Things I Love #38

Happy Sunday guys!  Today I am essay writing and reading so I hope that you are all doing something much more interesting.  In case you're not, here's what I loved this week:

Finn, Jake and Marceline finally arrived this week.  They are so super awesome and I am SO happy with them!  I'll do a proper post later in the week but here are some pics to tide you over:

I found this NY Times article about Gesture Writing super interesting and helpful.  Seems as though the concept will help with writer's block.

I really enjoyed Joss Whedon's 2013 Wesleyan commencement speech.  Specifically this line: "You have a responsibility to listen to the dissent in yourself."

So Biffy Clyro did a Q & A this week where they promised to answer the most popular questions put to them on Facebook.  One of those questions:  When are you coming to South Africa?  Answer:  End of this year or early next year.  My reaction:  unabashed giddiness!

Also in music news, Ray Toro from MCR unveiled a solo song in which he played and recorded everything himself.  Listen to it here.

I'd be lying if I told you that this painting of grown-up Calvin and Hobbes didn't leave me with a lump in my throat.

I LOVE the smell of rain.  Would I want to smell like rain?  I'm not too sure but for those of you who are, Blushie has Petrichor perfume oil.  There is also Fresh Cut Grass, Snowfall and Oncoming Storm.

How cool are these Adventure Time BFF Necklaces?  I want them all please and even though I love my friends, I'd probably keep both myself.

This Waning Chesire Art Print by Eric Fan is officially on my wishlist.

I went to I Heart Market yesterday for the first time in ages and came back with this awesome piggy planter and another skull necklace:

And while we're on the subject of offline things, I went to my first real roller derby practice on Thursday night and I didn't suck on skates!!  Yay!  Going back again this coming Thursday so I'll try snap some photos to show you guys.  In the meantime if you're interested in Durban Roller Derby, check out their Facebook page.

If you happen to go to Times Square right now, you'll find a giant LEGO X-Wing Fighter.  How awesome?!?

These Handmade Holster Bags kind of make me think of Han Solo.  Not sure if I'd ever actually use one though...

Check out Takahiro Komuro's super cool sculptures.  Lost at E Minor calls them "elegantly unsettling."  I don't really agree but I do like that phrase..

How cool are these before photos of famous pin-up posters?  

I also love these pictures of Heavily Tattooed Ladies from a Bygone Era by Ramon Maiden.

Fighting Spirits is a very awesome animation by Gene Kim featuring cyborg ballerinas:

Fighting Spirits from Gene Kim on Vimeo.

And lastly, here are some weird hybrid animals...I like the Killer Whale/Penguin combo and the Pug/Bird combo the most.

Seen anything you love this week?  Let me know in the comments:)

Things I Love #34

So I have terrible time management skills.  Really, really terrible time management skills.  I have time to update the blog, I think I should update the blog but then I sit on the couch and watch T.V.  I didn't even get half of my reading done this week.  Anyway, I'm already more organized this week so hopefully I can get back to a more regular posting schedule.  Fingers crossed. Now onto Things I Love:

A preview of The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys and an interview with Gerard Way on USA Today.  Two of my favourite things *sigh*

This step-by-step guide to Thriller would have come in handy at Collette's wedding.  We could only remember moves 19 and 20 and decided we were doing The Velociraptor instead.  Fun times.

Forget copyright!  We've always stolen music. Interesting article from Salon about the politics of copyrights.

An interesting excerpt from Homeward Bound: Why Woman are embracing the New Domesticity.  For someone who is terrible at domesticity I am not sure what I think of all this.

Whiter Moral Courage?  Salman Rushdies NY Times op-ed will make you think.

On a lighter note, I tried this drippy nail tutorial from Honesty WTF and its AMAZING!!  Seriously, take a look:

Oh My Geekness has an awesome collection of geeky jewellry.  I want this, this and this please!

Okay, did anyone know it was World Penguin Day on April 25th?  Me neither!!  Here are 10 penguin videos from xojane to help you with your belated celebrations.

Rozenn LG makes awesome paper art.  That is all.

Jason Liwag makes gorgeous art inspired by pop culture.  So many cool pieces but I think I like this one the most.

Tree library lets you read books on the street.  Honestly, I can't think of anything better!

Star Wars characters reimagined as character from Chinese folklore.  Joseph Chiang has done a brilliant job with these.  I want them all!!

Ever wondered what caffeine looks like?  Check out the Wellcome Image awards for that and other super cool science pics.  Caffeine is number 5.

