inVESTED.

Peace, one stitch at a time

2009-04-12T06:11:00.006-04:00

What started as a simple class project, Knitivism is becoming a growing presence on Penn State's campus as a form of peaceful protest and activism with only needles and yarn to do the talking.

Similar to Knitta Please and Jerilea Zempel, the students of Knitivism use the act of knitting as a way to promote peace. Because knitting has certain stereotypes, seeing students knitting in public is sure to gain some attention by people passing by.

It began in a women studies class taught by Stephanie Springgay and she asked her students to try knitting in public areas like the sidewalk or the bus, and see peoples reactions. From there, some of the students in that class realized that with all that attention, a lot of good could come out of it. In the Fall of 2008 Knitivism was started, and it is still growing.

Some of their events have been held to bring awareness to human rights issues like sexual violence against women and the genocide in Darfur. In addition to raising money through donations, the group also knits works that will be donated, such as scarves and peace blankets. Some events that they have planned are for Earth Day and Take Back the Night.

So if you're walking through Penn State's campus and you see a group of people knitting, stop by and ask what they're doing, they will even take the time to teach you how to knit.

Coming Soon

2009-04-06T01:31:00.002-04:00

From Philly's favorite serial Poet
J o s é D í a z

OH SHIT, IT'S SPRING

Coming to a inVESTED blog near you.

13 Éxitos que Nunca Oirás: A Serial Poem (Part 13)

2009-04-04T19:46:00.001-04:00

You’re so fucking special. There are two versions. You’re so very special. I once saw a video of Thom Yorke cynically enacting literal poses to the lyrics of the song. My brother owned that DVD, for a while at least, but then he lost it. Is that the point? Even though Johnny Greenwood tried to ruin the track, he just made neat cannon sounds that were perfect for angsty alt-rock radio (you’re listening to 105.7 THE X). The removal of “fuck” can derail a relationship, and as such I can’t really sit well with a clean version at the end of the album.

13 Éxitos que Nunca Oirás: A Serial Poem (Part 12)

2009-04-03T18:19:00.001-04:00

Physics makes us all its bitches.

Mad Decent Days and Nights

2009-04-01T14:17:00.006-04:00

Anyone From Philly knows about Mad Decent from their stickers posted on every “No Parking” sign in center city to their bang-up parties at The Mausoleum, their studio at 12^th and Spring Garden, but when the Mad Decent team isn’t busy arguing with Philly’s finest over noise violations, like last nights Diplo and Boys Noize show, they’re moving from city to city wreaking havoc, throwing parties, and wearing Toad Masks. SxSW in Austin, TX was no different. Being from Philly as well I was able to as Flufftronix called it, “Mad Decent’s 50 plus crew."

The Mad Decent takeover started on Thursday night after the premier of Diplo’s Baile Funk documentary, Favela Strikes Back. Our first stop was to be the official SxSW Showcase for IHEARTCOMIX, a record label similar to Mad Decent. The Showcase was filled with Philly favorites like; Juiceboxxx, Totally Michael, and Designer Drugs, the DJ team who throws Live Forever at the Barbary. The only problem was practically none of us had any of the SxSW badges, meaning their was no way we would be able to see any of the performances, but when you’re with Mad Decent, problems like that don’t seem to matter anymore. We walk around the side of the bar and head to the back door where we were let in with hugs and handshakes from the bouncers.

When we arrived Radioclit was finishing their set and getting ready for Drop The Lime, one of the most promising DJ’s spinning at SxSW. As Drop The Lime dropped banger after banger I was puzzled when I noticed that most of Mad Decent team were keeping to themselves, either drinking silently with bobbing heads or talking with friends.

I didn’t have much time to think before we were out in the Austin air again. This time headed to the Fools Gold Records party being Thrown by Richard Henry a promoter and DJ from Austin. When we arrived at the club the line of guests seemed to stretch on forever, so again, we went to the back door where, after waiting for several minutes we again got in effortlessly.

