blog de jjg

[hold music]

2007-03-24T13:35:00.000-04:00

like it's news...i'm busy at work, so blog de jjg is taking a break...

engage the bat signal!

2007-02-18T10:05:00.000-05:00

or just pop on this ring. sterling silver, and just $17 at overstock.com.

leave a size 6 for me or face the consequences. (probably robin coming over and torturing you with his not-very-clever "holy banana pie, batman!" exclamations)

we sorry error

2007-02-03T11:04:00.000-05:00

funny tech errors, including terrible translations (left), here.

shaken or stirred?

2007-01-29T09:22:00.000-05:00

that's not one of the questions on this bond quiz, so no matter that you know the answer. try your hand at the BBC's Bond quiz.

it's worth it just to look at the pictures, though there are not enough of the attractive mr. craig (even my mom thinks he's sexy).

yowza.

arrgh

2007-01-26T19:09:00.000-05:00

alas, there is no image for this post...but don't take it less seriously because of that.

this site allows you to generate names for a wide variety of things, including corporation names, evil-sounding names, taverns, and wrestling moves, to name a few.

pirate ship names i generated: The Scurvy Eel - Posideon's Cruelty - The Lustful Whore of the East.

go there now. i know you want to.

mark ruffalo picture finally posted!

2007-01-08T15:47:00.000-05:00

thanks for your patience as we've waited to get this pic from the movie people (alright, some of you have not been very patient, but hey, at least you're interested).

the pic is up at www.domuskids.org (a fantastic nonprofit if i do say so myself).

terry george and mark ruffalo very kindly posed with us to take with picture as they shot footage in our charter high school (converted for their movie into a CT state police station). watch the flick (reservation road) when it comes out!

polar opposites

2007-01-07T18:07:00.000-05:00

for those of us on the east coast (and maybe elsewhere) who suffered yesterday through a daytime temp of over 70 degrees, here's a picture of europe doing just the opposite (more pix at the BBC link, including snow in greece...really)

this is steam rising from a river in st. petersburg, russia.

it is simple coincidence that i watched an inconvenient truth yesterday.

to fob or not to fob?

2007-01-04T22:25:00.000-05:00

i'm a bit of a sucker for top 10 lists...i like to howl distainfully at stupid ones that are trying oh-so-hard to be funny but are not. but i do so enjoy a clever top 10 list, don't you?

i did not howl at this list: the top 10 most fabulous key fobs according to http://www.edmunds.com/.

anyone who drives a 2007 bentley and thus has this fob should contact me immediately so i can, for the sake of journalistic integrity, confirm this story (especially if you are a heterosexual, single male between the ages of 30 and 40). [and most especially if you can write a clever top 10 list]

hook em'

2007-01-02T21:40:00.000-05:00

driving through missouri to see my extended family, we were compelled to pull over and snap these longhorns. the big brown fella in the back was the most impressive, but he was *so* not interested in us...didn't even swish his tail.

a pic i didn't get: the confederate flag flying outside a bar less than 6 miles from my parents' town in IL near the mighty mississip. (this, and yet i still cannot convince them to leave the area.)

the windy city

2007-01-01T09:55:00.000-05:00

the chicago skyline on christmas eve day...

doncha love bigcity skylines? and flying over cities?

maybe not so much loving the flying over water (even if it is just a great lake).

oh brother

2006-12-17T22:57:00.000-05:00

after watching a charlie brown christmas tonight (for the hundreth time), i'm trying to figure out why our parents thought this was okay. charlie brown is seriously depressed. he really bums me out. and...it's eerie how much he resembles the zoloft guy.

coincidence?

restore your faith in politicians (literally)

2006-12-14T22:17:00.000-05:00

this fella to the left here is the governor of Wisconsin (according to www.festivuspoles.com), and here he stands with his festivus pole. wow! this is, for me, kinda like jesse ventura announcing that religion was a crutch for the masses.

a major politician endorsing a non-religious event (nay, a holiday seemingly created to defy organized religion): well, throw a ham at me and call me a dixie chick.

ya never know. ya know?

NOTE: governor jim doyle, in response to michael richards' racist rant, apparently announced that he will not be celebrating festivus. that's like punishing a cucumber because a tomato behaved badly. reconsider, governor!

the land of 10,000 lakes

2006-11-24T21:48:00.000-05:00

they are not kidding! here are a few of minnesota's lakes for those who've yet to witness this state's many bodies of water in person.

shuttle what?