LOVE this Star Wars Occupation flowchart from Visual.ly.  I ended up with Ewok Chief.  Let me know where you end up.

This ad campaign for Reporters without Borders does an amazing job highlighting the dangers of censorship.  Pretty pertinent seeing they've finally passed the Secrecy Bill:(

Today I made Hello Kitty cupcakes.  They turned out awesomely.  Probably because they came from a box.  I'll share my adventures in baking later this week but in the meantime I leave you with this:



And lastly, here are the 30 Happiest Facts of All Time.  If this doesn't leave you with a smile on your face I just don't know.

Seen anything you love on the internet this week?  Let me know in the comments:)

Scatter What Remains...New Music #4

It's been a little while since I last shared what I've been listening to.  Between the Rise Against concert and the break-up of MCR, my iPod was kind of monopolized.  Now that I've moved on, here's what I'm listening to at the moment:

Bring Me The Horizon – Sempiternal

So, if you followed any of my RAMfest posts, you’d know that I have been pretty ambivalent about Bring Me The Horizon.  It wasn’t until I saw them live that I realised they are pretty much everything I am looking for in a heavy band right now.  I kept playing Sleepwalking in my head after the show, even though I didn’t know half the words!  I decided to give Sempiternal a try and I can honestly say that it’s owned my iPod since!  I know they are considered light-weight metal and trend jumpers but neither of those criticisms make me like the album less.  Their songs are catchy, melodic and I like Oli Sykes' scream.   My favourite tracks are Shadow Moses and Sleepwalking.  Also you can’t beat Antivist for straight-up angriness.

Metric – Synthetica

Metric are an indie band from Canada which we found in the FIFA 13 soundtrack.  They are really easy to listen to though and unusual enough not to be boring.  The first track I heard was Speed the Collapse which kind of reminded me of Muse but with female vocals and less drama…so actually not like Muse at all!  Bad comparison Monique!!  Anyway, it’s still my favourite track followed closely by Youth Without Youth.

Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs – Mosquito

This album has had to grow on me and I suspect it might still have some work to do.  Unlike Show Your Bones, I didn’t love on my first listen, or even my third.  Now, as I write this and listen again, I am definitely starting to love it.  Maybe it’s a mood thing?  Anyway, while I decided on my favourite track, I will leave you with Sacrilege which I rather like.

Also on my iPod:

All my old-school emo!  Think Thursday, Thrice, Taking Back Sunday and The Juliana Theory.  I think the break up of so many of my old favourites (including MCR) has made me a bit nostalgic.  Also, listening to BMTH has meant a revival for Every Time I Die, Underoath and Norma Jean.  Nothing like heavy music to improve a bad day. 

What are you guys listening to?

Things I Love #30

Wow, I have been a terrible blogger this week.  After we got home from Splashy last weekend, I spent so much time fussing and procrastinating over my essay that I totally forgot to blog!!  Anyway, I am back, my essay is almost finished and I have the 30th edition of things I love ready for your consumption.  Enjoy:)

Does Pop Culture Have a Responsibility to Educate?  An interesting read from xojane.  What do you think?

Here is a much better Rise Against Interview from MK Ondergrond:

Check out this amazing paper art by industrial designer Irving Harper.  I like the owl the best.

So, as you know, My Chemical Romance have broken up:(  Gerard Way and Frank Iero have both released letters with their take on things. You can find Gerard's here and Frank's here.

I love this Afro Lion series by Japanese artist Mountstar.  Some of them look so distinguished!

In a delayed celebration of Easter, here are 10 creepy pop culture bunnies.  Some of them are very disturbing!!

On a related note, how creepy are these real life Easter bunny photos?  I shudder...

Here's an interesting Salon article about naming your novel.  Or rather what happens when you have to change the name of your novel.

And, on the subject of book names, here's a list of rejected titles for classic novels.  I am so glad F. Scott Fitzgerald came to his senses and went with The Great Gatsby!!

This collection of awful library books makes me wonder.  How did these guys get a publisher??

The Dog Booth app lets you have your very own puppy face.  Cute!

Oh my gosh!  There is such a thing as chocolate wine!!  I can't think of anything more perfect.

I just love these pop culture mice sculptures by Quernus Crafts.  The little Harry Potter ones are adorable!!

Look at these magical floating faucet fountains.  I think this is an awesome idea.

And lastly, here is the video for the new Alkaline Trio single I Wanna Be A Warhol:

Found anything you love this week?  Let me know in the comments.