The Fools Gold party was apparently the place to be that night. As the hours passed I was able to meet a whole slue of celebrities including; A-trak, Kid Sister, The Blood Brothers, Steve Aoki, DJ Mehdi, Little Boots, The Mae Shi, Flosstradamus and I’m fairly sure an incredibly drunk Fred Durst. Most of these people fall into my most played list in Itunes and of them put up with me geekin' out a bit, but again, I noticed that most of these celebrities and the Mad Decent crew were keeping to themselves. They weren’t spurning the advances of fans, but they also weren’t swimming in a pool of self-love and inflated ego, again I was puzzled. As morning creeped up on us and when I was able to get the drummer of Champagne Champagne to quit telling me what its like to be have started a rap group with The Blood Brothers and after Paul Devro stopped singing about zombies I thought all that celebrity gossipin'/fanboyin'/unhealthy obsessions.

I know that I've fanboy'd before, recently it might have cost me something important, but in all seriousness I'm not a perpetrator, at least not to the extent that I witnessed. There were people climbing up fences and walls to be inside this party. There were people who had more fame then I had and they were abusing it to attempt to saddle up next to people more famous than them. It wasn't Beatlesmania, but it was almost as pathetic. Sure, it's already known that I have a severely low tolerance for people, but that night it was stretched to its limit. As I said I'm guilty of it, but there is a line between respect and balls out dick sucking. And some good old foreplay is what I saw.

So if you find yourself in a situation much the same as the one I've presented be sure to at least say hello before you haul out anyones cock to slob it off.

13 Éxitos que Nunca Oirás: A Serial Poem (Part 11)

2009-04-01T03:13:00.001-04:00

I have fantasies of a wood fire, comforters, and a fine selection of DVDs (Criterion only).

13 Éxitos que Nunca Oirás: A Serial Poem (Part 10)

2009-03-30T20:32:00.001-04:00

Sometimes I wonder if I’m a “RACIST”. I wonder this because I have never dated or really been romantically attracted to someone of my own “RACE”. Um, ethnicity? I would say something like this: my libidinal image-repertoire has been formed within a milieu of suburban whiteness and urban hipsterdom. So, really, you end up liking girls from the same parts of town. I saw some girls waving my flag; Philip said their brothers would beat us up.

13 Éxitos que Nunca Oirás: A Serial Poem (Part 9)

2009-03-29T22:25:00.003-04:00

It was something like a haze of smoke, a hurricane, a Schmidt. Jasper is the Hurricane. He is talented at feigning disinterest. How awesome is this? I don’t know. Spaces are often crowded, and sometimes people go to the bathroom. Then you end up screaming the words to “Friends of Mine” because the band played it. Do you know what it’s like to peacefully protest narcotics laws on Washington? How awesome is this? It was the birthday of ––––––– fucked if I remember. We entered a gate; I drove (was driven) home.

13 Éxitos que Nunca Oirás: A Serial Poem (Part 8)

2009-03-26T21:45:00.002-04:00

Myspace is tricky because Word’s spell-check doesn’t recognize it. Spellcheck also wants me to hyphenate spell-check. Suck-it, Microsoft. Myspace is also tricky because it enables the Jasper to come home at 3am and write: I want to meet up so you can give me a cd with all of the cool music that you have (assuming by yr music project and the song you have on yr space, that would be what you have).
or something like that.

13 Éxitos que Nunca Oirás: A Serial Poem (Part 7)

2009-03-25T21:35:00.001-04:00

I do own blank CD's and sleeves. Sleeves are important. A mix CD is “SEX” as much as it is gift as much as “FLOWER” is a flower (you follow?) Or, rather, a mix CD is to get “SEX” (or is it sex?) Anyway; as in sex, the mix CD cannot be delivered without “PROTECTION”. She’ll take it off when she wants it in her “COMPACT DISC DRIVE”.

LAN PARTY.

