’s, Libe Cafe, or Trill–and then running off to class. But sometimes you just want to kill the coffee know-it-all in front of you. You know the type: self-proclaimed java expert hollering orders for double-soy-hazelnut-something-or-other latte with extra shots of this and that. They’re enough to make you want to run straight back to bed. For you, my friend, this coffee glossary is a must. But but first watch a barista make cool patterns in coffee foam–both after the jump!

ORDER LIKE A PRO

Espresso - An Italian method of brewing coffee using pressure and heat, measuring 1 to 1 1/2 ounces.

Crema - The dense, chestnut coloured froth that tops genuine espresso.

Double - Double the espresso, not double the size.

Americano - Double shot of espresso diluted by four or five ounces of water.

Macchiato - A single or double espresso stained with a teaspoon of foamed milk served in a 4 ounce cup.

Cappuccino - Typically one-third espresso, one-third steamed milk, one-third foamed milk.

Classic Cappuccino - Espresso shot topped with foamed milk.

Caffé latte - Double espresso in steamed milk.

Caffé mocha - Espresso shot mixed with chocolate syrup and steamed milk.

Breve - A caffé latte made with half and half instead of milk.

Café au lait - Equal amounts of strong filtered coffee and heated milk often served in large cups that resemble bowls and typically consumed with rolls or pastry at breakfast

Steamer - A steamed milk drink made with flavoured syrups.

SIZE IT UP

Short - An 8-ounce drink

Tall - a 12-ounce drink

Grande - A 16-ounce drink

Skinny - A coffee drink made with skim milk; ie. a skinny Café au Lait

ORDER LIKE A PRO

Acidity - A sharp, pleasing piquant quality that points up coffee’s flavour and gives it sharp, verve, liveliness in the cup. Acidity may be medium, light, low or lacking in the cup. Acidity is a characteristic of high grown coffee.

Aroma - Refers to the odour of the prepared coffee beverage. It may be lacking, faint, delicate, moderate, strong, or fragrant. It is a distinctive characteristic.

Bitter - A harsh, unpleasant taste selected on the back of the tongue. Found in over-extracted brews as well as over-roasted coffees.

Body - The tactile impression of weight and texture in the mouth. Coffees may be watery, thin, slight, light, medium, full, heavy, thick, or even syrupy in body, as well as buttery, oily, rich, smooth, chewy, etc., in texture. Easiest to detect in full-strength coffee.

Rich - Indicates depth and complexity of flavour and full body.

Spicy - Said of fine aroma or flavour suggestive of spices.

Stale - Roasted coffee that has faded in quality after excessive exposure to air. Aroma of stale coffee changes from flat to rancid and finally to cocoa-like; the flavour of stale coffee changes from bitter to rancid and tastes cardboardy.

Strong - Term used to indicate intensity of either defects or virtues (strong-flavoured, strong-sour taste).

Sweet - Said of a smooth, palatable coffee free from taints or harshness. Also soft.

Thin - Said of coffees with watery body and lacking flavour; typical of low-grown coffee.

Winy - Sometimes used to indicate thick body and mellow quality, but also used to denote a sappy, vinous acidity. Characteristic of certain fine coffees.

10 Blogs to Suit Your Every Need

mrb247 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:50:44 +0000

There are so many boring things in this world. Fortunately, you’ve conquered the art of blog browsing. Your favorites? Stuff White People Like, Post Secret, Daily Candy, and Perez; it’s time to broaden your horizons.

Some of these blogs have been widely revered from coast to coast, some are a little off the beaten path, and all are sure to inform and entertain. Check out 10 of my favorites after the jump!

1. Chez Pim – Pim is not a professional cook, but she is a professional eater. Her five-year-old blog, Chez Pim, was started as a way for her to keep in touch with friends as she traveled. Now visitors to this popular, sweetly opinionated site follow her as she skips ”merrily around the gastronomic world,” eating with and cooking for friends.

2. Damn Interesting – The site’s primary goal is to collect and dispense interesting facts and ideas, whether they appeared in the past, the present, or the (anticipated) future. Let’s face it: Random knowledge makes you a good party guest, so dive into the History Channel-style summaries on this site for fodder like this: In the ’30s there were attempts to replace the postal service with unmanned rockets–the site is out of this world.

3. Indexed - Created by writer and illustrator Jessica Hagy, this blog reduces all of the most complex conundrums that life has to offer into small Venn Diagrams and bar graphs that graphically–and often hilariously–highlight life’s profundities and absurdities.

4. Ivy Gate - IvyGate, the Ivy League blog, covers news, gossip, sex, sports and more at Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton and Yale. The daily “Ragtime” post compiles headlines of note from each school’s daily paper. Often informative, always hysterical–definitely a must-see for the Ivy League lover you know you are.

5. Operation NICE – Don’t you love it when people go out of their way to be nice? Like when someone waits to hold the door for you. Or when a stranger waves you into a line a traffic. Or even when a coworker shoots you a friendly smile along with a “have a nice day.” If everyone was a little bit nicer to the folks they encountered each day, perhaps the world would be a more pleasant place. Operation NICE was initiated to remind you that a little NICE goes a long way.

6. Passive Aggressive Notes - A crazy yet incredibly inspiring compilation of notes submitted to Kerry Miller over the years. Not just any notes though–they all share a common sense of frustration that’s been channeled into written form rather than a direct confrontation. Think PostSecret, but with photos of scribbled suggestions/demands taped to fridges, coffee pots, and bathroom mirrors.

7. The Daily Monster – The brainchild of German-born, California-based artist Stefan G. Bucher, this blog features streaming videos of Bucher himself speed-drawing different bizarre beings right before your eyes. Each one starts as a splotch of ink on paper. Then he transforms them with markers, pencil, and a lot of envy-inducing creativity. Check it out and be amazed.

8. Things My Boyfriend Says – We all have just one friend who says the most incredible things at the most inappropriate times; he forces us into silent laugh mode and we proceed to quote his brilliance to anyone and everyone who wasn’t there the first time around. One French Canadian boyfriend turned out to be so ridiculous and hysterical that his girlfriend started logging quotes on a blog. Read them here.

9. TreeHugger – This blog is the leading media outlet dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream. Partial to a modern aesthetic, it strives to be a one-stop shop for green news, solutions, and product information. TreeHugger knows that variety is the spice of life, so you can find all you need to go green in the up to the minute professional blog or opt for the user-generated version, Hugg.

10. Unclutterer – Unclutterer is the blog for home and office organization. It’s not just for the helplessly disorganized who would lose their heads if they weren’t attached, and pack rats looking to put their stashes on a diet, but also for obsessive compulsive neat freaks looking to squeeze even more order into their lives. It hopes to make getting and staying organized fun and informative.