2006-11-20T22:44:00.000-05:00

shuttlecock. ya know, badminton?

except these are REALLY HUGE shuttlecocks. on a grassy, lush lawn, yes...ready to be smacked over a net at a bar-b-que, no.

here i am enjoying a phoon-filled afternoon during my recent trip to KCMO (kansas city, missouri, that is).

the crucible

2006-11-16T22:41:00.000-05:00

no, really. it's a crucible (that i've turned into a candleholder).

leftover from chemistry class in college.

what's on your wall?

2006-11-16T22:26:00.000-05:00

attention renters: these squares (and hearts and circles) can be applied to painted walls and moved around without damaging your paint job. i'm not sure it's possible, but they are begging to be painted magenta or shiny black. wall decals in various patterns are also available.

a nice change from a print.

dude

2006-11-10T21:56:00.000-05:00

i just noticed that google is now allowing you to do lots to customize your homepage.

because keeping perspective on life is important, i added the big lebowski quote generator. it sits next to google earth hacks and lifehack.org. [i think i'm going to rename this blog the jjghack.]

"I'm the Dude! That's what you call me, you know... That or His Dudeness, Duder, El Dudarino..."

now please, go rent the movie.

sloppy! [homage to murder by death]

2006-11-09T21:08:00.000-05:00

at only $26 for 100, there are soooo many people i can give these personalized napkins to for absolutely no reason at all. my pal ken's band is playing a show this weekend. i could give him these for pre-concert beers. ("good luck!" or "the broken holidays" [their band]) i'm flying to see my cousin steve and his fantastic other half this next weekend. i could bring them these as a hostess gift. ("you're the best!" [and they are] or "S&J") [even better: i'll imprint the date of my visit, like a wedding--ha!]

choices include 17 ink and napkin colors and block type, script type, or circular monogram imprint options.

cash in

2006-11-05T17:31:00.000-05:00

think of an artist's loft, then multiply it by dozens of talents painters, sculpters, and more. that equals the Loft Artists Assn, based in stamford ct (for now...developers threaten to boot this vibrant artists' community from their space).

i have them (the LAA, not the developers) to thank (specifically artist liz squillace of paradox ink) for my purchase yesterday: a mr. john cash t-shirt. you can get one too (along with other designs), but mine's on a v-neck long-sleeve with funky wrist features. (sorry, that was rude of me to gloat...i'm sure you can get one too if you ask nicely)

moon over westport

2006-11-05T17:28:00.000-05:00

even their views from supermarket parking lots are better.

damn goldcoast.

mark ruffalo pic update

2006-11-04T08:54:00.000-05:00

the very kind assistant locations manager, ellen (who arranged for and took the pic of our little group), told me thursday afternoon that she would email it soon. sorry for the delay, all you fans from www.markruffalo.net!

worried?

2006-11-03T22:53:00.000-05:00

thought i'd never bring you more links to great t-shirts? hyperventilating in the boys room, muttering to yourself, sweating as you ponder walking through the w*l-mart clothing section? say it ain't so.

shop on. www.bustedtees.com can help.

[i dig pirates. i don't care if everybody's doin' em this year. i still dig 'em.]

2006-11-02T20:55:00.000-05:00

notice that of the last seven posts that have graphics, five feature black & white?

huh.

on the record

2006-11-02T20:40:00.000-05:00

i like music. and things related to music. especially unique, sleek things that i am not going to see on the arm of every betty.

i think this vinyl album bracelet qualifies.

music to my eyes

2006-11-01T21:50:00.000-05:00

with my brushes with greatness over, i'm back to givin' scoop on beautiful things...here's another:

a framed miles davis album cover that could not be more visually pleasing.

nothing more need be said.

mark ruffalo on reservation road set

2006-10-31T23:18:00.000-05:00

he was *very* nice--friendly and normal, and perfectly willing (along with director terry george of hotel rwanda fame) to have his picture taken with me, my boss, and the school's director of curriculum. i will post a link to that pic as soon as i put it up on the www.domuskids.org site.

bonus: terry george autographed the title page of the movie's script so we can auction it off to make a little cash for our nonprofit. very nice!

joaquin phoenix / reservation road movie

2006-10-30T19:27:00.000-05:00

the man was TEN (10) feet from me today. the nonprofit where i work operates, among other things, two charter schools, one of which was used for a reservation road location. welcome to stamford, CT. he is sporting a beard, and despite my hatred for facial hair, is handsome. i hung out on the set for a few hours and hope to post pix tomorrow (after reviewing the contract we signed to ensure it won't get my boss in trouble).

the only question remaining: will mr. phoenix (or the director, producer, etc.) do something nice for our nonprofit? it's not like i'm asking for an autograph for my cousin...we want a souvenir that will raise some moola for the vulnerable kids we serve. what is easy and free for them could mean thousands for us, which translates into more literacy and enrichment services. so listen up, movie execs: do the right thing.

have you phooned lately?

