The Rufrano

Ohai internet!

2008-10-15T16:15:00.000-07:00

havent seen you in forever.
sorry. been busy.
i guess i'm just a fair-weather blogger, and right now the weather is harrble. i cant stand it. is it hot? is it cold? is there a drought or a fire or something? jesus.
it only makes me believe even more that i control the weather with my mind.
someone make me cry.
it's too hot.

yeah, i've been on the selby lately. i even wrote an article about it. because i have no life.
go to the selby, k

B/W Holga Photos I've Taken

2008-04-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

Culture Page This Week

2008-03-24T15:23:00.000-07:00

Okay. Maybe Not.

2008-03-19T17:08:00.000-07:00

Pretty Stuff to Look At.

2008-03-13T13:35:00.000-07:00

i dont like my blog. im over it. i may start a new one.

new chapter something like that.

this is how i've felt lately

2008-03-11T14:47:00.000-07:00

never ever.

EVER.

search the following on google images: poop, asian poop, cute poop

its not cute. it really isnt.

Holga Travel

2008-02-09T16:15:00.000-08:00

I just bought a Holga. Also going to Europe with Kathy this June and here are some Holga pictures of places we may possibly visit.

Stockholm

PragueAmsterdam

Berlin

Brussels

Dublin

Paris

Vampires.

2008-02-03T16:47:00.000-08:00

By Rachel Rufrano

Vampire Weekend may be sucking the life out of the buzz they've received with all their recent publicity, but no amount of overexposure can keep these vampires from surviving in the spotlight. Taking a cue from The Beatles' debut in 1964, VW are the charming, sharply dressed boys your mother wishes you'd invite to dinner, but she may have to wash their mouths with soap when she hears their denunciation of the oxford comma. On paper, they sound like a mess; Ivy league educated Afro-pop infused with new wave rock and accompanied by classical string arrangements may be difficult to fathom, but upon first listen you will instantly understand the direction fo their new self-titled album.

After breaking out of the New York Indie-pop scene on music blog, Stereogum, they've gone from under-produced unknown to the most talked-about group this year. I attended their show in June of 2007 at the Troubadour (for $5, mind you) after only hearing three shabbily recorded songs. endeared, not only by their nerves, but also by their ability to impress with every unfamiliar song, I realized VW was undoubtedly talented and bound for great things - apparently, so did everyone else.

Unless you're put-off by white musicians who so blatantly appropriate black music (in which case you must have an inordinately small record collection), VW's use of world sounds is, for the most part, tongue-in-cheek. In fact, sarcasm runs so wildly through this album, that it'd be no surprise if listeners misinterpreted the group to be pretentious or trite.

For example, "Oxford Comma" is a song that criticizes English-snobs who constantly correct and condemn. The irony is in VW's lyrics and cleverly alliterated verses like, "All your diction/ dripping with disdain/ through the pain/ I always tell the truth," and it becomes apparent that these are more than just mindlessly catchy pop songs. But the group doesnt wholly rely on being so cute that it distracts you from substance - they can be genuinely fun. Songs like "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" and "M79" will scoop you up and throw you into a slow-motion montage of a Wes Anderson film. They've also been credited with some flattering references. Some have compared them to Paul Simon's Graceland or The Police - even David Byrne has likened them to an "early Talking Heads."

This kind of talk can often lead to the demise of a good band, and for the most part, VW is being portrayed as gimmicky and self-righteous. Fortunately, their self-titled album released last week gave VW the validation and confirmation needed to push their popularity out of the realm of absurdity. There isnt a single bad song on the album - most of which have been re-mastered and rerecorded with orchestral accompaniment. "I Stand Corrected" is a previously unreleased song driven by alternating drumbeats and a clear understanding of song structure. Clever musicians, wise beyond their years, I hope their hype dies before they do.

Cavemen.

2008-02-03T16:31:00.000-08:00

By Rachel Rufrano

Seattle is gloomy and miserable. it's a breeding ground for depression, suicide, and boredom - ergo Seattle is like a petri dish for good music like The Cave Singers. Invitation Songs is raw, unadulterated folk music. It's pure feeling and emotion. Somewhere between the washboard percussion and Soggy Bottom Boy vocals, you get the idea that the Singers didn't choose to express themselves through the honesty of roots music - it chose them. Pete Quirk sings each song with a nasally, fragile voice and everything about him suggests he's plowed through more than his fair share of whisky - and certainly a fair share of reason for whisky.

The album's opening tune "Seeds of Night" is perpetuated by bouncing guitar riffs and sandy snare brush strokes. Like an old souther soldier, swarthy and tired, he sings, "Ooh, thinking of heaven, " and stares into a cup as golden as the sun. All these alcohol and drug references are not unwarranted. The Singers played live at the Echo last December and Quirk was never seen without a Red Stripe by his side. There are also some other indications like the song "New Monuments." Singing like some hymnal chant, he preaches over steady bass lines that pulsate through your chest and echo and fade like the words, "I must be lost, I must be lost, I must be lost..." A song about drug-induced insanity, Quirk's voice trembles over the line, "There's a mirror, but I dont need to stare."

"Elephant Clouds" is a galloping march that conjures up images of a bird's-eye view of a coastal town. But the Singers are purely pastoral. "Dancing On Our Graves" is by far the best recording on the album and is just as much The Replacements as it is Arlo Guthrie. The song is a shuffling, stomping anthem of euphony. The melody and phenomenal musicianship, featuring Derek Fudesco on the guitar and bass pedals and Marty Lund on drums, encourage dancing and celebration, but always, beneath the surface, is an inner-turmoil, madness, and instability. Invitation Songs is like stories told by a man who was once happy, but can hardly recall those times under the scars of lost loves and small tragedies accumulated over a lifetime. "Helen" is just this very song. The tale of the loss of a legendary love comparable to that of Odysseus and Penelope, a wailing harmonica accompanies the words, "Helen your yes are frozen in my brain/ Helen you are lost world where I remain/ And all my dreams move away, I let them escape."

