Born To Anti Rock, Rock, Rock

Further note on questioning one's convictions...

"Anti-rockist", anti hyperbolic comics. These are subject to the usual, perhaps shallow paradox that they are phrases which mean something only to those who not-so-secretly want to _really_ rock.

Post meaningless spectacle, post shoegazing, dust off that glittery jumpsuit and those Kirby ink dots, embrace the fact of performance, of the humility of the entertainer, the storyteller, cartoonist.

Johnny Marr:
"There's an interesting mythology about the pop music I grew up with in the 70s. Everyone wants to demystify themselves now and say "I'm just a regular guy". Well, I don't mind of not being thought regular... Pop music should be for people who don't buy into that ideology!!!!"

Attack One's Own Convictions

"A very popular error -- having the courage of your convictions. Rather, it is a matter of having the courage for an attack upon one's convictions." Nietzche

It's going to be interesting to see a critic of the cultural/commercial uses of the term "terroir" at Terroir on Wed.

"In short, billions of dollars depend on acceptance of the concept of
terroir, whose most important mineral component is therefore a very large
grain of salt."- Sean Thackrey

This all brings to mind Ben Shahn and Karl Shapiro's writings about the use of art as "culture". That culture is the social, political and economic use of art; exchange value rather than inherent kicks.

While I don't think that a wine bar called "Typicity" would be as sexy, I see Thackrey's critique as refreshing. As with much spicy/salty/mineral and nutritional laden language, the word "terroir" may have a shitload of baggage, but that's the shadow side of it also possessing historical/cultural/associative power.

Never Mind The Baggage, We're Going With Fucked Up Declarative Language, Undeterred By The Nattering Nabobs! BUT: A good sharp kick at the wheels of this bike will keep us awake on this ride.

Cool Rusty Sheds

"Basically this is a very hip version of a trailer with a shed on top" WSJ article here.

I don't know if I am ready for my Arthur Two Sheds Jackson moment. But how liberating to think of this.

I really want to start a NY Jewish IKEA that would have product lines like IRV and YANKEL. 

"IRV: 18-piece dinnerware set
off-white"

"SKUPSKY: modular, short, cranky bookcases"

Awards... Are You Pondering What I'm Pondering, Pinky?

"I don't wanna be a poet
'Cuz I don't wanna blow it
I don't care 2 win awards "

D.M.S.R. Prince
I usually quote Prince, I don't care to win awards... but let's be real here. My nomination from the James Beard House for Best Restaurant Graphics is cool.

My Mom has something nice to tell her friends for a change & this is a good thing.

A friend had a good point: an award from your client base is more meaningful in design than one from your design peers in that one is being acknowledged for the utility and relevance of the design. Rationalizations abound.

It's clear to me that Terroir is a unique project, and that Paul Grieco, David Flaherty and Jared Friedman are each respectively responsible for being part of the band--using Stephen Levy's comparison of the iPod team to a rock band in The Perfect Thing as a jumping off point. You can't be a shredding guitarist or turntablist without an ensemble.

No matter what, we will pimp the tshirts at the event. Stickers! Too!

Jared modelling the pink number.

Matt Stinton, male model

Sample misprints are cool