2006-10-29T08:59:00.000-05:00

like i need a new hobby! but this phooning thing speaks to the jjginess deep in my brain, in my bones. the next time i see you, you can be assured that i will ask you to phoon.

it started out as the holiday prank of a bored teenager on vacation, and now he has hundreds of phoon pix from all around the world. submit yours!

attention lucky man who gets to marry me (still TBD): this is what we're doing at our wedding (maybe minus the traditional norwegian costumes)

meat on your bones?

2006-10-28T10:05:00.000-04:00

halloween...what to wear, what to wear. your jason hockey mask got used as an avant-garde chip bowl this summer, and ole reliable, the pirate, is so overdone this year.

a more subtle way to mark the occasion is this ribcage t-shirt:
http://flippinsweetgear.com/cgi-bin/shop/shop.cgi/flippin_sweet/flippin_sweet/868992

save the drama fo' yo' mama

2006-10-26T23:01:00.000-04:00

or...
did Gore even try?

or...
ask me about my pain

lots of stickers (and buttons and patches) at unamerican.com. i think what i like best is that everyone will be offended: the devout, the GOP, the vegans, the straight edges, the corporate whores...(oops, sorry, sis)

my "the president is lying" sticker on my vehicle gets lots of attention. best dollar i've ever spent.

no sleep 'til

2006-10-26T10:40:00.000-04:00

oh, they're coy about the mac n cheese, all right. no fanfare, no hoopla.

except when i tried to lick the casserole upon completion. then there was a little hoopla.

williamsburg's roebling tea room serves the best mac n cheese i've ever had (relish in south norwalk CT is a close second--sorry, ma), and i try every menu instance of the stuff i see. (not-so-difficult penance for too much boxed mac in college?). the interesting and very old decor? icing on the...cake.

choi denied @ cut&paste

2006-10-22T12:20:00.000-04:00

last night i went to cut&paste NYC 2006 digital design competition @ brooklyn sugar. as my friend alex said as we hustled back to her car (legally parked, thank you very much), "that just goes to show you can make a competition out of anything!"

and compete they did. picture this: warehouse space full of a few hundred people, staring intently at a wall full of LCD projections of art being created by eight amazing graphic designers, who were asked to imagine and produce under time constraints a george w. bush campaign poster and slogan as well as a poster on the theme what goes around, comes around.

for those of you picturing computer geeks with roy orbison glasses, you're only half right. the music was pumping, the designers were bopping around as their hands moved with the precision and speed of edward scissorhands.

the only woman in the competition was kathy "phat" choi (also part of http://www.lvhrd.org), a childsized bundle of creativity who somehow did *not* come out on top in this edition of the contest. too bad--her vision matched her technical skills in its prowess, both moving the needle on my inspiration-o-meter into the red.

a real stickler

2006-10-20T20:48:00.000-04:00

did i mention?... i have a stationery fetish. yes, it's true. i just keep buying notecards, envelopes, interesting paper,...i cannot resist. and then, when i see cute address and gift labels like THIS, i am pretty much helpless. stop, Tiny Prints, don't you create one more fabulous sticker, darn you! (okay, if you must...)

random haiku: the fourth installment

2006-10-19T23:30:00.000-04:00

in honor of my daily traffic ritual, and in thanks to my small white friend:

my morning commute

ipod for the parking lot

i sit in each day

power to the people

2006-10-18T21:48:00.000-04:00

howdy, silkscreen fans. tired of hearts and flowers? then sport raw electricity running through power lines. the fine folks at SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design) have many fine wares on their site.

http://www.shopscadonline.com/store/shopexd.asp?id=194&med=productimages2842809_1_2005MED.jpg&lg=productimages2842809_1_2005.jpg&cap=Branch%20and%20Power

what elephant?