Like Johnny Cash, Guthrie, or Leadbelly, nowhere near as successful as influential, The Cave Singers show the same potential for greatness and ear for visceral folk music. Strange, considering the trio claim they dont listen to much folk music - they site The Pixies and Fleetwood Mac as influences - they are creating some of the best our generation has heard. And I suppose it doesnt matter either way, after all, it was Big Bill Broonzy who said, "All music is folk music."

Preparing for Sunset Beach

2008-01-13T23:50:00.000-08:00

Polka Dot Balconet

Victoria's Secret $80

Madras Balconet

Victoria's Secret $54

Retro Scoopneck One-Piece

Victoria's Secret $88

The-Bathing-Suit-I-Was-Looking-For-

All-Last-Summer

Victoria's Secret $76

Nylon Tricot Maillot-V

American Apparel $45

I do this sometimes.

2008-01-13T23:37:00.000-08:00

Jane Birkin

2007-12-17T12:38:00.000-08:00

StreetStyle

2007-12-17T12:29:00.000-08:00

I found these on a bunch of random streetstyle sites.

Pave Paradise, Put Up Another Starbucks

2007-12-11T12:25:00.000-08:00

I have seen the end of the universe…and it's on the third floor of the University Student Union. An emerald siren hangs in the window above the escalator and, despite her feminine wiles, she symbolizes the man. She represents the talking head, the global conglomerate, and corporate greed - she represents Starbucks. Some may criticize that this chain represents everything wrong with globalization and condemn the controversy surrounding the chain's fair-trade policies, labor relations, and environmental impact – the core of American imperialism. Why, then, if it seems so many people denounce monopolistic conglomerates like Wal-Mart and Starbucks, do we see them consuming our cities and neighborhoods?

Comedian Lewis Black sowed general discord for Starbucks in his act in 2005, claiming that it was the end of the universe. He explains, "If you walk to the end of the block, there sits a Starbucks. And directly across the street – in the exact same building as that Starbucks – there is… another Starbucks. There is a Starbucks across the street from a Starbucks! And ladies and gentleman, that is the end of the universe." This proves to be a strikingly relevant revelation considering that Cal State Long Beach is opening a Starbucks down the hall from the one in our library.

So, yes, I suppose it could be "the end of the universe" that Mr. Black describes, but more logically it could be that the problem lies within our consumer-happy hearts and not the mind of some greedy talking head. It's this kind of hypocrisy that fuels said corporation's success. Prominent 60s folk singer Joni Mitchell quit the music business nine years ago in an attempt to make a statement about the industry's corrupt corporate aims and said, "I hope it all goes down the crapper. It's top heavy. It's wasteful. It's an insane business." Now her music is broadcasting through Starbucks speakers in more than forty countries worldwide – the very evil she once censured.

There have been many instances in which people thought a picket line would keep a Wal-Mart form existence. Unfortunately, the number of people picketing never compared to the number of people who keep Wal-Mart in business every year - most of whom earn an average of $35,000 a year. This, of course, is a much lower salary than those who regularly shop at Starbucks. For this reason, it may be safe to assume that income doesn't have as much to do with keeping these businesses alive as some previously thought.

In November of 2001, a boycott was organized against the retail chain Forever 21 by factory workers until payroll wages and working conditions improved. However controversial these circumstances were, the boycott was near nonexistent because no matter the conditions, consumers were blinded by cheap designer knock-offs and vanity took top priority. In fact, retail analysts estimated that sales had grown to more than one billion dollars in 2006 from the $640 million earned in the year previous.

We may have ruled out income as an excuse, although low prices have proven to be a convenience, but vanity still seems to be a viable issue. People who shop at Wal-Mart can afford to decorate their houses and wardrobes like middle-class consumers, those who shop at Starbucks can carry disposable caffeine-laden fashion accessories, and the teenage Forever 21 consumers can dress like celebrities on their fathers' allowance.

Has vanity taken such a high precedence in our society that, despite the fact that we realize what we're doing is damaging our economy and values as a society, we still shop at these mega-chains? If someone really believed that ridding our civilization of these places would remedy our financial problems and restore the moral fiber of this country, they would stop shopping there. Considering that a large majority of the CSULB campus is liberal and claims to deplore imperialism, is it any wonder that we are opening yet another Starbucks? Our campus has done so much to ensure that our 49er shops offer products produced through the Fair Labor Association and patrons can rest easy knowing their purchases weren't made in sweatshops. Why wouldn't we do that much to guarantee fair capitalism and open shops that enrich the competition we see reflected off-campus. The only real solution to this dilemma is perfectly catered to the lazy audience that encourages and supports these chains – it's almost too convenient. The only real way to bring these chains down is not to shop there. Buy coffee and clothing and food for the same price at any other retailer and you'll be making a significant contribution to your economy. Yes, this means you may have to take the extra time to walk down the hall to purchase coffee in the library or downstairs at the Coffee Bean, but the principle will only make your beverage taste that much better. The truth is, this article does nothing to lessen the convenience of the upcoming Starbucks - the same way picket lines and boycotts were organized in vain. The only thing that can make a difference is you. But hey, if Joni Mitchell can ignore the guilt gnawing at her soul, so can you – we've done a commendable job so far.
-r.rufrano

make the ringing in my ears stop, please

2007-11-24T23:47:00.000-08:00

"Oh Mandy" - The Spinto Band

hxxp://download.yousendit.com/CF09D9052CF90530

convert the "xx" to "tt"

Static and Melodramatic

2007-11-22T22:23:00.000-08:00

I've been stuck in a rut lately, which means I've been overtly melodramatic and listening to way too much music. Here are the highlights of what I've been obsessively listening to...

Dreams - The Whitest Boy Alive

All Hour Cymbals - Yeasayer

Desire - Bob Dylan

The Early Years Vol. 2 - Tom Waits

Riot On An Empty Street - The Kings of Convenience

Invitation Songs - The Cave Singers

Marquee Moon - Television

Two Gallants - Two Gallants

Blue CD-R - Vampire Weekend

Oh, You're So Silent Jens

2007-11-17T18:13:00.000-08:00

[This isn't published, nor has it been edited yet. This was the first show I ever attented by myself and I had such a great time. I'm going to do it often - I've made that promise to myself. This is my review of the Jens Lekman show on Nov. 10, 2007. I reccommend you start listening to this Swedish phenomenom, if you haven't already. :) ]

If Jens Lekman is the social pariah of the Swedish Invasion, then the Troubadour, on that Holy Saturday Sabbath, was a welcoming congregation of his rapidly growing group of followers. Standing beautiful and devastatingly awkward on stage, in a place I’d like to call my home away from home, he inaugurated his sermon with a hymn, aptly titled, “The Opposite of Hallelujah.”

