Happy Thanksgiving!

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." -JFK

~Ferdinando

Find Courage In a Change of Scene

Sometimes the best nights you have with your friends are unplanned group hangouts. Someone puts on some music and soon you realize you would all rather stay in. A few friends are laughing on the couch, a few are dancing in front of the stereo, and others are eating whatever they can find appetizing in the fridge. You call other people to swing by and you have turned a night like any other into a shiny new night of fun. Great music, great friends, a great time.

It sort of feels like that when you listen to Little Joy’s debut album. Made up of the Strokes’ Fabrizio Moretti, Los Hermanos’ Rodrigo Amarante, and Binki Shapiro, Little Joy was created. While this album probably won’t change your life, it is certainly a very enjoyable listen. Like old friends, on the beach, in the bar, at the apartment, just hanging out.

I saw them live last night when they opened for Devendra Banhart and the Grogs and I was instantly smitten. You’d think, being a fan of the Strokes like I am, I would have run out and tested Little Joy when their album was released November 4, 2008, a full year ago, but somehow this gem of an album passed me up. So it was even more comfortable to hear them and realize I already knew, I just hadn’t found out yet.

Track to Check Out: Brand New Start

~Ferdinando

Do it Like They Do it in Mexico

The Mariachi Bowtie

is my latest obsession.

Above, Juan Son shows us

how its done.

-Francois

I Figured As Long As I Was Going To Hell, I Might As Well Do It Thoroughly...

So I'm just going to get straight to the point on this one.

Like so many other girls in the world, me and my fellow compadres, are completely and utterly obsessed with the Twilight series (cue eyeroll). Yes, it is cliche, but in our defense we began reading these books before there was even talk of a movie adaption.

I'm not going to bother summarizing the plot because, I'm sure, you've all read it somewhere else (and I know when I'm reading articles about Twilight, I tend to just skip over that part). As you all know, Twilight has taken the world by storm. The fans of the series are, now, completely obsessed with the films stars, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart's, love lives to the point where even I am getting tired of seeing Rob's face on the cover tabloids (and I'm never one to complain about staring at beautiful man). In my opinion, leave them alone. If they are together, then they are together. If not then just let them be. OK. Tabloid rant over.

The reason I am discussing Twilight now is because we are almost a week away from the release of New Moon and I am mad excited for it. Myself and the other two ladies, who so eloquently contribute to this blog, have managed to nab some tickets to an advanced screening of it. Unfortunately, the screening still isn't until next week, but, I'm not gonna complain.

Anyway. To all you anti-Twilight people out there, here's some advice: Give it a chance. No the movie does not count as giving the series a chance, try reading the book. And if you are going to follow my advice (which I doubt because most people that are anti-Twilight are just trying to be "individuals". And in my opinion, deciding to not like something because it's popular does not make you an individual, it makes you appear ignorant, because more than likely you haven't even attempted to like it) give it a couple of chapters. Don't just read the first page and decide "this is stupid," actually give it a chance. Let yourself forget how big it has become and just slip into watching Bella fall in love with Edward.

Until Next Time,

~Hans

“All the past we leave behind,We debouch upon a newer mightier world, varied world,Fresh and strong the world we seize, world of labor and the march,Pioneers! O pioneers!”
-Walt Whitman

As a generation we are still waiting for our united revolution. We might be waiting forever. But that’s not exactly a bad thing. What if our cause is to change the world? Not the whole world, necessarily, but someone’s world. That’s better than nothing.

I’m actually a huge fan of ethical shopping. Being able to buy something that actually lends itself to the world around you is a beautiful thing. Two of my favorite organizations are TOMS shoes and the Yellow Bird Project. I don’t even think I need to lend much in terms of words to either of these causes; they sort of explain themselves. I guess you should just know that I support them both and simply want to tell someone about it. So I tell you guys.

TOMS shoes

I’m sure you have all heard of TOMS at this point, especially after those commercials that were airing over the past year. I personally first heard about TOMS when I was participating in a Displace Me event to garner attention for Invisible Children and when that long-forgotten face first told me of the idea, I couldn’t shake the feeling that it felt right. The premise is easy, “With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what we're all about.”

Yellow Bird Project

The Yellow Bird Project can be just another band shirt in about the same way TOMS can be just another pair of shoes. So whether you like your music with a cause or its just cool to buy a shirt designed by your favorite band, this Montreal-based, non-profit initiative deserves a chance. Artists included: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Devendra Banhart, King Creosote, Wolfmother, New Pornographers, Of Montreal, Joseph Arthur, My Brightest Diamond, Stars, Hayden, Rilo Kiley, Holly Throsby, Au Revoir Simone, The Shins, Wolf Parade, and more...
I think its worth checking out

~Ferdinando

Like a Lady

(The Sartorialist)
We've all heard of the concept of stealing your boyfriend's clothes. The way the looser fit drapes on the body makes for a much more definitive statement than any breathe-restricting slag piece. Think about it. There's something innately sexy about a woman in a man's white button-down. The way it wraps around her midriff at an instant of wind, or slightly hangs off at the neck, exposing her collar bone. The old "Give 'em a taste, but not too much." Not putting it all out there, but just enough. The truly remarkable Coco Chanel based her entire life's work on this idea--women can in fact cover their breasts, legs, and asses, and still look ( as Hans phrases it) DAMN GOOD.


(Diane Keaton in Annie Hall)

And just realize, the democracy! We can wear ANYTHING! Any limit there might have been is gone: we're gender-bending in everyday life. It really is a luxury reserved for women. And why, oh why, would you pass it up?

White shirt, Patterson J. Kincaid. Trouser, Current/Elliot. Shoes, 3.1 Phillip Lim.


-Francois

Rupert Grint's Phone Number!

Through my very intricate web of intrige and corruption I have discovered what many-a-girl seeks. Rupert Grint's phone number. I know, I know. How can it be? Well, I found it on a slip of paper in an apartment that where he only recently tread.
You think I joke?

Well here it is:
1-800-this-is-not-rupert-grint

So sneaky it's obvious.
No prank calls now.

Ferdinando

Sugar Sugar

For those of you who enjoy short film, I found this treasure when I was 13 and my adoration remains the same.

Wholey Moses



-Francois