2006-10-16T21:28:00.000-04:00

oh....THAT elephant! he looks just like a pair of bedroom slippers my aunt brucie used to have...

seriously, my elephant would never sit still for that.

the art exhibit of which the pink pachyderm is part:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5344676.stm

in the basement of the alamo

2006-10-11T20:51:00.000-04:00

easy, gentle reader, i'm back. the hiatus was due to a move to my VERY OWN SPACE. i love my former roommate and dear friend, but being on your own is (for moi) a real treat. at last, i can shake my tailfeather uninhibited at any hour with my ipod. pix of my new pad coming soon.

but for now, feast your eyes on this. coincidence, or not? last night, i watched the movie this t-shirt references, and today, here she is... (damn that dirty rotten crystal ball reader)

music in a whole new way

2006-10-03T22:06:00.000-04:00

you will click. you will drag. you will love it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/multimedia/soundkit1/

i wanna iguana

2006-10-02T22:34:00.000-04:00

word on the design street is that wallpaper is back, but this ain't your grandmother's wallpaper...or is it?

also making a comeback: flocked wallpaper. lucky you.

http://www.timorousbeasties.com/products/wallpapers/superwide/52

on cloud 9

2006-09-28T22:25:00.000-04:00

imagine gazing up at this light, all snuggled up on your couch in a woolen throw, as it floats above you.

please, IKEA, create a version of this that i can afford.

http://www.jessshaw.com/cloud.html

geodesic homage

2006-09-27T22:54:00.000-04:00

pay your respects to the man who brought you the geodesic dome: R. Buckminster Fuller.
cool idea, cool name (i think i'll name my next cat "buckminster")... and a very cool t-shirt.

http://www.etsy.com/view_item.php?listing_id=406127

marching toast bunnies

2006-09-27T22:38:00.000-04:00

quick! how many times will you see a marching toast bunny card for this price!?!?! buy buy buy!

http://www.etsy.com/view_item.php?listing_id=254598

random haiku: the third installment

2006-09-24T21:51:00.000-04:00

waves pounding the shore
intent on depositing
fine salt on my legs

sheer horror

2006-09-21T22:38:00.000-04:00

normally, i post things i love, items that titillate. but i've run across something so horrible, so wretched, that i am compelled to share it.

wait for it...

yes, it's a chair...shaped like a dolphin. did the designer think the built-in storage space would help me gloss over the fact that it's a dolphin-shaped chair?

it didn't.

more trees, less bush

2006-09-20T19:22:00.000-04:00

so says my t-shirt, which i purchased at the Beacon, NY Corn Festival. thanks, hippie chick--you did a heck of a job.

itchy head

2006-09-19T21:46:00.000-04:00

claim to fame: the only flickr photo with the "itchy head" tag*

http://www.flickr.com/photos/true2death/217465049/

*as of right here, right now

bar nun

2006-09-18T22:41:00.000-04:00

check it out: nuns playing tennis IN THEIR HABITS
i find it challenging enough in shorts and a t-shirt.

dammit, blogger beta!

2006-09-17T15:39:00.000-04:00

dear blogger people:

my blog is boring the CRAP out of me! i can't upload any pictures, and all the things that i post that no one wants to read about but somehow satisfy a small part of me *must* be shown visually.

my very own blog should not make me yawn. only you can help. right now, you are not helping, only killing me.

please help.

not-so-fond-anymore regards,

jjg

UPDATE: i see now that if i clear my cache, it works. FINALLY! well that sucked.

get your ninja on

2006-09-15T21:10:00.000-04:00

cute stealthy killer: oxymoron? not @ thinkgeek.com. your search for stuffed assassins to give your cousin's new baby is over. http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/plush/8823/

headshot

2006-09-14T22:10:00.000-04:00

my love of silkscreen has no end. bob dylan, tony clifton, and hemmingway and dozens more can all be found here: http://www.reckonwordwide.com/ you choose the t-shirt and ink colors...a nifty bonus.

will it go round in circles?

2006-09-13T22:59:00.000-04:00

if i have anything to do with it...yes.

you *must* buy these felt circles at 1/2 off. fred flare is the place.

http://www.fredflare.com/customer/product.php?productid=327&cat=315#

tag--you're it

2006-09-12T22:19:00.000-04:00

i got the barcode pendant for christmas last year and at last feel like i'm properly labeled. it ain't the bottom of my foot ala microserfs, but it'll do...for now.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/apparel/jewelry/7a89/

random haiku: the second installment

2006-09-06T21:00:00.000-04:00

suede nose pokes at me
beneath a warm sheath of down
too early, cat--go

veruca salt

2006-09-04T18:53:00.001-04:00

just one of many art posters to enjoy at this site: a veruca salt silkscreen concert poster

http://www.mgetz.com/mainfolder/cartitems/mg40.html

vonnegut instinct

2006-09-04T18:10:00.000-04:00

because i am obsessed (in a gentle, loving sort of way) with silkscreened items, especially t-shirts, you, dear reader, must suffer. but this should cushion the blow: a t-shirt adorned with kurt vonnegut art, straight from the man. there are other designs as well as very interesting prints for over the console table or headboard. dress yourself or a wall in a vonnegut and smile smuggly to yourself at your overwhelming coolness.