This man has sampling chops on par with Dr. Dre and The Beastie Boys and openly exposes the source of the songs’ familiarity when he sings a Chairmen of the Board line, “Give me just a little more time” in the middle of “Hallelujah.” Although the average listener is not likely able to pinpoint Left Banke’s “Walk Away Renee” looping on “Maple Leaves” or “Plan B” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners on “You Are the Light,” it was the few diehard fans that gazed up at Lekman that night who could truly enjoy such mental masturbation. What was even more impressive was that, for an artist who relies so heavily on the craftsmanship of a turntable, there were a surprising number of musical instruments utilized – all of which were played by strikingly beautiful European women. An accordion, saxophone, keyboard, flutes, violin, viola, drums, guitar – even a triangle – were used to bring sampled recordings to life.

Lekman’s calming, low voice sings like Morrissey with a Swedish accent, but speaks like a mumbling young man who’s nervously in love. He tells his audience the story behind “Nina” – about a boy who pretends to be Nina’s fiancé as a favor to her parents who could never bear to know that their daughter is a lesbian. It’s storytelling like this that made the show truly interactive. At no point was the room not filled with clapping, snapping, dancing, singing, or laughter. Lekman even passed out tiny egg shakers to accompany him on the song “Pocketful of Money.” The crowd repeated the words, “I’ll come running with a heart on fire” in row-your-boat harmony.

For his encore he asked his followers if they’d like to dance. Of course we did, so he played “Friday Night at the Drive-In Bingo” and people moved like they were speaking in tongues. It was time for Lekman to leave, but he reluctantly walked away. “You guys are the best crowd I’ve ever had,” he blushed and we knew we weren’t being served an insincere line.

The proof came in much better form than assuming sincerity when he blessed us with a second encore. We cried our requests, even though he had already played everything we could have requested and more (“Black Cab, “Shirin”, and “Your Arms Around Me” to name a few). “I’m going to play a silly song,” he noodles on his hollow-bodied electric. “I hated the chorus of this song when I was little, and I especially hated Chevy Chase’s face in the music video.” I knew right away that we were about to hear “You Can Call Me Al” and my heart skipped a beat at the very thought. He expressed the love he found for the song when he learned English. Loveliness ensued. “A man walks down the street and says ‘Why am I soft in the middle? / Why am I soft in the middle? / The rest of my life is so hard.” As a favor to our preacher we pardoned Chase’s solo from the chorus.

Lekman christened us with Paul Simon and there was a look in his eyes that showed me he didn’t want to leave, but something told me there would be a second coming. Oh, you're so silent Jens, but we love you for it.
-r.rufrano

MY BEAWD HUWTS!

2007-11-08T15:53:00.001-08:00

Not-So-Original Gangster

2007-11-03T23:47:00.000-07:00

American Gangster is a bit like a toddler drowning in his father’s suit - sure, it doesn't fit, but it’s still entertaining. In other words, it’s a good movie that fails to live up to it’s potential the way its classic counterparts, The Godfather and Serpico - even Scarface - have, but all-in-all, is still a substantially well-made film worth seeing.

Set it 1970s New York, the film follows the rise of organized crime boss Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), whose brilliant idea to buy pure heroin direct from Thailand and sell it for half the price in Harlem, made him a wealthy mob monopoly king. Russell Crowe appears as Richie Roberts, the sickeningly good cop/attorney who sets out to take down, and eventually defend, Lucas. The script was adapted by Steven Zaillian (writer of "Schindler's List" and “Gangs of New York”) from a piece in New York Magazine by Mark Jacobson. It’s because of this credibility that one would be so disheartened by an alarmingly uninspired film that clearly follows the beaten path to gangster film legend without ever thinking outside the box.

Director Ridley Scott portrays Roberts and Lucas as blatant foils - good and evil, poor and rich, stumbling and sociable. Although Crowe and Washington could not have been better cast, its the film’s bumbling attempt at making these characters complex that falls short. Sure, Lucas is a twisted and evil drug dealer who has torn thousands of families apart and killed even more firsthand, but he’s a charismatic family man - an affable mama’s boy who remains loyal to his Puerto Rican beauty queen wife. Taken under the wing of his equally twisted grandfather Bumpy and motivated by a lynching he witnessed as a young boy growing up in North Carolina, Lucas utilizes what he’s good at - crime and manipulation - to overcome racial limitations in a country at war with itself and Vietnam.

Roberts, on the other hand, is so morally pure that he becomes the city’s running joke when he returns a trunk full of money instead of splitting it with his corrupt, heroin-addicted detective sidekick. Roberts, a womanizing lotharios who never makes time to see his son on weekends, is so busy trying to follow a path of righteousness that he ends up leaving a trail of immorality behind him.

So the characters are flawed, but are still stock in an old-fashioned film sort-of-way. It’s Scott’s unabashedly subtle technique paired with modern and flashy camera work that redeem these character flaws and allow them to shine, only failing at Washington’s repetitively self-parodic “My man!” (This is something we let slide - it’s Denzel we’re talking about here.) Unfortunately, he’s surrounded by a less impressive cast of starving drama-geek extras who make sweeping generalizations about how the Italian mafia should look and act. Case in point: stereotypical villain Josh Brolin's Detective Trupo who is too David Caruso to actually be taken seriously and Cuba Gooding Jr.’s character, a nightclub owner, who’s so coked out he throws a tantrum and nearly demands Lucas to “show him the money” - probably so he can afford his groovy paisley leisure suits.

These were also details I was able to overlook. Come climax, I was pleasantly rewarded by Lucas’ and Roberts’ encounter and eventual tête-à-tête in an interrogation room. Gangster proves to be a raw, unwavering portrayal of drug use and corruption. Scott did a phenomenal job of depicting drug’s effect on men, women, their families, politics, soldiers, and the American junta. At times slow, but ultimately satisfying, American Gangster is a layered and vibrant thriller that manages to be provoking, yet remain so straightforward that you can invite your girlfriend/movie-talker-friend to come along without having to hear “What’s going on?” every five minutes.

