Saturday, November 29, 2014
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Be The Change You Wish To See In The Bathroom Ceiling Tiles
In the bathroom where I work the ceiling is made up of modular ceiling tiles. You know the kind; pale, cheap and made of some sort of proprietary combination of drywall and carcinogens. They’re the tiles that make you want to throw a pencil into and watch dangle against gravity above you.
For the last few months one of these ceiling tiles has been pushed askew. At some point a maintenance worker must have pushed it aside in order to get at the electrical work that’s up there. When he was done he left it out of it’s designated slot, allowing you to see the coils of wire running this way and that, some red, some green, some blue, all snaking off different ways to their destinations. This electrical world would ordinarily be hidden from view by the artificial ceiling created by the tiles below it.
But because this maintenance worker left this single ceiling tile exposed for whatever reason– perhaps because of neglect, perhaps because of an accident, perhaps because of a controlled substance – for the last month we’ve been able to peek into the hidden world a few feet above our heads.
At first when I noticed this off-kilter ceiling tile it didn’t bother me. I assumed that the maintenance worker would return from his controlled substance adventure, finish his work, and the single askew tile would return to its rightful grid along with the others. But as the days wore on, I worried more and more that the maintenance worker wouldn’t be back and that every time one went into the bathroom we would be confronted by a black square looming above us. Though none of us talked about it, surely most everyone noticed it. Eventually we came to accept that this would be the new world that we had to live in. Days went by. Then weeks. After two months of looking at it every time I went to the bathroom I had tuned it out. Soon it fell into the background, a part of the noise that your brain edits out of the movie that it’s always filming.
Until one day I noticed it again. Washing my hands in the mirror I was aware of a dark spot over my shoulder. For the first time in months I looked at where the tile had been moved over. It was a one foot by one foot square of absence, punctuated by a corner of the tile that still poked into the black frame.
Why had no one bothered to fix it? Other maintenance men have been in and out of that bathroom to do other things. Dozens of people went in there every day. I myself had noticed it for months. But since the tile was like that when we all got there it wasn’t our problem to fix it.
In the end, it didn’t take much. All I needed was a stepstool and a broomstick to move it back into place. It was awkward and little carcinogenic particles sprinkled down as I nudged it. Now it stands square to his friends that cover the rest of the bathroom, shoulder to shoulder.
There was no fanfare. For all I know I was the only one who ever noticed it. But I don’t do what I do for the glory or the fame. I’m just an ordinary man, like you.
[Photo Credit: Reddit]
from WordPress http://ift.tt/UtMxRS
via IFTTT
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Monday, July 14, 2014
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Saturday, April 12, 2014
GMO Labeling in Illinois
TO: dblback Readers in the State of Illinois
CC: Bob Mariano, CEO, Roundy’s Supermarkets
SUBJECT: GMO labeling in grocery stores
DATE: 4/12/2014
MoveOn.org is launching a campaign to show grocery chains, like Mariano’s, that their customers want GMO labeling, and persuade them to follow the lead of other grocery stores like Whole Foods. There are many political battles to be fought out there but this one is a no brainer. Our bodies demand fuel (food) to run. The higher quality fuel we add to our bodies the better outcomes we can expect to have. Although GMO foods may serve a purpose in the grand scheme of things, this is NOT that fight. Simply put, sellers of food should be required to label their foods appropriately. Mariano’s is held with high regard in Illinois as a fine retailer. This step toward GMO labeling would only embolden their brand more.
This effort is being headed up by Andre Delattre.
We have a right to know what’s in the food we buy, so we can make healthy, responsible, and informed choices about what we’re eating. Sign this petition to Roundy’s CEO Bob Mariano and ask him as a customer to label GMOs in store-brand products.
That’s why I signed a petition to Bob Mariano, CEO, Roundy’s Supermarkets, which says:
“I support GMO labels. Mariano’s should take the lead in Illinois and start labeling store-brand products that contain GMOs. Consumers have a right to make healthy, responsible, and informed choices about the food we eat. ”
Will you sign the petition too? Click here to add your name:
[Photo Credit: NON GMO Project]
from WordPress http://ift.tt/1gku9zJ
via IFTTT
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Friday, April 4, 2014
Where Was This Show When We Were in College?
To Whom it May Concern:
When our children go off to college, it is a time of self-exploration and discovery. Often times this leads to questionable behavior (please spare me and don’t pretend this wasn’t you at one point in your life.) However, when we are young we are full of creativity and boundless imagination. Where one might see despair and awkward moments, others may see an opportunity to connect. Like when your roommate is vicariously living through your sexual escapades via “The Walk of Shame Show.”
Enter our heterosexual life partners Drew and Alex:
A guy sets up a morning talk show in his living room to meet his roommate’s hookups on their way out the door: http://t.co/jUwZ5iomqP
— Funny Or Die (@funnyordie) April 5, 2014
from WordPress http://ift.tt/1mR1w4l
via IFTTT
Now Playing: St. Vincent
“Digital Witness” is tight! Those horns!