2009-03-23T20:13:00.006-04:00

Okay, so hopefully everyone read Matt's masterpiece letter to Asher Roth. If you didn't, go back a few posts to March 3, 2009. A handful of students from Temple University and their friends created a spoof video on Asher's hit song "I Love College." Genius director and lyricist John Note and his chosen LAN party gamer-cast spent hours filming the video. I had the privilege to hang around and watch them, and let me tell you, if this song comes on the radio I am guaranteed a good laugh. Check out the video on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHVMuRM2Kx8.

Oh, and in case you don't know what a LAN party is... Wikipedia cooked up a nice definition for you.

"A LAN party is a temporary, sometimes spontaneous, gathering of people together with their computers, which they network together primarily for the purpose of playing multiplayer computer games. These local area networks (LANs) come in various sizes, from very small (two people) to very large (more than 10,000 people). Small parties can form spontaneously, but large ones usually require a fair amount of planning and preparation on the part of the organizer."

13 Éxitos que Nunca Oirás: A Serial Poem (Part 6)

2009-03-23T00:13:00.002-04:00

I do not own a fine point permanent marker. Think of it this way: a mix CD is a gift that isn’t a gift. Instead, try this: take 3 sheets of 8 ½ by 11 paper, quarter the paper. On each quarter of paper, write the word “FLOWER” in fine point or perhaps broad tip permanent marker. Find some construction paper; after stapling your “FLOWERS”, fold your sheet of construction paper; this is a “BOUQUET”. If you are feeling adventurous, you can substitute “CARNATIONS (PINK)” or “ROSES (RED)” for “FLOWERS”. This of course depends on the message. You may be hungry after all of this. Write “NACHOS” on an index card, perhaps with some “CHEESE”. Remember: no staples in the microwave.

13 Éxitos que Nunca Oirás: A Serial Poem (Part 5)

2009-03-20T16:49:00.002-04:00

80 minutes is 700 MB, which is arbitrary. When CD technology was developed, the scientists changed their goal from 60 minutes to 74 minutes of recording time; this way the disc could accommodate Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, a fact that Sony apparently used to force Phillips to adopt a 120mm disc; (they had already built a factory in Hanover, Germany, but they were planning on 115mm). Either way, there is no reason to use all 60, 74, or 80 minutes. 40 minutes will do; it will force you to make choices regarding the statement you want to make. Your target will just as likely decide to stop liking you in the 60 minutes you force him to ‘appreciate’ your taste in obscure tropicalia and Ethiopian jazz as he is to actually be impressed.

13 Éxitos que Nunca Oirás: A Serial Poem (Part 4)

2009-03-16T22:40:00.002-04:00

According to Urban Dictionary.com, there are several definitions for the term ‘Jasper’. These definitions range from:
1. Jasper
To perform a sex act on a coworker. If performed in the place of employment, this can be called the Full Jasper.

"I just jaspered that hot chick from work!"
to:
11. Jasper
Jewish Anglo-Saxon Protestant. Used by some Jews in Northern California to describe people of Jewish heritage who have completely assimilated into white gentile culture to the point that they are indistinguishable from WASPs, or people who seem like WASPs but are Jewish or half-Jewish.

“He seems so goyish, but he's really a jasper.”

However, when first I looked the word up, the first definition was:
14. Jasper
A name used to describe a hopeless lover.

“Yo man you need to grow some balls and stop being a Jasper!”

This is what I took as the meaning of ‘Jasper’ when Mary said:
“You boys are total Jaspers.”

OBEY! No One

2009-03-16T18:44:00.002-04:00

People who know me know that I loathe the OBEY! company and everything Shepard Fairey pretends to stand for. The simple reason for this is because he's a thief. He steals art--be it meaningful or not--and regurgitates it into pop drivel. You can argue with me about it if you really want to, but I stand firm in my belief that you shouldn't be able to misappropriate historical imagery, appropriate copyrighted imagery, copyright a single word ("obey") and then go crazy suing companies that are doing exactly the same thing to you. Off the record, and in complete confidence, I just think he's a whiny bitch who has entitlement issues and a white superiority complex. Not that my personal opinion really matters, though.