Union Weekly

2007-10-28T13:06:00.000-07:00

This is just about everything I've written so far. Take a look and tell me what you think. :)

10-22-07 ; Feature: Radiohead
- Cover
- Self-Pity

10-15-07 ; Feature: You Wish You Were An Art Student
- Cover
- I brought the artistPatrick Ballard in for the feature.
- Beirut

10-01-07 ; Feature: Fall Fashion
- Cover
- Mod Aud as well as the intro and the list at the bottom, but I dont have a byline.

09-24-07 ; Feature: Hip-Hop/Surfing
- Cover
- Across the Universe

09-17-07 ; Feature: Against the Odds
- Cover
- Spoon
- Flying Club Cup

09-03-07 ; Feature: Sex
- Cover. And that's my friend Joe.
- My first piece! A review of Spoon's album Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga.

Growing Trend: Self-Pity

2007-10-28T12:44:00.000-07:00

[i wrote this for last week's Union Weekly. It's something i wrote for my paper The Anchor in high school, but i modified some minor details.]

Why does the college world seem to be so filled with compulsive liars,
hypochondriacs, and self-pitying complainers? Can the average student
go through a day without having to show some forced act of sympathy?
Perhaps the true answer lies in the fact that we do not sympathize –
we compete for the sympathy. If our lives are worse than the next
person's, then that validates us in some ironic way.

People everywhere are striving to be complex, mysterious, and
multi-dimensional by embellishing upon or creating a damaged
childhood. Maybe before we can understand why we feel so tempted to be
such tortured souls we must understand the root of the trend. Research
indicates that the trend stems from a substantial influence of the
media.

Long before emo artists like Elliot Smith were popular, John Lennon
and the Plastic Ono Band released a seminal album, Plastic Ono Band,
in which Lennon exorcised feelings from a damaged childhood through a
trendy psychological process called est – a first for mainstream pop
music. The rest of the music scene slowly began to follow suit and
decided to capitalize on the cool of self-deprecation. As these people
became our idols, we imitated their self-loathing ways.

Now the media seems to have become so well aware of the trend that we
cannot escape it. Popular television shows such as Grey's Anatomy
depict the wealthy and superficially successful struggling with
alcoholism, drug-use, and dysfunctional families – all of which only
add more to the characters' allure.
The Internet is now a large factor in the self-pitying epidemic.
Corporate-sponsored blog sites like MySpace are a nesting ground these
activities. Self-pitying preteens gather for anonymous self-pitying
hedonism. Here, it is fashionable to complain.

Perhaps this depressed façade goes deeper than just being "cool."
Having low self-esteem can be advantageous in other ways, too. If we
fail to believe in ourselves, we fail to reach our potential. If we
have "problems" we have an excuse and can guarantee that we will never
let ourselves down.

If, instead, we traded in our guilty conscience for some
self-effacement we would not have to hide behind our "problems." And
while some of us now have to step backwards and overcome the problems
we have created, people in this world exist with real issues to
conquer. By ignoring the temptation to complain every chance we get,
we could be making way for potential self-improvement. When we stop
forcing others to sympathize for our illusionary issues we may offer
support to those who truly need it.

Student Anti-War Rally

2007-10-27T18:53:00.000-07:00

[an editorial-style news story written for this week's Union Weekly]

“What do we want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!” Student demonstrators gathered on Friendship Walk last Wednesday to raise awareness for Saturday’s Anti-War Rally in Los Angeles. According to the rally’s sponsor, AnswerLA.org, the event was organized to “illustrate visually the impact of the war on Iraqis and United States soldiers” and to “galvanize people to take an active role.” Although the intention was there, it was ultimately in vain.

A stampeding crowd of anti-war protesters dressed in hippie nostalgia touted signs denouncing imperialism and promoting socialist ideals shouted frantically in the faces of their outnumbered. Both sides, however equally valid in their stance, presented beliefs with a passionate conviction. An overwhelming number of demonstrators were completely oblivious as to why they were even there. When approached with the simple question, “What are you doing here?” many were taken-aback and unable to answer. “We’re supporting our cause!” a student proclaimed. But when asked, “Which cause would that be?” embarrassed and nervous laughter shortly followed. This confusion was an understandable reaction.
Even though the banners advertised bringing our troops home from war, guest speakers used their platform to express beliefs irrelevant to the rally; beliefs such as amnesty for immigrants, anti-discrimination for homosexuals, racism, and animal cruelty.

Guest speaker and Vietnam veteran Ivan Goldman was one of the few who managed to stay on topic. He claimed that the most corrupt aspect of today’s war is the amount of information that is being concealed. He then went on to reveal some information of his own. He threw out casualty numbers and supposed war tactics, but never sited a source or foundation for his claims. He did, however, bring up an interesting point – he maintained that soldiers reenlisted in the war in hopes that they will receive a time-ensured “bonus.” He left out details of what this bonus entailed. Goldman was effective in his endeavor to unite his audience and asked that students take action and write letters to California senator Diane Feinstein, whom he claims funds the war. His main concerns were that we not only bring our troops home, but that we take care of them once they arrive.

Every following speech was muddled amongst a pettily arguing crowd and cheap shots like “retard” and “learn to speak English.” Some of these slurs even came from the mouths of the event coordinators – most of whom refused to allow the opposition to speak. Campus professor and retired air force member George Kuck asked for a chance to address the crowd and was immediately rejected. It was not until all the speakers had finished that he was able step on the soapbox. There’s no way to determine whether or not his words had any validity because he was subsequently drowned out by organized chants.
At the event’s conclusion I was provoked by the words of a volunteer student speaker who introduced himself as Michael. Referencing the recent surrounding brush fires he asked that we observe where the true fire lay – in the amalgamation of our restless youth, eager to take political action and to make world decisions. We can only hope, that unlike the wildfire that engulfs us, that we are able to make these decisions with thoughtful direction.
- r. rufrano

Movin' on Up

2007-10-27T18:30:00.000-07:00

carley and i plan to look for apts. sometime this spring and move in time for our junior year. im super excited and these rooms have given me some great ideas.