It’s funky, original, and fresh. I think she would be really cool to talk to based on seeing her on Pitchfork’s Over Under recently. Give the track a listen and tell us what you think in the comments.
She’s touring now and the Chicago show at the Riv is already sold out. She’s stateside until 4/12 and then she’s heading over the pond.
[Photo Credit: NPR]
from WordPress http://ift.tt/1mIh8Er
via IFTTT
Friday, March 28, 2014
The Problem with Believing Stories on the Interwebs
So, me and my friends have this website – dblback.com. You might have heard of it. If not, check it out. We also do a Podcast. It’s fun. You should listen.
But, you should at least half-tune out when I start talking about the miraculous story about a girl that got shipwrecked on an island with feral goats because I was the victim of believing an internet hoax.
The irony is that Keith and I talked about how low the probability of it happening was in that moment. And we were more right than we even realized.
Don’t get me wrong, Dave’s idea about #BartTheRealLifeCastaway is pretty damn awesome, but it was inspired by an article I took to be true, but wasn’t.
Here’s a link to the (FAKE) story I read:
And only now have I realized that that’s the same website that every-so-often tells everyone on the internet that their favorite celebrity has died in a skiing accident.
I’m a novice writer writing for a novice website who does novice-level podcasting. Lesson learned. Apologies offered.
Onward and upward.
[Photo Credit: Mentallyfine.com]
from WordPress http://ift.tt/1f1ZREH
via IFTTT
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Friday, March 7, 2014
Monday, February 10, 2014
Now Playing: Ultraista
UltraÃsta is an experimental rock band, formed in 2008. The band consists of Atoms for Peace members Nigel Godrich and Joey Waronker, alongside Laura Bettinson.
The selected track, Small Talk, is a monster in its original form and in this Four Tet remix. Enjoy!
[Photo Credit: Ultraista Gallery]
from WordPress http://ift.tt/1kwqF3b
via IFTTT
Frank Slattery on Unemployment Numbers… and Ties
The 25th Hour, a Spike Lee Joint, is a gem. Released in 2002, the movie remains relevant today. If you have been living under a rock for a while and have not seen it yet, I encourage you to do so.
Barry Pepper plays stock trader Frank Slattery. Not only does Frank break down fashion or why he is betting against Solomon Bros. – he also deals a quick econ. lesson on inflation to the kid delivering junk mail. (Btw, Franky was right about the unemployment numbers.)
Boys, pay attention to what Frank has to say around 0:25.
You’re welcome.
[YouTube, Photo Credit: Zimbio]
from WordPress http://ift.tt/NteSVS
via IFTTT
Monday, February 3, 2014
No Scrubs Live Loop
Elijah Aaron is the latest viral YouTube musician to live loop a popular song in a studio and fill you with jealousy that he’s far more productive with his boredom than you are. But Elijah clearly has his act together – this video is fantastic and the sound is crispier than a KFC bucket.
However, it’s evident Mr. Aaron needs to get out more.
He plays more than 8 instruments in the video not including the various snaps, crackles and pops he makes with his mouth, hands and body. But he doesn’t stop there. He sings, harmonizes and raps. At the time of writing, the video is nearing 200,000 views and climbing.I’d go as far to say this version is better than the original version that TLC and Big Pun laid down in 1999.
Can we be honest and say that weird drum looks like a pair of tits at the 2:07 mark?
Big Pun over here on the tits drum, everybody.
Certified. Viral. Indeed.
[YouTube]
from WordPress http://ift.tt/1bWHcFa
via IFTTT
#dbltake – Kanye West’s Greatest Hits
“What if Kanye Released a Greatest Hits Album?” is an appropriate title for this article. Other appropriate question based titles asked in the fashion of Alex Trebek would have been, “What are Kanye’s Top 16 Downloaded Songs on iTunes?” or “Which Kanye Music Videos have the Most Views on YouTube?”
What question this article fails to ask, or at least capture in its entirety is, “What are Kanye’s Best Songs?” The point of this rebuttal is to point out a few glaring misses, question one of the inclusions, and generally make Keith feel like he’s incapable of making a single intelligent thought when it comes to analyzing Kanye’s artistry.
Before I go any further, let me also point out that the concept of a Greatest Hits album is a dead one. I’m not sure that a single worthy Greatest Hits album has been released beyond artists that had their heyday in the 60’s and 70’s (e.g., Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young). To further support my point, the following artists all have Greatest Hits albums: Vanilla Ice, Nelson, Aaron Carter, Color Me Bad, Tone Loc, Bruce Willis, John Tesh, Young MC, and…last but not least, Shaquille O’Neal.
For those interested, Color Me Bad’s catalog on CD can be purchased used on Amazon for less than a dollar.