I was working on an article about Fairey, which was ultimately supposed to be an explanatory piece that would hopefully (Can I use the word "HOPE" without infringing? YIKES!) lead my audience to consider for themselves whether or not they believe Fairey to be a proverbial sheister. After numerous attempts to contact the OBEY! company, they finally got back to me regarding my initial query: Does Fairey cite his sources anywhere?

Their answer: Buy the book.

His book, full of borrowed art, faux-pithy sayings and misrepresented socio-political imagery is about $60. Fat chance.

I am really quite tempted to photocopy a borrowed issue, highlight a few sections, staple it together and sell it on my website. It's tempting, until I think about how quickly this guy will turn around and sue me. Just like he's doing to Steelerbaby.

Please, join my crusade against Fairey and buy some Steelerbaby merch.

I hate the Steelers, as I am both a Philadelphian and not a football fan. Despite this, I shall buy a shirt to support the real "grassroots" artists and superfans who are being abused by a gluttonous, ego-centric, monster capitalist. I also happen to collect Kewpie dolls, so it's just a nice fit.

Yeah, capitalism usually doesn't bother me, but this type of abuse burns me up. Read more about Fairey's art crimes (my emphasis) here: Obey Plagiarist Shepard Fairey.

Also, he got blasted by the ASSOCIATE PRESS!

I know I'm just one, little, mostly-insignificant person, but I support local arts and artists and I don't want someone like Fairey reaping benefits that he should be sharing. I also, dare I say, think most of the OBEY! stuff is kind of dumb and emo looking. But, as I conceded, my opinion really doesn't matter.

Want to see some good, local, wearable art? Check out the artists at Space 1026, Magic Outlaw, Vox Populi, Art in the Age and Topstitch.

inVESTED In Austin

2009-03-12T05:51:00.013-04:00

As most of you already know Tiffany and I will be attempting to live Blog SxSW from Austin. The last few weeks have been crammed with preparations (I.E. finding places to sleep, finding money to survive, creating a schedule, breaking out the summer wear). As Monday, our departure date, looms near we will be figuring out the more tedious details, but until then we have a few things to better help you follow us on our trip.

First is the absurdly epic list of shows that we want to be able to catch/cover/not sleep through. Luckily, through the beauty of iCAL, I did not have to put this together. The list is an organized PDF file of all the shows, show times, and locations. You can download it here.

Second is a PayPal account where you can donate to make sure we don't starve/run out of gas/have money for bail. All you have to do is click on the Virgin Mary and PayPal makes it fairly easy from there. Thank you for anything donated and we promise that you'll be having as much fun as we will be, albeit vicariously through pictures/articles/drunken phone calls.

Third is a mixtape which I'll be posting here later in the afternoon.

13 Éxitos que Nunca Oirás: A Serial Poem (Part 3)

2009-03-12T03:02:00.002-04:00

I chose “En Otro Pais” (Cola Jet Set) and “Quetate Luna” (Devendra Banhart) because they are sung in Spanish; this would be impressive. I originally had included “Quiereme” (Cola Jet Set) and “Le Premier Bonheur Du Jour” (Os Mutantes). The former was abandoned for obvious reasons. The latter because, upon further consideration, I decided that Portuguese was not the same as Spanish. Not even close. But actually, the song’s in French and I just realized that now. Oh well. When I see pictures of Devendra Banhart, he looks very spiritual; I thought to myself, girls like to be spiritual. This, then, would be impressive.