http://www.vonnegut.com/shirt4.asp

like no other lampshade

2006-09-04T17:56:00.000-04:00

Eleven Seventy-Eight Designs is doing some pretty cool stuff with glass. For one, they silkscreen photographs onto glass and turn them into lampshades. Yes, that's a lifeguard station, and you need one of these...think of it as penance for all the crappy W-Mart furniture you bought in college. Check out the rectangular striped lampshades (also glass) too.

http://www.1178designs.com/silklamp.html

it's the chair for you

2006-08-31T22:05:00.000-04:00

true confession: i have a thing for graphic t-shirts (long before fashionistas proclaimed them necessities for this fall). i am in love with silkscreeners and hope to meet a 30something hetero male who likes r.e.m. and screening shirts. (you are warned.)

i also like creative writers. a great showcase for these talented folks is mcsweeneys.net. now the really cool thing about this t, which features their chair logo, is that it supports a great nonprofit that's connected to mcsweeney's: 826 valencia, a nonprofit writing and arts org that helps kids. (the 826 site also has a wicked-fun pirate shop...you will want an eye patch, trust me.)

http://www.826valencia.org/store/shop_logo_shirt.html

serve it up

2006-08-30T22:18:00.000-04:00

gorilla glue + sheet of stainless steel + furniture glides and a bit of paint =

a really sleek serving tray for your cheeses, your fruits, and your nuts (cheesy/fruity/nutty...like family)

who knew lowe's (of hardware fame) gave good tips? not i.

http://www.lowescreativeideas.com/BigLks6Feb.aspx

it's big and round and...

2006-08-30T22:06:00.000-04:00

another pic from f295 DOT org...apparently this pinhole stuff really does interesting things with light, and without photoshopping the hell out of your work (which is then not really you, the camera, the light, and the subject anymore but your work on steriods)

a hole with a view

2006-08-30T22:02:00.000-04:00

this guy takes unique b/w pictures using a pinhole camera in my 'hood - he's really good. and las vetas lounge (panoramic pic when you visit the link below) is bar-none the best.

http://www.f295.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=594

tufte luck

2006-08-30T21:49:00.000-04:00

art for your walls from the man who defines exemplary visual representations of...well...stuff

more at http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/fineart

what a pill

2006-08-30T20:35:00.000-04:00

valley of the dolls comes to your messenger bag:

http://www.etsy.com/view_item.php?listing_id=409690

iron this patch onto just about anything to remind people that sometimes, chemicals are good.

random haiku: the first installment

2006-08-29T21:10:00.000-04:00

tottering on heels
black peeptoe squishes my toes
damn you jimmy choo

leather that makes me all prickly

2006-08-27T18:29:00.000-04:00

those moments when you discover something rare and beautiful are too infrequent, for many of us. you may not like these things, may wonder why she bothered. but if you have ever admired the clean lines of a modern building, have looked with small but persistent longing at a le corbusier chair or calder mobile, then please check out these shoes, bags, pieces of clothing, and more.

got pocky?

2006-08-27T12:01:00.000-04:00

*

i have discovered pocky, and so should you.

"milk chocolate biscuit sticks," reads the small white box. these thinnest of light flour [what a strange word] rods, which have been dipped in milk chocolate, kept me company through last night's TV. they ae made by lu (a danone group company) in france. i love all things french (except maybe gérard depardieu, who i heard from someone who worked with him that he is very gropy...just to make it interesting [because groping alone just doesn't cut it anymore] he does not discriminate between genders when grabbing flesh).

*picture compliments of http://www.flickr.com/photos/baeyoujin/

the box is open

2006-08-25T14:47:00.000-04:00

you guys know about www.pandora.com, right? this site helps you expand your musical horizons for free (and i love free). it's pretty cool to see computers learn.

act now!

2006-08-25T12:30:00.000-04:00

kathie lee gifford's LP "born for you" is in the overstock.com bargain bin for $1.

go. now.