Let's Get Some Shoes

2007-10-12T23:10:00.000-07:00

I Just Cant Get Enough

2007-10-09T11:57:00.000-07:00

$9 at FredFlare.com

Hotel Chevalier

2007-10-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

Here are some tasty screen caps from "Hotel Chevalier," the prequel to the film "The Darjeeling Limited." It was supposed to be the opening scene, but was cut at the last minute. I know Darjeeling isnt getting rave reviews, but Chevalier was very good and I'm going to support Wes Anderson no matter how awful every film since Rushmore will be.

what the hell is this?

i like it.

I wish I were in Paris.

For Your Listening Pleasure:
http://blogsr4dogs.com/music/Where_Do_You_Go_To_My_Lovely.mp3

Hello Television

2007-10-06T20:56:00.000-07:00

my sister showed me a cool website:
http://www.hellotelevision.co.uk/

Bjorn.

2007-10-05T19:14:00.000-07:00

Qu'est-ce que c'est?

Let's Be Swedish, Okay?

2007-10-05T19:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, so the first two are Paris. You know, people may think I look like an Italian Jew, but deep down im French.

I'm in desperate need of a Cosby sweater.

This last look is amazing. Men - take note.

I Have the Coolest Parents

2007-10-05T18:44:00.000-07:00

Across the Universe

2007-09-20T23:09:00.000-07:00

(this is the long version before it's been edited, so its fairly rough)

The 1960s were a time of political turbulence and social change. During an era when the American youth were taking an active role in society, the characters of Across the Universe were doing, well, nothing. Unless you consider singing Beatles songs through a digital filter a la Zach Efron to be taking an active role, the film did little to address or confront any issues facing the generation. Although director Julie Taymor (known for her work on the theater production of The Lion King) was true to her creative and eccentric style, it did nothing for the film except muddy the near nonexistent plot. Eventually, this visually stimulating two and a half hour MTV music video spiraled into obscurity. Across the Universe’s inadequate representation of a generation was the most over indulgent movie you’ve already seen about the sixties and less.
Jim Sturgess, the cutest thing to rock the McCartney mullet since Sir Paul McCartney himself, plays Jude, a Liverpudlian with a creative streak who is in search of his American father. When his less-than-climactic union ends, he moves to New York with his spoiled friend Maxwell, a rebellious Princeton dropout who is sent to fight in the Vietnam War. Jude falls in love with Maxwell’s sister Lucy, played by flaxen beauty Evan Rachel Wood. Other one-dimensional characters include Sadie, a Janis Joplin-like singer and perhaps the most annoying woman anyone could ever encounter; JoJo, the back up guitarist who goes from acting like Jimi Hendrix to Bill Withers in a matter of thirty minutes; and Prudence, the lesbian cheerleader who “came in through the bathroom window” and proceeded to lock herself in the closet. Trust me, she comes out of the closet. She attempts to sleep with any woman named after a Beatles song shortly thereafter. The witticisms don’t end there – the entire film is infused with gimmicky puns that lend themselves to Beatles tunes. For example, Maxwell is accused of beating his grandmother with a silver hammer (ha!) and an old man wonders why he’s still working the docks at the age of sixty-four (good one!).
Beyond these disastrous puns were even more disastrous song sequences played through far-fetched scenes in which lyrics are manifested in oblique references. There is a laughable scene in which “I Want You” is sung by an Uncle Sam constrained to a war poster and the lyrics, “she’s so heavy” are chanted by a group of young soldiers carrying the Statue of Liberty over their shoulders. I suppose it makes more sense than when Jude sings “Something” to Lucy’s left nipple or when Lucy sings “If I Fell” with glazed-over and off-distance-looking eyes to Jude’s party-in-the-back. Bono, who plays Dr. Robert, a Timothy Leary inspired role, steals the film’s only redeeming moment with his version of “I Am the Walrus”. I commend his ability to be the only performer who didn’t take already-perfect works of genius and degrade them to Raffi. This bliss was far too temporary, for it was quickly interrupted by the most horrid version of “For the Benefit of Mr. Kite” done in the obnoxious spoken word of Eddie Izzard. The end scene couldn’t come too soon, but I’m sorry it had to happen at all. In one of the most horribly cheesy end scenes, all the characters reunite on a New York rooftop (a reenactment of The Beatles’ last concert on the roof of Apple Records in 1969) to sing, “All You Need is Love”. At the very least, this scene did not include interpretive dance of any kind, and for that I was eternally grateful.
For whatever reason this film was made – whether it was attempting to capitalize on the success of Cirque de Soleil’s Love or just to embarrass the most fondly coveted musical group of all time – it failed to recreate the magic of the Beatles. My advice to anyone who was as subliminally brainwashed by the trailer as I was is to buy an actual Beatles album and enjoy the absence of excessive camera panning and interpretive dance.