13 Éxitos que Nunca Oirás: A Serial Poem (Part 2)

2009-03-10T20:20:00.002-04:00

There are several schools of thought regarding the proper use and execution of a mix CD. I read “The VICE Guide To Being Totally Crushed Out”, which advises (in an ‘emergency’, ‘emergency’ robot voice): “do not make a mix tape for someone you have not fooled around with yet”. Also: “once you have horsed around with her…do not pay too close attention to the lyrics. Trying to frame a message in other people’s lyrics is gay.” Furthermore, the author suggests including a few mean songs. For these purposes, “She’s a Rejector” (Of Montreal) and “Looking Over My Shoulder” (Elliott Smith) were included in the mix.

Roland Barthes, in A Lover’s Discourse, argues that the love letter is not tactical; it is not an “enterprise to defend positions, make conquests” (158). Rather, the letter is “purely expressive”. What is engaged in the other is a total relation between two images and not a mathematical correspondence with the other’s perceived weak points. Barthes did not live to see the inception of consumer-level recordable media, but the thought still bears mention.

I had a girlfriend who told me I was very talented at making mix CDs. She was impressed with the way in which the songs fit together in sequential order. I later made a mix for a different girl, including a song I had written about her; the lyrics were written accompanying the track list. Her roommates read it at her birthday party. Upon reviewing both cases (one with whom I had fooled around, the other about whom I had been fooled), I find that the use of “tactics” or “strategery” depends very much on your relationship to the other.

13 Éxitos que Nunca Oirás: A Serial Poem (Part 1)

2009-03-09T20:43:00.001-04:00

In tenth grade, I would have been six years into the future (projected); a story which, despite all indications otherwise, is evocative of the following: sunlight, quarry stones, Wednesday at dinner; a car with cracked leatherette upholstery. A green leaf, wide, the reflection as it falls somewhere near the quarry mouth, it’s been filled with water; it is November. There’s a metaphor in there; it is a soft and gentle flower dying in springtime. It is an empty casket disinterred. The dismay of the forensic examiner.

An Open Letter to Asher Roth

2009-03-03T13:32:00.008-05:00

Dear Mr. Roth,

I like you Asher, I like you a lot. Your Mixtape, The Greenhouse Effect Vol. 1, produced by DJ Drama and Don Cannon is brilliant. Your raps are genius. Sometimes cheeky and hilarious, with tracks like "Cartoon Chick" and the Brittany Spears rework "Gimme Your Box". Sometimes intelligent and insightful like the accapella "Just Listen". You even have a Black Mags remix that rivals the flows from The Cool Kids original. You have tracks produced by Diddy, Kayne, Chuck English, and Dr. Dre (which I can't begin to understand how that was pulled off). Simply put The Greenhouse Effect was an ingenious first release, and "Asleep In The Bread Isle" sounds really promising with its guest vocals and beats from Ludacris Cee-Lo, and Lady GaGa. You've been able to pull from all the styles of Hip-Hop, and you do it well.

But Asher, I have one little qualm I'd like to talk about,

WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU MAKE I LOVE COLLEGE?

Seriously, what the fuck is that cockmix of a track Asher? I understand you graduated from West Chester University with a degree in Elementary Education, but now you've taken it too far. I just want to know what happened? You spit 150 bars to Jay-z straight out. You rapped to him about fucking Ashley Olsen, that's hardcore. Now what? You're hanging out with Dave Matthews Band and playing Sublime covers on the quad? What's next? Trucker hats and hemp sandals? Performances at Bonnaroo?

Asher, what happened? Thats all I want to know. You're lucky you listened to your fans and made that "A Milli" remix. You own Lil' Wayne's soul now, but things are really up in the air with us right now. I guess call me when your album drops. If its as bang-up as it looks maybe I can love you again.

Oh, and Asher, Don't come back to Philly until you fucking fail out. It'll be a good life lesson, Thanks.

Fix the recession? Let's get high!

2009-03-03T11:52:00.005-05:00

I was browsing salon.com when I happened to see this article about a California state assemblyman lobbying to have the state legalize marijuana in the state as a taxable item. Why? Mostly because pot is Cali's number one cash crop, bringing in almost $14 billion a year, which is significantly higher than the next best crop, vegetables.

