Vimeo, my video sharing site of choice, has a running project called 5 Vignettes1. I really like this project because:
1. You have to find the most interesting five seconds of each video
2. The outcome is often very esoteric
3. The videos are short and retain the interest of the viewers
Without further ado here are my Vignettes for any occasion:
1“Great idea for a project, I applaud you! Jim Jarmusch would be proud of us!!!!!!!!”
-DrPiranha
I remember learning in Psychology that dreams sometimes act as a way to process our day. Let’s say my dreams don’t always follow this model, neither does this one completely, but this dream was pretty close to that overall idea. So here we go…
The premise was quite similar to 28 Days Later. There was a lot of wandering and evading the “infected.” I don’t remember who exactly was with me, but we were wandering around L.A. This could have been the soundtrack:
I don’t remember where the story began, but the earliest memory I have was that we were in a huge parking lot outside a smaller version of the Universal Studios tram ride/the tunnels on the 110 freeway. We walked inside and it was very similar to an underground subway system for walking. Dalas V. was our host for the tunnels. It was scary because tons of the “infected” were in the tunnels and we had to go through in a white canvas jeep/VW van, looked like something that would be parked at an oasis in the desert.
At one point, we met Barbara Jean (Nashville) at her run down mansion on Mulholland Drive. When we were on her porch I noticed one of the “infected” was this one, but she was no longer “infected”. Another “infected” scratched my thumb, but I was OK. Barbara Jean gave us the keys to her Volvo so we could get away from the zombies. But she lied to us because she didn’t have any Volvo. There wasn’t any car that had keyless entry at all. We walked around her stable looking at all these old dusty cars. We found a Lexus with no engine. Her servants told us there was no car, so we walked off.
I woke up around this time, turned off the fan, and saw the sun rising. There was definitely more, but it’s been too many hours now to remember any more.
I joined Last.fm as a new years resolution of sorts. I was inspired by Kottke’s post, and, in general, my love for stats. So, needless to say, I’ve been checking up on my Last.fm account from time to time. Today, something very exciting happened: Between January 3, 2007 and now (July 16, 2007 at 4:17 pm) I have listened to 10,000 songs.1 If I continue at this current rate it will take me almost 6 years to get to 100,000, the next big milestone I guess. Anyways, here’s the stats.
My top 20 artists so far this year are as follows:2
1. The Blow
2. YACHT
3. Mirah
4. Bob Dylan
5. Deerhoof
6. The Righteous and Harmonious Fists (represent!)
7. Manta
8. Cat Power
9. Adrian Orange
10. Dear Nora
11. The Badger King
12. Wu-Tang Clan
13. Bobby Birdman
14. Tom Waits
15. Prodigy (of Mobb Deep)
16. Lavender Diamond
17. Dirty Projectors
18. High Places
19. CocoRosie
20. Belle and Sebastian
None of these are really surprising… If there was a “Top Time Elapsed” I think Public Radio International would be higher (currently 29) up in the list because all the podcasts I listen to are around an hour each.
Some fun graphical representations:
my mainstream percentage
And a weird gooey graph
1This includes my time at work (where I listen the most, 8-5 Monday-Friday since the summer began) and home (Far less than work lately because I’m at home less. Plus lately, with no internet connection at home, I don’t know how much is being tracked). This does not include my iPod (I know you can track your iPod listening, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet, plus I haven’t really used my iPod much lately).
2Not including the current month.
I listen to a lot of Public Radio, especially at work. Here’s what I choose to listen to on a daily basis. And why.
Fair Game (website/iTunes)
Fair Game plays a huge part of the first half of my work day. Not that the show is that long. I look forward to Fair Game so much. It’s funny as hell. It’s like the Daily Show for the radio, but different. The show is definitely aimed at the younger generation. And let me tell you, we can’t get enough. Also, Faith Salie is cute as hell. “We like her airheaded giggles juxtaposed with astute commentary.”
This American Life (website/iTunes)
The best part of Mondays is coming to work and listening to This American Life. So beautiful, so tragic. I’m sure you’ve already listened to or at least heard of This American Life, so I’ll move on.
The Writer’s Almanac (website/iTunes)
Your daily dose of Garrison. Combines historic factoids and poetry, all wrapped together in 5:20.
Radio Lab (website/iTunes)
I recently discovered Radio Lab (via This American Life). At the beginning of the podcast the announcer says: “Radio Lab is a limited run series.” So far, online, there are only 5 episodes. This show is great because it has the production quality of This American Life and is like MythBusters. Not really like MythBusters, but is based on interesting experiments and experiences. The show leaves you with the feeling that life is beautiful.
KPCC (website/iTunes)
Whenever. Ran out of podcasts? Listen to streaming Pasadena Public Awesome. And, if you give them money, you get a tote.
Most of life, in general, is comprised of people acting weird. Even in the most sincere cases, life is like this. But that’s the big idea isn’t it? Everything is silly and cannot be taken seriously ever. But at the same time, everything is sacred.
This next part is especially for Alisha and Laura, but is equally important for anyone who loves old men as their own offspring:
“I wish I’d written Our Town. I wish I’d invented Rollerblades.”
-Kurt Vonnegut, Timequake
SPOILER ALERT*: I can’t really talk about this without ruining the surprise.
I have been considering my karass today. (All of this probably has to do with the amount of Vonnegut I have been consuming of late.) I can’t exactly pinpoint who these individuals might be, but I know it must involve the Internet at some point. I love the idea that we are unknowingly working toward some greater goal together. It’s not anything we plan. Life, the Universe, plans, they all progress on their own.
*You should read Cat’s Cradle or this if you are in a hurry.