Songs Missing:
“Bound 2” – Try to disassociate the video with Kim and Kanye, the motionless motorcycle with the fan, and the rotating background of mountainous landscapes for a second and just focus on the music. This song has one of Kanye’s best soul beats and it’s a well-known fact that he considers soul beats to be his namesake. It also has so many memorable quotes like, “rock Forever 21 and just turned 30” and who could ever forget “I wanna fuck you hard in the sink”. As an added plus, Charlie Wilson provides quite the catchy chorus between verses.
“Gone” – This one is a Late Registration classic. Kanye and Killa Cam try and one up themselves on their respective verses. Jon Brion’s strings are so eloquently well placed and those piano chords bring the whole song together better than the dude’s rug did for his room. Plus, this girl made an amazing “get fucked” video for her boss to this song which made basically everyone jealous.
Should NOT Be Here:
“Diamonds from Sierra Leone” – I’ll start off with what I hate about this song the most, OutKast did the “foreva eva, foreva eva?” thing first on a far, far, far superior song with “Ms. Jackson”. What’s a close runner up in hate is the sample of that woman singing “diamonds are forever” used repeatedly. Her accent and tone are so outrageously snobby that it’s painful to my ears. Finally, Jay’s verse on this song is lackluster and not unlike a lot of other songs where he’s played a guest role.
All joking aside, a lot of this list was tough to argue with. The two songs missing and the one song that should not be here are the only ones I felt compelled strongly enough to share my thoughts on.
from WordPress http://ift.tt/1aW0tfA
via IFTTT
Friday, January 31, 2014
Now Playing: Lucy Rose
Oh my goodness. Where to start? Um.
Well – there’s the fact that her voice is that of an angel mixed with Fergie. (I can’t even look at her right now.)
No, for real – her voice is superb. The beat pulsates and I cannot stop my right leg from bouncing off of the floor like I have restless leg syndrome. I’ve had this on repeat all day and I wish you well as you lose track of time while jamming to this track. “Middle of the Bed” is a great single and worth a listen.
Her debut album, Like I Used To, is available for purchase on her official website.
Cheers!
[Image: Itsallindie.com]
from WordPress http://ift.tt/1bddKxX
via IFTTT
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Now Streaming: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
Now I pride myself in being fairly connected to what is going on in this crazy place known as the internet. While working full time, carrying a full time course load at school, having a wife and child AND staying up to speed can be difficult, I have been able to manage thus far.
How Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee remained unnoticed on my radar is still something I’m trying to figure out. The show has already broken 25 million streams since its start and has positioned itself as Crackle’s number one original series.
If it weren’t for Mike and Mike this morning, I may still be oblivious to this series. Hosted by none other than Jerry Seinfeld, the series is fresh, funny and original.
The title doesn’t leave much to the imagination—it’s Jerry Seinfeld, in a car, with someone else who is funny, ultimately going to get coffee.
Two things of importance to note:
- The episode I saw was with Alec Baldwin. Jerry and Alec end up having lunch and a coffee while being candid with each other. As a viewer, you are allowed unfettered access to the two of them being genuinely, well… hilarious.
- They take the coffee seriously. This is important to me. The episode I saw had a barista crafting a cappuccino on a La Marzocco, serious hardware. Add to that the serious latte art and we have got some major league coffee action. Well done.
Nonetheless, I recommend this to anyone who has fifteen minutes to spare. Jerry Seinfeld pitched the show on Mike and Mike and said it is people he finds funny and wants to talk to. This permeates every episode and it is truly a joy to watch.
Image [Fire Wire]
from WordPress http://ift.tt/1if5AqQ
via IFTTT
Saturday, January 25, 2014
There’s Another Bad Lip Reading of the NFL and it’s Hilarious
I was enjoying a nice, quiet lunch and minding my own business when I noticed there was a new Bad Lip Reading of the NFL.
Being an avid fan of last year’s version, I clicked on it and my calm, civilized lunch ended there. Chocolate milk was spit out, a sandwich was almost choked on, and people started staring as I nearly rolled on the ground laughing.
Well, that was my ab workout for the day.
Check out Lesean McCoy caw like a bird, Colin Kaepernick talk about his time as a secret agent, and Robert Mathis get emotional in this hilarious parody video of the NFL.
[Youtube, Photo Credit: The Blaze]
from WordPress http://ift.tt/Mc5fdK
via IFTTT
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Friday, January 17, 2014
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Throwback Tracks: Sunny Day Real Estate
SDRE was not the first band to be categorized into the emo genre. However, they were instrumental in establishing the genre for the long haul.
Seattle natives, the band never broke through into the mainstream. After releasing two albums, the lead singer went on to pursue a solo career while two of the other band members got picked up by the Foo Fighters.
This track, “Seven,” is off the Diary LP .
[SoundCloud, Photo Credit: Brooke Turner]
from WordPress http://dblback.com/listen/throwback-tracks-sunny-day-real-estate/
via IFTTT
