On Consumerism, Identity and Being "Mates"

There's an interesting post from the best-of-craigslist, Through Being Cool. In it the author explores what it means for boys/men to be "mates" (Aus, UK vs. "friends", US), and ultimately questions the impact an identity developed through consumerism affects the way in which we 'boys' bond.
[Via The Morning News]

Based solely on the trailer, This Is England (now in limited release in the U.S.) looks like a fantastic case-in-point of the very issues the author discusses in the above article.

Probably the Coolest Thing You'll See Today

Get it on!

More on Super Bad Brad and his act.

[Via VeryShortList.]

Prince and the Innovation

Or maybe it is a revolution. He distributed 2.9 million copies of his new CD in the U.K.'s Mail on Sunday.

Here's the article, from L.A. Observed, about how the columnist for the L.A. Times that proposed his paper pursue the same path (an innovative delivery system sure to benefit both beleaguered industries) had his column pulled. It contains the full text of the pulled article.

[Thanx to Andrew for the tip. – Ed.]

Don't Stop and Smell the Coffee

There's no time when you're imbibing one at 171 different NYC Starbucks. In one day. Roughly one every seven minutes for twenty hours. By bike for the most part until he starts losing his sh*t around hour 14 and has to catch a ride.

Simple, compelling, effective concept that's starting to get the dude mad pub.

[Thanx to Todd for the tip. – Ed.]
Image ©2005 Bernie Hou. Via AlienLovesPredator.com

The "What'up Dog?" Days of Summer.

July has been a slow month for WTF. It may be because we've been having such phenomenal weather here in the STL – "This sh*t is like southern California!", I've remarked excitedly on more than one occasion – that we've been spending a lot of time outside before Global Warming f*cks everything up.

[When you need knowledge dropped who better than alterna-rapper Dr. Octagon to get the point across? The vid is like School House Rock in it's effective communication of the issue – "Trees are dying." Nuff said. – Ed.]

Mad* Good!

Just finished watching the premiere of Mad Men, AMC's well-reviewed new show about a 60's Madison Avenue agency, and I've got to add my endorsement.

Very good. Some great, smart writing. Surprisingly complex characters realized by a convincing cast of 'little knowns'. A great period-nailing look. And a very cool way of integrating the commercials into the show.

And if you're looking for a show with mad* smoking... this is your show. Watch it.

*[From UrbanDictionary.com: mad adj. 1: really or extremely 2: alot: That kid's mad cool., I got mad money. – Ed.]

Love Will Freak Us

Walking past Lynn's (Interactive PM) desk, I just heard the woeful strains of Love Will Tear Us Apart, Joy Division's melancholy ode to the divisive power of love, and just had to share Dsico's inspired 2003 mashup – which reimagines it as a sexier experience by laying Missy's Get Ur Freak On flow over the top.

What may seem blashphemous to those entrenched in either camp comes damn close to the whole being greater than the sum of the parts as far as I'm concerned.