R. Rufrano

Spoon Live @ the Henry Fonda Sep. 12, 2007

2007-09-14T17:57:00.000-07:00

I feel empty. I feel used. I had a one-night stand with a band that cared nothing for me. I tried to fool myself into thinking I was having a good time, but I knew my efforts were in vain. It was clear from the beginning that things would never work out between us.
It was just ten minutes to show when I crammed my way into the humid lesion some like to call the Henry Fonda. I acclimated immediately to the predominantly male (and predominantly un-showered) crowd that surrounded me. The hall was filled wall-to-wall with nonchalant Mac guys pressing their plastic cups tentatively to their v-necked chests and there were more five o’ clock shadows than you could shake a razor at.
The Everly Brothers began to blare through the speakers when the curtains opened to reveal Spoon, the group I’d coveted since I heard “The Way We Get By” in 2003. Britt Daniels shouted his count-off over “Bye Bye Love” and as soon as the band began the automation stopped.
My first fear was that Spoon would be unable to live up to the mastery accomplished in the studio on their most recent album Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. The album was raw, perfectly capturing the extemporization of rock n’ roll – something one might consider unavoidable in a live performance. My fears were unfortunately confirmed and I found that Spoon exposed inhibition and lacked the ardor and spirit heard on the record and records prior.
This was apparent, as Daniels has acquired the hapless habit of making distressed expressions in the face of technical difficulties, and I couldn’t help but reciprocate them. The intro song began with the trill of feedback, but I forgave them as soon as Rob Pope’s bass bounced into “Don’t You Evah.” Things seemed to be going well, that is, until Daniels completely forgot the words. The crowd laughed it off and I felt inclined to do the same. Unfortunately for Spoon, my inclinations were decidedly weak. At this point, my feet were still functioning comfortably in three-inch heels, so my mood remained forgiving. Come encore, I had grown tired of having my anticipation crushed by mediocrity. I knew that if they were smart, they would play “The Way We Get By” and break out the horn section to finish with their hit of the moment, “The Underdog.” Alas, “The Way We Get By” was absent from the entire set. They were about to perform their final song and, like a neglected and whimpering puppy (literally, my feet were killing me), I was willing to forgive, provided “The Underdog” could will my aching heels to move. This should have been no difficult task, seeing as nothing makes me want to slap a tambourine on my ass like Mama Cass more than that very song. In a disappointing fit of shame, my expectations were quelled when I was bombarded with a raucous cacophony of sound enough to make Helen Keller cringe.
In Spoon’s defense - because you have to remember, I speak from the perspective of a disappointed fan - there were a few golden moments. Try to imagine me as the father who criticizes because he loves. I was disillusioned by the child that had never done me wrong, so I dressed up my denial in dancing and self-deception. “You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb” was a fine sample of what the entire show should have been: the three-man horn section incorporated some much-needed fun. The most energy exuded was during the performance of the entrancing “The Ghost of You Lingers.” Head down, shoulders tense, Eric Harvey persistently pounded away at his keyboard. Dissonant chords reverberated and soothed my aching ears. Daniels seemed to finally allow the music to consume his ego. A red light scanned over the crowd, leaving us in a hypnotic trance. How the group was able to go from uninspired and affected to completely volatile and genuine - and then right back again - I will never understand, but I was gracious to have received the authenticity when I did. After all, that’s why I was there to begin with.
If I were going to make an excuse for the group, I might say that because it was their third night in a row at the same venue, they were drained or bored. One might also argue that they could have become more familiar with their Los Angeles audience. Either way, the performance was less than engaging. I’m not asking that Spoon be extravagant and I don’t see any need for them to sneer or snarl or duck walk across the stage. I do, however, expect a decent display of vivacity and enthusiasm for a brand new, critically acclaimed album – one they neglected and only played a select few songs from. Despite the blatant euphonic mistakes and sheer laziness, the group was able to form a solid bond with the audience. One couple went so far as to inform me that they’d seen them the past two nights in a row. Looking back, I wish I’d had the foresight to ask if this particular show was an anomaly, but they were too busy shouting along to “I Turn My Camera On,” and yeah, I guess I was doing the same.
So Spoon still hasn’t called me back, but I can say that if they do, despite my negative experience the first time around, I’d be more than willing to pick up the phone. Maybe next time, they could buy me dinner first.

on air. online.

2007-09-13T17:49:00.000-07:00

i'll attempt to post a playlist every week. here were the last two.

Flying Club Cup

2007-09-12T14:37:00.000-07:00

By Rachel Rufrano
Beirut’s 2006 debut album Gulag Orkestar, inspired entirely by the vintage cover photo taken by Russian photographer Sergey Chilikov, solidified Zach Condon’s position as forerunner of the Balkan/world/Indie music arena (and his competitors are furious!). This time around, Condon finds inspiration in early twentieth century France and Flying Club Cup does not fail to conjure up images of empty French carnivals where the only sounds that linger are the gypsy music grinder’s monkey and the playerless piano.
Club Cup ditches the ukulele for the full, lush string arrangements of Final Fantasy and Arcade Fire arranger Owen Pallett. This is not better displayed than by the album’s ninth track, “In the Mausoleum” - a jazzy tune with quirky timing like that of Dave Brubeck; if only it were “Blue Rondo a la France.”
Condon’s signature style, however, remains relievedly familiar. The charming Jacques Brel-esque sounds are revived through songs like “Forks and Knives” in which we are presented with the same triumphant waltzing melodies as heard on Gulag’s “Elephant Gun”. His wistful voice still cascades over crashing symbols and brass oompahs, but his vocal performance makes a transformation on “Cliquot” and we hear a noticeably pained and staccato-like singing style that leans more towards classical baroque pop than it does towards Morrissey.
“Le Banileu” features a wheezing accordion that fades in like an encore floating down the Seine and everyone on the barge bursts into the chorus from track three, “A Sunday Smile.” While the gypsies sway to “Un Dernier Verre” – a beautifully tragic ballad that steadily builds into euphonium ecstasy – the passersby idly throw change in the direction of the undulating rhythms of “Cherbourg.”

Beirut manages, once again, to take a presumably un-listenable genre of world music and beguile the listener into wanting nothing more than to dance shamelessly with the street musicians of some impoverished village – in this case we might imagine they are wearing coat tails and a pencil-thin mustache. One can only imagine what foreign old-country destination Condon will adventure to next, but as long as he brings wine and good friends along the way, how bad could it be?

