So. As I’m not a great speller I recently quickly googled “gorgeous” to make sure I had spelled it correctly. Um… I found something interesting in the process. This image came up as the number one result for “gorgeous”. I’m not sure about the whole back story but they refer to the “uncanny valley” which (as I learned from 30 Rock) is the space between a cartoon-y or robot-y computer generated image of a person and a photograph of a real person. Meaning that when you’re in the uncanny valley something is so almost human that it weirds you out because it’s not quite right. Like someone who has had a lot of plastic surgery but you can’t quite put your finger on why they look a bit off. Anyhow. There’s some kind of contest or award or accolades or whatever for people working in this milieu. I think the first thing to note is that she’s wearing glasses.
The text describing the qualities that make this image the winner of whatever contest it is that people who do this think is awesome is so amazing and hilarious in its own right. It’s like some kind of nerd poem:
She presents and models her avatar here, which features the “WIA Head Down Little Girl” gesture by Baby Thorne, combined with the Lindens’ generic sad expression, and a downcast looked shaped via the Mysti tool. Marianne’s skin and eyes are by Robin Sojourner. As it turns out, she made this entry not just to create an avatar who engaged on a human level, but as a kind of public statement over a contentious cultural issue.
This has been bothering me for awhile and I know: hemorrhroids, yuck. But I feel like the tone of this ad presupposes a knowledge of the problem that I don’t have. Like: “obviously you say no to the surgery you jerk!”. But also, what are the options? Stop yelling. Why, billboard, are you treating me like this?
Also, that “peach” logo next to the number? What’s the pitch meeting for that like?
I’m fascinated that the threshold for this diagnosis is “having inadequate or not enough lashes”.
I can already hear you saying: “Yes, Geoff. Your lashes are adequate. They’re enough”.
But you and I aren’t doctors. I mean who wouldn’t put up with a possibly reversible darkening of the eyelids and a possibly not reversible browning of the iris for that level of lashiness?
Also, sidebar, is there anything that Brooke won’t/can’t sell us?
I’m sure it’s not easy being the host of a morning news show… what with the crazy early hours, the constant smiling and banter, the co-hosts. The local FOX affiliate’s contribution to the genre is something called Good Day New York, now apparently hosted by some new anchors. To promote these personalities they’ve put together some ads where they sit down and get real with each other. For me, this one gets a bit too real (apologies for the camera phone video):
I mean, these guys do not like each other, right? That look that he has in the last shot is, um, barely veiled contempt. And, the nervous laughter. I wish I could have been in the editing room when they tried to sew this together into a feel good piece.
I think this one sheds some light on the matter (the beginning is clipped off a bit, she says “What were you like growing up in high school?”):
Ah… your classic band geek/cheerleader rivalry. I played first chair percussion in my high school band. I played piano in the fucking jazz band. Maybe I can be on tv?
As seen in Union Square: this lady set up a pay-what-you-can booth to sort through the (I’m assuming) ideas, fears, small business possibilities you’ve been considering, harboring, dreamstorming. The sign says it all but I’m really wondering what ideas and issues I would take to this seat. Incidentally, the man in the photo getting advice was eating chips. So there’s snacks too.
Veckatimest. Yes, I’ve been listening to this album lately and it struck me about all the possibilities for science. Specifically, how we had already here identified a place to sometimes sing the praises… without a wink.
This record has been talked about all over so I won’t dawdle with the description, but it somehow seems really important. Like a beautifully ornate and sticky bird’s nest, perhaps a fussy, maudlin bird’s nest built in Williamsburg… but all these eggs are in there. Anyhow, to me it seems that this is what we get.
It sounds like it was just recorded in a room. Some people sat down and said: yes, we’ve heard all of that too. Here is an album we made.
“I love the thrill and aerobic benefits of hula-hooping, but damn, I’m at work all day.”
Also, OMG, I love when Erin Lee takes over mid-way through. She really takes a genuine shot at conveying a “oh you know, just another day at the office” feel while swirling in that ridiculous chair. Thanks Erin Lee!
Plus, let’s be clear. The idea of a chair that you have to work against is truly a modern metaphor for the struggles of the working class.
As a scientist, I’ve had a deep interest in shopping channels for awhile now; the unwavering capitalist optimism, the intense smiling and banter, the jewelry! As such, I’d like to introduce a new forum for exploring this unique and exciting corner of the zeitgeist. And this clip seems like a good foundation for our research. You can see the woman on the right start to fade midway through (around 0:20 (ugh, pangs of guilt for loving this, but, come on!, it’s amazing)), but I really admire the hosts “eh, all-in-a-day” attitude as the camera cuts away but keeps rolling.
This past Saturday coming back on the subway from Brighton Beach, I had the good fortune of bumping into one of our city’s character actors. My gumption fortified by a day of beer drinking in the sun, I couldn’t resist. He was (advisably) a little slow to warm up to me–I don’t know if it was my soothing lavender t-shirt and my “beach hat”, or my suggestion that he was bravely contributing to the urban tableau–but he gently (and kookily) tolerated my interview all the way to Atlantic Avenue.
Here’s a couple of fun facts:
1. Tourists can be jerks. You can’t just start taking photos people… it costs $2. But that covers his entire sitting fee, not a per snapshot charge.
2. The money goes in the guitar hole and when it’s full it holds approximately $1600!
3. Not surprisingly, the best places for this sort of thing are Las Vegas and Mardi Gras. In fact, this was his last day in NYC as it’s just not worth the trouble anymore. And he said he has a better costume in storage in Vegas.
4. That’s not his real hair.
5. Also not surprisingly, it’s a real hassle to keep the costume clean. I didn’t even notice the awesome cape until I saw this photo and I’m sure it’s no walk in the park to keep that thing pristine in Times Square.
6. In case you were wondering, as I did, about the office politics of Times Square performers, apparently the Naked Cowboy is a real class act.