The interesting thing is, I was just recently discussing this idea with friends, who suggested I write a letter to my local congressman. Seems like someone beat me to it, and in a state more likely to actually pass.

Basically what that means is if the entire country follows suit (albeit unlikely) we could fix this recession in a hilarious way. Just imagine our children's history textboks:

I know you might be thinking that this guy is probably a total wackjob, which may be true, but he was bros with Harvey Milk.

Here's the original article, take a look.

I can't believe we missed this show

2009-02-19T12:28:00.004-05:00

[photo by Elle Muliarchyk]

This is what happens when I decide not to keep up with my google reader for a day!

Ghostly International, an awesome Michigan based Record and Art company that put out one my favorite albums of 2008, Michna's Magic Monday, just put out Iamundernodisguise by School of Seven Bells. I'm kicking myself right now, because I just saw that the Brooklyn trio played the Trocadero last night, opening for Fujiya & Miyagi and they won't be back to the States or the East coast until June. Better yet, they're touring with one of my favorite artists while in Brighton, the one and only Natasha Khan (Bat For Lashes)

You can catch them in D.C. tonight, but then they're out of the country! So jealous...

School of Seven Bells - My Cabal (Live on Radio K) from Radio K on Vimeo.

Frankford Avenue First Friday

2009-02-07T14:26:00.016-05:00

First Stop was Atlantis, a bar favored by the guys from Philadelphia Brewing Company just around the corner, so don't hate on Kenzinger too loud in there if you don't want to get beat up by a bunch of beer brewers. Ryan Briggs (who looks like the lead singer of Yeasayer) was my guide for the night. He worked with the NKCDC to help organize the Frankford First Friday and went around making sure all the participating businesses were doing okay.

This is actually Ryan, not Chris Keating

Goldfish Gallery
Since this was our first stop I started to think no one was going to be out due to the biting cold weather, because there was one guy perusing the walls of Goldfish. There were a lot of interesting sculptures, bronze and plaster (I think) and these real kitschy photographs that made you blush if you were caught looking at them too long. The photographs were of older women, maybe late 30's to 40's, in really provocative poses or just straight up naked. It felt like that day you walked in on your parent's doing it and couldn't look them in the eye for a while. Yup. Anyways, the sculptures were really great though. There was a really really really fat cat sculpture with a little guy being crushed in its paws. I don't know, I thought it was funny.

Highwire was next and it was packed. Their exhibition theme was LOVE in honor of Valentine's Day. So keeping that in mind, I walk in and the first thing I see is a huge canon sized penis spitting out bubbles, oh and little kids were running all around it... basically frolicking. There were also some pretty graphic pencil drawings of girls getting it in with a dildo. gross, but also hilarious given the kids running around and all. There were some poetry readings that were mostly just three old guys saying whatever they felt like and being as over the top as they could be, which was great. The one poet wore a white button up shirt with Love written in lipstick on his collar and on the back of his shirt was, also in red lipstick, a giant penis. I bumped into my middle school art teacher and he remembered my name!? This is a photo of him and his daughter. I don't even think he was married when he taught me how to paint with numbers back in 7th grade.

Perpetua Antiques across the street was next. I really liked this place, but it was so cramped and there was SOO much stuff. The owner said he wanted to shut down early because he had to take the Mrs to Spaghetti Warehouse for dinner. I still don't know if this was a joke or not. After I told him about my dad's coin collection he slipped me this weird Chinese Silver Dollar coin or something... I'm not sure what it is. I didn't feel like explaining that I was actually Korean and being rude, plus the coin is pretty awesome. I'm gonna show it to my dad next time I'm home.
Anyways, woah, sorry I went so off tangent. I think this place is better explained through photos:

Mr. Ryan Briggs (aka the guy from Yeasayer) hahahahha.. don't hate me.