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

2007-09-12T14:29:00.000-07:00

By Rachel Rufrano
"I want to forget how convention fits / but can I get out from under it?" Spoon's frontman Britt Daniel croons over a tambourine-fueled Motown beat on the new album Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Spoon questions the repetitiveness, ambiguity, and mindlessness of the human condition, as represented in the very album title, and respectfully pays tribute to an era or artist on each song.
"You Got Your Cherry Bomb" salutes Elvis Costello's Get Happy! in the same way Costello does ABBA in "Oliver's Army". Track ten, "Black Like Me", displays piano chords that pulse in and out like the ghost of Paul McCartney's bit in "A Day in the Life". There's even a sample of Mikey Dread's "Industrial Spy" in Spoon's "Finer Feelings".
It's the clever and goosebump-inducing chord progressions that are craftily and deliberately produced, without ever feeling affected or contrived, that makes Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (and you’re not making me say that again) the best rock album of 2007 as of yet.
True, this album hasn’t changed my life – but neither did Sgt. Pepper’s (oh, get over yourself, you’re in your twenties). And the only reason I say this is because I’m not hearing anything I haven’t heard before. Yes, rock ‘n roll is dying and it’s playing out its last act like a melodramatic Shakespearean heroine writhing around erratically and grasping at her dagger. There seem to be a lot of people who eat this up, but the rest of us – those of us who know better – realize that there is not much else we can do but find the humor in it. I’m sure there is nothing more Spoon would like than to pull that final curtain, but the most they can do at this point is relate to our pain – preferably by easing it.
While most artists parody rock ‘n roll and put the art form to shame (can you say, “Jet? Red Hot Chili Peppers? Audioslave?”), Spoon concentrates every element from its previous albums to wring out the very last drops of rock ‘n roll we haven’t tasted yet. Don’t worry, however, because we aren’t left with the grinds – it’s been filtered through the masterful minds of vocalist/guitarist Daniel, drummer Jim Eno, and their cast of supporting players. It is to them we owe our gratitude for the strange and unexpected privilege to dance like we would to The English Beat to the sound of an edgy modern day Harry Nilsson.
For the people who can’t decide if Spoon is just another band ripping-off themselves or The Pixies, a closer listen to Ga Ga is necessary. It is then that a listener without preconceived criticism can appreciate just how dynamic Spoon has grown to be over the past fourteen years. May we also admire the willpower of a group that can take full advantage of a modern studio without resorting to a Cher-do-you-believe-in-life-after-love sound, like so many “artists” seem to do these days?
Yes, Daniel speaks from the perspective of the unreliable narrator who is as confused with love and drugs as I am about the Dadaist album title, but clarity greets us in the form of a thirty-six minute album that is just as accessible and mainstream as it is enjoyable to the trained ear.

Playing on Repeat

2007-08-25T12:47:00.000-07:00

Kind of like LCD Soundsystem only better, more fun, and more consistent. Turn it up and go dance.

Me Likey

2007-08-16T02:09:00.001-07:00

This is how i'd like to look when i go to New York City.
I cant wait to start wearing layers again!

I'm a Failure

2007-08-10T21:01:00.000-07:00

at life.

2007-08-10T17:38:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to think of new ways to do my dorm when I go back to school. Chances are, it wont look like this - but I can dream, cant I?

2007-08-01T20:55:00.000-07:00

IKEA

2007-07-27T19:19:00.000-07:00

My Fall Ready-to-Wear Faves

2007-07-26T22:45:00.001-07:00

Zac Posen

Trovata

Luella

Luella

Bill Blass

Chanel

Chloe (um. doc martens are back. who called it? uh - yeah. me.)

Lela Rose

Zac Posen

BELOW: 3.1 Philip Lim has become a big favorite of mine and my sister's. Plus, he went to CSULB. hello. Anyways, i'm dying for some of those lace up ankle boots. what are they called?

Back Stage Pass Faves

Diane Von Furstenberg

Lanvin

Marc Jacobs (I'm so ahead of my time, behbay)

Marc Jacobs

Bottega Veneta

Bottega Veneta

Bottega Veneta

My Wishlist

2007-07-25T15:00:00.001-07:00

Just started one...

Tattoo

2007-07-24T19:50:00.001-07:00

I think if I were to get a tattoo, it would be of a key. Above are some pictures of skeleton keys i've found that look similar to what i'd want.

these are also some designs i've thought about.

Some Street Style

2007-07-24T11:07:00.000-07:00

Total Vacay

2007-07-23T15:59:00.000-07:00

(1) manet, (2) the grove, (3) mozza!

Have a Vampire Weekend

2007-07-23T15:01:00.000-07:00

Orange County Fair 07

2007-07-23T14:58:00.000-07:00

Carley and I goof off in the fair photobooths!

Doug loves the corn

Sawdust Festival

2007-07-23T14:57:00.001-07:00

FEEE-HEEENY!

2007-07-11T17:39:00.000-07:00

guys. im getting a tattoo. here it is.

Paris, Je T'aime

2007-06-14T22:04:00.000-07:00

Vanessa, my sister, and I saw Paris, Je T'aime last week at the Regency Theaters at South Coast.
Here are the official reviews: paris, je t'aime

Mexican Supermarket

2007-06-13T23:31:00.000-07:00

Licka Sto'

2007-06-13T23:25:00.000-07:00

99cents Worth

2007-06-13T23:19:00.001-07:00

Goodwil Hunting

2007-06-13T22:32:00.000-07:00

these things are...okay. 'specially the trench - but not $15.99 good.

Martinis & Bikinis for our friends

2007-06-13T18:27:00.001-07:00

FAMIMA!!!

2007-06-13T18:22:00.000-07:00

somewhere on Clark in Long Beach

my purchases

Casa Gamino

2007-06-13T18:16:00.001-07:00

mexican restaurants are good if not only for the crushed ice and sodas.

The House in the Harbor

2007-06-13T18:09:00.000-07:00

Carley the Crunk King and I partied the night away at Harbor House last night with some apple pie and a brownie sundae and were promptly (not-so-much) greeted by Anthony, Matt, and Jeremy, wherefore we visited a boat and attempted to throw Jeremy off the dock. Also, a spinach hamburger was invented that night. it will go down in history.

In an attempt to win a Starbucks contest by finishing the sentence "The Way I See It...", this is what we came up with (Credit goes to Anthony although he technically did not make that up)

Hail Yes.

2007-05-19T21:42:00.000-07:00

Best Week Ever is awesome. Here is one reason why.

um. buy me stuff.

2007-05-19T21:12:00.001-07:00

what.
i have finals?

ANTM

2007-05-19T20:30:00.000-07:00

I didnt make this (actually got it from the fredflare blog), but i thought it was pretty funny.

Look at what I'm posting and go buy me it.

2007-05-19T20:12:00.000-07:00

I am dying to get some plain white high top reeboks, but these are awesome as well.

Ohmahgawd...

2007-05-19T19:51:00.000-07:00

I think anyone who wears this shirt I will automatically fall in love with.

Aaaaw, Sheeat!

2007-05-17T15:01:00.000-07:00

Guess who's playing at Embarcadero Marina Park in San Diego on June 23 with Sarah Silverman? Oh yeaaaahhh...is it worth the trip? I'm thinking so. If anyone finds out that he's got a gig in LA, let me know.

