Bike Around My Town

This commercial makes me want to go out and find a spiffy bike just like the one everybody shares in this Kaiser Permanente commercial. The very first time I saw the ad I was captivated by the concept of people passing off the bike to each other. It reminded me of the community bikes in Amsterdam, and it has such a delightful song that is perfectly suited for the commercial, I was in love! Imagine my delight when I realized that the last few moments of it were filmed right around the corner from my home! It's the part (0:50-1:00) where the white haired man rounds a corner and rides toward a tunnel, that's Point Richmond! The song "Ride", was written by Nylon Studios, of Sydney, Australia who write music for film and advertising. You may read more about them at http://www.myspace.com/nylonstudios

Let's Be Luddites

Sage advice, some more ideas:

• Go and grab someone's hand, head out the door and take a leisurely walk around the neighborhood enjoying some fall foliage.
  
• Gather a jar with a lid and bring a child out on a bug hunt lifting up rocks, logs and searching under leaf piles, it's something many kids love.
• Put on your hat and clear the garden!
• Hit the thrift stores for Halloween costumes!
• Meet up with someone you've been missing for a cup of coffee or tea.
• Go crawl back in bed with your honey.

Now that you've read this, quickly turn off the computer, slow down and really enjoy your Sunday. You'll be so glad you did!

Reno 911!

Watch it bitches, I'm going to be working my luck up in Reno this weekend! I'm gonna be rich! I may return a hundredaire. Also going to hit up Chik-Fil-A on the way up, awesome. Don't worry, I'll give Jim Dangle, Raineesha, and Deputy T. Junior everyone's regards. Hopefully I'll even get to spot Terry on his skates, that would be a boon for A Rollerskating Jam's photo gallery.

Ouch!

Excellent abbreviated, witty street art from Banksy in New York. I'd love to have a peek inside that guy's mind, he's genius.

Image from FFFFOUND!

Arcs and Angles

I love the simple beauty of this. The delicate feet and neck of the woman, and her elegant up-do. The simple palette and the juxtaposition of swooping arcs against straight lines and sharp angles, all of it pulled together by the blues, reds, white and gray is a delight for the eye.

Image from FFFFOUND

What the Heck?

I don't know about you, but I think this picture is kind of weird. Terry Richardson kind of gives me the heebie jeebies. I'm totally down with Obama, but this photo confuses me. Is it Photoshopped? Please don't let Sarah Palin and the other Repuglicans find out about this.

UPDATE 10/17/08: I checked my Sitemeter stats the other day and found that I had a visitor from Wasilla, Alaska after I posted this. Spoooky!

The Looting of New Orleans

Banksy has been hitting up certain US cities, New York and New Orleans. This image is from New Orleans, National Guardsmen looting a house. I love it. Apparently several of his other works in NO have already been painted over. Too bad.

Image from Kitsune Noir

Conneticut Gets It

The Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled that it gay marriage is legal. There will be no appeal. Beginning October 28th marriages between gays and lesbians will commence. Connecticut joins Massachusetts and California in recognizing marriages between gays and lesbians. Hooray! I hope that this is a sign of better days to come. Congratulations Connecticut!

Super Sucky

Mother's Cookie's , a Oakland institution for 92 years has abruptly filed for banruptcy protection and baking will discontinue on Monday. That means STOCK UP on the delicious, nutritious (yes, the colorful sprinkles are actually vitamins) Circus Animal cookies that everyone knows and loves. Other favorites like Iced Molasses, and Flaky Flix are bound to disappear fast too. I hope some Fairy Godperson appears and saves this institution. What will life be like if I have children who never know the pleasures of the pink and white icing of Circus Animals and the delicious vitaminy crunch of the colorful candy sprinkles atop? Blasphemy. Thanks a lot George W. I blame this on you, you bankrupter.

Bad News Hughes is Back!

One of my favorite bloggers, Patrick Hughes, is back after a too long hiatus, with a new blog. Formerly known as Bad News Hughes, he's now writing at The Domesticated Shithead. All hilarious, all the time. When I found Bad News Hughes I spent days going through his writing laughing myself silly. I also greatly admire anyone who clearly knows the proper use of the word discrete. Run , don't walk. Don't be surprised if you wet your pants. (Highly recommended, Hughes family Christmas recaps from Bad News Hughes. You'll possibly want adoption papers drawn up, or to make sure you live far, far away.)

Stamp of Approval

Beautifully designed stamps for the philatelist in you. These particular stamps from Israel bring attention to environmental pollution; air, water and noise. To my eye they have something of a retro look, but overall they are simply tiny works of art.

Images from FFFFound

For Brian

My husband has always liked the band Dressy Bessy, and I spotted this poster and thought of him. Baby, this is for you!

Image from FFFFound

Chirp Chirp Cheerful

Aren't these notebooks super? I saw them at one of my favorite stores, Fig Garden, in San Anselmo, and knew I had to get them. Luckily I didn't have to make a choice between the two of them because who can decide between a proud peacock and a cute bird perched over delectable cherries? Not I. The decision making is already taken care of for you, they come in an alluring $5 two-pack. They are made by the French Paper Company. All of the paper is manufactured with 100% green hydropower and no petroleum products. I can get behind that! They offer many other paper and gift products. I have only begun to scratch the surface of their website, and have added it to my blogroll because it is so chock full of wonders.

Did anyone let you in on my notebook addiction? I love well designed notebooks. The secret pocket and last tear out pages in Moleskines, genius. Campus Wide notebooks, with "the best ruled foolscap suitable for writing." I have to agree there. It's the smoothest paper ever, a veritable delight to write upon, especially with a Uniball Jetstream pen, a match made in heaven for Campus Wide paper. Jetstream pens are like a miracle, people think I'm talking a lot of hot air until they use my pen, and then they are complete converts. Go and try one yourself. Don't try to take mine, I'm watching you. And I keep notes.

Notebooks designed by Charles S. Anderson Design