This place has a huge collection of Life magazine that I definitely want to go back to check out sometime!

The Germ Bookstore was next. I had interviewed the owner David Williams the other day for a short write up and found out all this info on the exhibition, which was DEITSCH HEATHEN HEXOLOGY. Like Pennsylvania Dutch Hexology. These hexes are found in barns all over Pennsylvania and their history relates to pagan practices by the first German immigrants that later became the Pennsylvania Dutch that we know today. Not necessarily the amish. There were four artists: Valúlfr Vaerulsson, Swan Hilde, Patricia Hall and Hunter Yoder. Hunter had this awesome piece that actually combined Indian mythology and had a depiction of Vishnu made out of parts from 9 different animals.

Phew... we were really tired at this point, so we dropped in the Rocket Cat cafe to get some tea and harass Holly behind the counter.

Bambi was our last stop. Even though First Friday was supposed to end at 9, we stayed there pretty late. I really liked their stuff and definitely want to go back to pick something up sometime.

That's all for now. Matt, your turn.

Cornelius.

2009-01-28T03:03:00.001-05:00

CORNELIUS from borntofilm on Vimeo.

Is there really anything to say?

Oh, Damn. I FUCKED UP these PISSED JEANS

2009-01-21T19:12:00.001-05:00

Fucked Up W/ Pissed Jeans tonight at Kung Fu Necktie $10/21+

Fucked Up/myspace

Pissed Jeans/myspace

Stay Tuned for more.

Mathematics and Smoking

2009-01-21T18:50:00.000-05:00

I read this while smoking. It kind of ruined it for me.

Courtesy of BoingBoing via: somehow someway

Obama Hearts Club Band

2009-01-20T19:44:00.000-05:00

"Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

-Barack Obama

“The Hopeful Hearts Club is a painting that reflects the essence of hope that the campaign has inspired in millions of Americans over the past 2 years. The 1967 Beatles Sgt. Pepper album manifested during a time of social, economic, and worldwide change. I feel that we are in another moment where the choices we make are having a profound effect on our lives, and the world at large. "

- Michael W. Cuffe

Today, that change came, and it was beautiful.

Michael has other Obama inspired art here.

Support him!

(via: boingboing)

Two-Thousand-Eight Greats

2009-01-15T13:17:00.000-05:00

A new blog for a new year, why not?

inVESTED will be a compendium of interests, music, art, news. It will be a collection of things worth becoming invested in, and what better way to start a new year of investment, a new year of change, innovation and creativity. Really, just a new year of promises, like every year. But, what better way to start a year then look at everything that made two thousand and eight so damn great.

It's been about a month, we've all had time to take it in, we've had time to sober-up. So, here are the five best albums, in no particular order, of two thousand and eight.

Dr. Dog- Fate

This is your summertime backyard drinking album. No excuses.

myspace

Obscure Sound Review

Blank Dogs- The Fields

Mr. Blank Dog, as he is known, takes a genre overwrought with Joy Division rip-offs and gives it a complete reworking. The Fields takes everything back to the basics, but still remains astonishingly fresh.

myspace

Dusted Magazine review

Titus Andronicus- The Airing of Grievances

There'll be no more cigarettes/ No more having sex/ No more drinking until you fall on the floor. Luckily, frontman Patrick Stickles says this with loaded literary irony, because after listening to The Airing of Grievances cigarettes, sex, and beer is all you'll want.

myspace

Pitchfork Review

Tobacco- Fucked Up Friends

Black Moth Super Rainbow member, Tom Fec, uses Psych hip-hop beats to fulfill our 70's porn groove fantasies.

myspace

Pitchfork Review

Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes

Four words. Best damn harmonies ever.

Other then that, this album is remarkable. Fleet Foxes pulls from a multitude of different genres to form an album thats part folk, part pop, and part Pet Sounds.

myspace

Pitchfork Review

Go out a buy them, or... well... download them illegally like I did.