Newly Uploaded

2007-05-15T14:39:00.000-07:00

1. Burt Bacharach
2. Randy Newman
3. The Smiths
4. Sea Wolf
5. Olivia Tremor Control
6. Richard Pryor
7. The Pogues

Still dont know what to play for the show, haha.
Little help, please?

What I Did Today

2007-05-14T22:26:00.000-07:00

You're looking at it.

Good Quotes

2007-05-12T18:41:00.000-07:00

Pointed to your boobies
I always say
Poor Grandma
Did you hear that?
There are people coming out of your butt
I'm gonna pop a cap in his ass
A man in a really nice camper

I Scanned My Cat

2007-05-12T18:25:00.000-07:00

More Old Journals (just...less old and less disturbing)

2007-05-12T18:23:00.000-07:00

these are super old. freshman year old.

Old Journals

2007-05-12T17:59:00.000-07:00

this is my 3rd grade journal. I decided to scan in one of my more particularly disturbing entries. yeah - now you know why I hate scary movies (I believe I am about 7 or 8 years old here).

Some More Old Pictures

2007-05-12T17:55:00.000-07:00

I'm going a little crazy with all these old pictures, I know. You'll live.

I'm fat.

2007-05-12T17:52:00.000-07:00

Because I keep eating these.

Because it needs to be clarified...

2007-05-10T01:35:00.000-07:00

I'll Just Be Bald, 'Cause It's Cool, Right?

2007-05-09T22:39:00.000-07:00

This is mostly just for Wonka, but if you're going to watch it (as you should), just watch for what happens at exactly the 1:59 mark.

You can't hurt me for loving this show.

I Love Summer Movies!

2007-05-09T22:10:00.000-07:00

There are a ton of really good movies coming out this summer and I am SO excited!
So here's a list of must-see movies for me:

1. Knocked Up
The reviews have been amazing and I had a crush on this guy when he was in 40 Year Old Virgin (sh!). This is for sure the #1 movie I am most excited to see this summer.
2. Good Luck Chuck
Dane Cook is hot...even with the evil eyebrow. This film is for sure giving Cook his last chance to prove he's the next Steve Martin. We'll just see. Because I dont know about you, but Employee of the Month just didn't cut it for me.
3. Surf's Up
I actually laughed in the movie theater when I saw this preview and I'm almost never into this kind of stuff. Plus Shia LeBouf is cute...let's see if the penguin (PINGWIN!) version measures up. If you think I'm seeing all of these movies because I think the actors are cute, the next one will prove you wrong!
4. I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
Can't get enough of those Chuck movies, this summer. Even though I'd be disowned from my family if I ever laughed at Adam Sandler, I can get away with it because Kevin James is hilarious. King of Queens? Switch? Hello?
5. The Bourne Ultimatum
Okay, I'm totally hooked on these Bourne movies so I've got to see this. And no, I dont have a crush on Matt Damon.
6. Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix
Never read any of the books, but come on. This is just mandatory. Like I said - once Harry Potter ends, so does my childhood. Plus, now that I've seen Daniel Radcliffe's nether regions, it seems the proper English thing to do, seeing as I dont drink tea, would be to see this movie.
7. Evan Almighty
Doesnt look fantastic, but I love Steve Carell and I've just got to see Morgan Freeman play that "magical negro" role.
8. Superbad
I have to admit - this looks pretty funny.

There's a ton more, but I'm pretty tired of all these links, so have a go at these until then.

hot damn!

2007-05-08T15:46:00.000-07:00

If i didnt have a huge essay to write, i would totally be at the beach right now. It's a Bob Marley summer, by the way...in case you didnt know.

Say it loud! I'm a nerd and I'm proud! (and if that doesn't prove it...)

2007-05-08T14:35:00.000-07:00

Because I'm only just beginning to embrace the nerd within, I am offering up my youtube favorites for all to see. Yes. I spend too much time on youtube. fortunately, i still have some dignity - i do NOT have a video blog.

yet.

no, just kidding.

i hope.

Le Sigh...

2007-05-08T14:25:00.000-07:00

This is so romantic. It always impresses me when guys can think of things like this. My sister found it on this guy's Flickr account.

My Father, the Milkman?

2007-05-08T14:11:00.000-07:00

from left to right: anne hathaway; liv tyler - this is the one i get the most; jane - once somebody suggested i looked like her everyone pretty much conceded. it may have something to do with the ridiculous facial expressions she makes; alanis morissette - by far my least favorite, but thank god i dont get this one anymore. i got it a lot when i was little because i had long flat hair; cory kennedy; jane birkin - my mom thinks i look like her. i dont want to argue, but im pretty sure its just the bangs; emmy rossum - yeah, i dont think so either. but the guy who told me i looked like her was very intent about it; jennifer love-hewitt - when i worked at the movie theater, i actually had a couple stare at me and then yell "jennifer!" i was kind of like, "um...no?" hahaha, yeah. anthony also thought i looked like her. i think its the nose...possibly the boobs, haha.

Spring Break 2007

2007-04-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

Much more fun than getting my wisdom teeth pulled. We opted not to go to Venice Beach because (a) it was cold and (b) when I was little some tweaked out skateboarder slid by me all wide-eyed and scarred me for life and I didnt want that to happen to Andrew or Dylan (or me...again...)

My Summer Plans

2007-04-26T11:50:00.000-07:00

1. Take two summer english courses at GWC (to hopefully transfer)
2. Work weekends at the record store Fingerprints
3. Internship in Cleveland, Ohio for Candy Buyer Magazine
4. Tend to the pile of books I've been meaning to read
5. See all my old high school friends again!

Int'd Out

2007-04-26T11:05:00.000-07:00

So basically I cannot wait until I have my own apartment and I can really redecorate the place. Here's a bunch of pics of things that give me some good ideas. I found a bunch of this stuff on apartment therapy , Decor8 and Design*Sponge

My Top 3 on America's Next Top Model

2007-04-24T12:30:00.000-07:00

In the words of Lloyd Dobbler...

2007-04-17T19:27:00.000-07:00

I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that.

This is a blog about the things that inspire me.