Thank You for the Venom

The first time I heard My Chemical Romance was on a Rock Sound sample CD.  It was track 11 and it was Thank You for the Venom.  It was love at first listen.  Until I got my hands on the full album, I had Thank You for the Venom on repeat.  I knew every word.  My Chemical Romance was everything I was looking for in a band.  They were misfits, they liked the same things I liked, their music spoke to me (that sounds terribly cheesy but I am going to go with it because it’s true) and it was loud, fast and awesome.  Plus their name had a literary reference.

Helena became my end of work anthem because MTV showed the video everyday just before the music store I was working at closed.  Jason and I used to stand and watch that video together and wait for the day to end way back when we were still just friends.   I’m Not Okay became my way to let everyone know that, actually, I wasn’t okay with where my life was going and that something needed to change.  Singing those words was more than just enjoying the song, it was telling the truth.  I played Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge so often that one of my friends even made me a “You Need a New Band” compilation to try and wean me off of them!!

I followed everything they did, through the Black Parade and that weird death cult drama to the way more upbeat Danger Days which made me want to dye my hair bright red again and run around with a laser gun.  I am lame like that.  Did I mention I wore a glittery Revenge bracelet for months just because I saw one on Gerard Way’s wrist in a video clip?  Yeah, that happened.  The point is that they were always there in the background, a soundtrack to my adult life and all the changes it would (and did) bring. 

This weekend, the band issued the following statement on their website:

"Being in this band for the past 12 years has been a true blessing. We've gotten to go places we never knew we would. We've been able to see and experience things we never imagined possible. We've shared the stage with people we admire, people we look up to, and best of all, our friends. And now, like all great things, it has come time for it to end. Thanks for all of your support, and for being part of the adventure."

Without much of an explanation, without a reason why, the band I have loved with all my heart since the day I first heard them is gone.  I am sad because there will be no new album to accompany me into my thirties, I am sad because I will never see them live but I am also glad that I found them in the first place and that the music doesn’t go away just because the band aren’t together anymore!  

Anyway, if you are interested this is a pretty good In Memoriam post from MTV.  Needless to say I will be doing some pretty obsessive MCR googling over the next few days to see what other reactions or reasons might surface.  In the meantime, I will leave you with a few of my favourite videos:

Are there any bands that you feel this passionately about?  Let me know in the comments so that I don’t feel like an overdramatic weirdo…

Things To Look Forward To In 2013

There is a whole lot happening this year that I am really, really excited about so I thought I would let you in on a few:

Studying:  In October last year I applied to do my Honours in English part-time.  There has been a bit of a bugger up with my application so I am really hoping this is still an option for me this year.  Please keep your fingers crossed!

New Biffy Clyro:  If you haven't heard Biffy Clyro yet, you need to go and listen to them immediately!  I recommend starting with The Captain off of Only Revolutions.  They have a new album called Opposites due out this month and I am really looking forward to hearing it!  Here's the first single, Black Chandelier:

Colli's Wedding:  One of my bestest bests is getting married in March to an awesome guy and I get to be her Maid of Honour.  I am so excited to be able to share in their happiness and to catch up with old friends.

Rise Against and RAMfest:  You guys must be so tired of hearing me go on about this but I couldn't be more excited about the fact that Rise Against are actually playing in my city and we already have tickets for it!  Just thinking about it makes me want to play every album I own and jump around our flat!!

Adventure Time Funko Pop Vinyl:  I have mentioned these before but I am still desperately awaiting a release date or an option to pre-order the awesome Funko Pop Adventure Time figurines.  I neeeeeeed Marceline in my life.

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The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys:  My Chemical Romance is my favourite band of all time.  Really, all the rest are a distant second to these guys.  Anyway, in 2010 they released an album called Danger Days:  The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys.  The comic book tie-in for this album is a collaboration between Gerard Way, Shaun Simon and Becky Cloonan and it's finally being released in June this year!  Seriously, if anyone can get me a copy of the preview that will be released on Free Comic Book day, I would be the happiest person ever!  Check out this interview with Gerard Way to get a sneak peak at the artwork.  Also awesome?  The fact that he is currently writing the third Umbrella Academy installment.  Happy days!!

Turning 30:  This is a weird one because I always thought I would have major issues with turing 30 but as it stands right now, I am kind of looking forward to it.  Time will tell whether it becomes an issue closer to the time but I really hope it doesn't.  Everyone says that when you turn 30 you care less about the little stuff, you become more comfortable with yourself etcetera, etcetera.  While I don't assume these things just happen magically over night, anything that makes me less anxious about everything is a good thing!

