The Blues Are Brewin

101 Reasons Why I Love World's Fairs

I've been doing a bit of organizing/purging lately, and I came across this gem this evening. It's a list titled "101 Reasons Why I Love Worlds Fairs" from around 2006, I believe. I only made it to 21, but I bet I could come up with another 80 easy.

1. because Pabst Blue Ribbon was voted number one beer at the World Columbian Exposition of 1893 (that's why it's got the "blue ribbon" tacked onto the end)

2. because Mr. George Washing Gale Ferris in 1983 drew up some plans for a long wheel with carts that would carry people in a circle midair as a structure [the Ferris Wheel] to one up Paris for their massive Eiffel Tower from 4 years earlier

3. because that first Ferris Wheel carried 60 people in each 36 cars

4. because they said the belly dancers from Egypt had "educated muscles"

5. because Frederick Law Olmsted, the dude who dreamed up Central Park, took the temporary fair grounds in Chicago just as seriously as he took the permanent Central Park

6. because it gave Robert Moses just one more venue to exercise his power

7. because the Unisphere looks massively out of place in front of the Queens Museum of Art

8. because It's A Small World was at the '64 fair before it moved to the newly constructed Walt Disney World

9. because Walt Disney's dad worked at the 1893 Fair

10. because without them, we wouldn't have Epcot center (which is where I tried sushi for the first time)

11. because the panorama of NYC for the '64 fair is the only thing in the world that puts a city into perspective

12. because they were always loosing money, despite rising admission costs

13. because it transformed Chicago from a city of crime to a city of prime

14. because they were considered the "it" place to go, much like Disney World is today

15. because it shows that people were once excited and nervous about new technologies, not blase like they are today

16. because the world thought it was necessary to spend so much time and energy on creating temporary structures

17. because they were open to everyone

18. because they were an early use of marketing (ie only allowing Kodak cameras and fining anyone who used a camera other than Kodak while at the fair)

19. because each fair tried to outdo the one before it

20. because they were models for contemporary trade shows

21. because it was fun for all ages

Bummer Times Pencils

So I had these pencils made for Bummer Times last summer, but I never got around to posting about them! There are a few left so holler at me if you're interested (nls@bummertimes.com). Just specify if you want the smiley face or the American flag, and I'd be happy to hooook you up.

Cat Scan Fever

So last week I got CAT scan. I'm happy to report that there's nothing wrong with me, but I'm pretty excited that I was able to get this done. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have these incredible images of inside my head. For those of you who know me, it's pretty remarkable how much you can see my face inside these scans. It's also interesting to see what my skull looks like since I somehow doubt I'll ever have the opportunity to see it up close and personal. That is, of course, unless I'm abducted by aliens or something, but that's another story for another time.

The Perspective That A New Year Brings

Happy New Year! I'm working on the back log from '87, but I threw in a couple for good measure this year. You should see the result of these very soon, my friends.

Erasing the Past

Hi everyone! I just switched hosting services, and, in the process, I lost all of my files on the old one. I'm in the process of re-uploading the past, but the blog will be in limbo for the time being. I do apologize for the inconvenience, as I'm sure this is very hard on all of you. Thank you for understanding.

The Last Fuck

Top 10 of 2010

10. Freddie Gibbs - "Fuck the World"
9. Cali Swag District - Teach Me How to Dougie"*
8. Bun B ft. Slim Thug & Play N Skillz - Ridin Slow**
7. Waka Flocka Flame ft. Roscoe Dash & Wale - "No Hands"
6. Lil B - "I'm God"***
5. Rick Ross "B.M.F." and Young Jeezy "Death Before Dishonor"****
4. Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot... The Son of Chico Dusty*****
3. Gucci Mane - "Making Love to the Money," "Normal," "Long Money," and "Yeahh (Pop Your Back) Ft. Dorrough"******
2. Taio Cruz - Dynamite*******
1. Soulja Boy ft. Gucci Mane - "Pretty Boy Swag" remix********

* I love any song that involves a dance (even though they don't actually teach you how to do it), and I think this should be played at every NBA game for years to come.

** I may have picked this one only because of the fact that Bun B wears the Supreme "Get Your Shit Together" hat during the video.

*** My research indicated that this song actually came out in late December 2009. I didn't hear it until 2010, so it counts.

**** They're tied for number five because I love them equally for the very same reason.

***** Yes, this is an album, and it's the best album of the year by a landslide.

****** I couldn't decide! I think I just mean that Gucci Mane is my number one and number three picks for 2010.

******* I do throw my hands up in the air sometimes.

******** "THIS RIGHT HERE IS MY NEW LAMBO"

Unwrapping the Dream

I think the Clinton-Washington G station was trying to tell me something the last time I was there. Like maybe I should move there? I just wish they hadn't defaced John Wall. It would have made my fantasy of him teaching me how to dougie on the subway platform more realistic.

more cell phone pictures at how about never

How About Right Now

...you go to HOW ABOUT NEVER (howaboutnever.tumblr.com)



How About Never is a cell phone picture blog that Mike Ley and I started ages ago and just realized that I never posted about it here. It's happening...all the time.