What are you looking forward to this year?

Even On a Cloudy Day...New Music #2

I don't know about you guys but I always appreciate new music suggestions.  I find it's just too easy to get stuck in a same-old, same-old rut where I listen to the same artists over and over again.  So, to rescue you all from the plight of musical boredom, I present my current favourites:

Matt Skiba and the Sekrets - Babylon

This is Matt Skiba's (Alkaline Trio) second side-project after Heavens in 2006.  The band also includes My Chemical Romance's touring drummer Jared Alexander and AFI bassist Hunter Burgan.   It's the combination of musicians that made me get hold of this album in the first place.  Alkaline Trio, My Chemical Romance and AFI are all bands that I have had a love affair with at some point or another.  Although to be honest, the love affair has never really ended.  I'd be lying if I said that Babylon doesn't sounds a lot like Alkaline Trio because it does.  That said, it's still a really great album.  I love Matt Skiba's voice and his darker lyrics.  Despite the lyrics, the songs have a fun, punk sound which makes them really easy to listen to.  My favourite tracks are Voices and You.

Cage the Elephant - Thank You Happy Birthday

Cage the Elephant are a rock band from Kentucky and Thank You Happy Birthday is their second album.  This isn't exactly a new album because it was released in 2011 but it is new to me.  Jason came across them while reading an article on the Grunge Report.  These guys are loud and awesome and at times sound a little like The Pixies.  Especially on Aberdeen.  My favourite tracks are Shake Me Down (which lends a lyric to this post title) and Sell Yourself.

Deftones - Koi No Yokan

It must sound like I have A LOT of favourite bands which I guess is kind of true but Deftones are a perennial favourite.  I never get bored of them and while I didn't love the last album, I am pretty smitten by this one.  If smitten is even a word you can use in relation to Deftones.  My favourite tracks are Leathers and Swerve City.

MUSE - The 2nd Law

This is a surprise addition to my list.  MUSE was my band of choice at varsity.  I loved all their albums and I knew the lyrics to several songs off by heart.  I also may or may not have had a slight crush on Matt Bellamy.  Moving along, I didn't like their last album The Resistance at all.  In fact, I had pretty much given up on them because I wasn't a fan of the direction they were heading.  Then I heard the official Olympics song, Survival, which is amazing and so much heavier than I expected.  After listening to the album several times, I can safely say that they have my attention again.  My favourite tracks are Survival, Supremacy and one of the bonus tracks called Unsustainable.

Also on my iPod at the moment?  At The Drive In, The National, The xx and The Ravonettes.  You can see my first New Music post here.  I am thinking about making this a semi-regular occurence.  Anyway, if you get a chance to listen to any of the bands/albums then let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions of your own, add them to the comments.

Things I Love #22

I'm baaaaaack!  And guess what? This is my 100th post which I think is pretty awesome actually.  I am feeling a little more inspired after my unofficial break so things should be back to normal around here this week.  I have two 5 Books updates in store and a couple of other cool things to round out the year.  Plus Bye Bye Blackbird turns one next week Friday.  Yay!  Anyway, enough rambling and on to random internet (and real-life) goodness:

I'm pretty much in love with everything in the Twinklebird Etsy store.  My very favourites are the Ursa Major/Big Dipper necklace and the light blue Confetti Ring.  Stunning!

These illustrations by Roby Dwi Antono are absolutely stunning.  My favourites are under the title KINCY'S STORY.

I would absolutely LOVE to go to the International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque.  Just look how gorgeous these pics are:

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Can a Jellyfish Unlock the Secret of Immortality?  Super interesting read from the New York Times.  I can't even believe that something like this exists...amazing!

Positive Thinking is for Suckers!  If you are anything like me, the minute someone says don't think about something, it's all I can think of which is what makes the idea behind this article so interesting!

I nearly fell off of my chair in excitement when I saw that there is a range of Funko Pop Adventure Time figurines!  Alas, they are only available next year sometime and I can't find anywhere to pre-order them just yet...

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I love this Hipster Literature flow chart from Good Reads.  I haven't read Infinite Jest so I figure if I am going to get any book suggestions out of it, I better start there;)

Feeling low today?  Need a little pick-me up?  Try the Emergency Compliment website.  So much fun!!

I have mentioned my love for paper toys before but now there is a website where you can basically create a mini paper version of yourself!!  It's called Foldable Me and allows you to create your mini-me and then for $11.99 they will ship it to you!

I was playing around with nail polish again this week and painted myself some candy nails!  Not particularly neat or original but I like them:

This Batman hotel suite is pretty amazing.  One day I will stay in it.  One day.

All The Wild Horses is an amazing collection of horse photos by a Durban-based photographer called Andrew McGibbon.  Some of them are quite breathtaking!  

We had our work Christmas party on Friday and the theme was Pirates of the Caribbean.  They did such a fantastic job with the decor!!  I wish I could've taken these two pieces home:

Llama font lets you say it in llama, literally.  Type your text in the box and there you go.  I am pretty much in love with this!!

These Balloon Lamps are really fantastic!  Simple and quirky and perfect!

Anchors Up are a local band made up of members of Fire Through The Window and Wrestlerish.  Its a little bit country but actually surprisingly cool.  You can listen to/purchase the album here.

And finally, here is a video of Queen's Brian May performing on stage with My Chemical Romance.  Awesome.

Seen anything you love recently?  Feel free to share in the comments.

Things I Love #17

Is it just me or is this year passing very, very quickly?  My birthday is roughly three weeks away and Christmas decorations are going to start showing up in stores any day now.  It's weird because every year around this time, I start thinking about all the things I wanted to accomplish at the beginning of the year and how many of those things are still unfinished.  I think my mission for the last few months of 2012 is to try and get as many of those goals/ideas/projects done as I can.  Anyway, that really has nothing to do with the randomness I have found on the internet over the last two weeks so, without further ado, here is Things I Love #17.  Warning, its a long one!!

First up, this article about why weird experiences boost creativity.  Turns out they don't even need to be that weird.  

The amazingly cool Star Wars Force Glove.  I need this in my life...please...

Vintage Confections on Etsy make planet lollipops.  Really.  Filled with edible glitter to give them that space feel, you can now suck on the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.  If these could survive the trip to South Africa, I'd order them now.

Sam is back from London!!  Hi Sam!!  Anyway, being the good friend that she is, she bought home Lego Star Wars key rings for us.  Yay!

On the subject of Star Wars, these handbags have officially earned a spot on my wishlist.

Want to see Banksy's street art come alive?  Click here to see some awesome animated GIFs.

My Chemical Romance, one of my favourite bands in the world, is releasing some new-old material in an amazing boxset called Conventional Weapons.  I just wish it wasn't so pricey *sigh*

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Also music related is the new Deftones single!  Download it for free here.

Not one but two friends sent me the link to this Gradient Nail Art Tutorial (thanks Shannon and Miss V).  I can't wait to try it out.  It's the perfect excuse to go out and purchase some new, complementary nail polishes.

What eyes would look like without pupils.  Creepy and cool all rolled into one.

I got some super cute new summer shirts this week.  One with bunnies and the other with apples.  I like them a lot.

Is the pursuit of happiness a bunch of bullshit?  An interesting read from Gala Darling.

Sad Etsy Dogs collects pictures of dogs who are modeling their owners' Etsy creations.

I absolutely love this collection of 60 Freaking Awesome Animal Emotions.  There is no way you can look at these pictures and not smile.

These necklaces contain teeny, tiny pieces of regurgitated animals.  Designer Trixie Khong hand makes these vials using the remains left over by a friend's pet owls.  The site also makes it clear that no animals were harmed to make these necklaces.  Not sure if I think these are awful or amazing.  What do you think?

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On the subject of jewellery, this Bazinga Necklace is to cool for words and would totally match my obsession with The Big Bang Theory.

These illustrations give us an idea of what our favourite movie creatures might look like on the inside.

This week I mentioned my new found love for Terrariums.  While I still have plans to build my own, I'd still love one of these cute terrarium necklaces.  So unusual.

This article about how to get pumped about your work is worth a read.  Also, the site is called Unicorns for Socialism which makes me smile.

Religious icons really appeal to me.  Not necessarily for what they mean but just for the aesthetic value.  I know that some people may not appreciate them but I think these alternative takes on the Virgin Mary by Soasig Chamaillard are really great.

I got my first birthday present yesterday!  Another Genevieve Motley necklace which I have had my eye one.  Thanks Gill:)  Also this super cute bunny brooch.

And lastly, I have the best Dad.  He bought my mom and I these nifty hand and nail care sets and now my nails are shiny and awesome.  Thanks Dad!