Got you eh? Being politically correct is the opposite of irreverent. While we have nothing to say about Jesus, we do have a great link to a very funny place to buy books. The site is called Quirk books and it packs a plethora of reference books that are well off the Barnes&Noble, Chronicle Books and even Phaidon (great place, still) path. It might even have a good compilation of Jesus Action figures and Catholic iconography but we’ve yet to see anything. Unlike that blinding light that hit us on the road to Detr…oh forget it.
Archive for the ‘Arts & Culture’ Category
Irreferent (Christmas) Books
Monday, November 23rd, 2009Doubledeck Skis. Atomic Bomb?
Thursday, October 15th, 2009
This video tells you all about the latest in ski technology from Atomic. A young insider on the US Ski Team says that the racers swear by this doubledeck techology. Ski forums like Epic and Barking Bear are lukewarm on the idea. We’ll let the Atomic rep explain the philosophy of the “two ski in one” idea–for lack of a better term. I personally purchased a pair for this year. I hope the purchase does not blow up in my (Chris Birt’s) face. Sometimes that happens with Atomics, like the Metron B5s. (The video continues with a discussion of free skis and powder boards… the Giant Slalom (GS) race ski he shows is a great ski, at least, for Masters–i.e. older guy wide turn type–skiing.)
Swearing in French
Saturday, September 5th, 2009
Years ago I had a large vehicle. This vehicle wasted gas while it saved souls. For this vehicle, you see, was large enough to transport a few French exchange students around the suburban parts of Edina and St. Louis Park as they swore their hearts out into the night.
I was, ostensibly, the “host parent” for one of them. In this position it fell to me to become the taxi driver. Being irresponsible as I tend to be, I not only encouraged the lovely Odele to speak her mind out in the car but to entice her somewhat shy and culturally shell-shocked expatriates to do the same.
The cacophony of cursing that soon followed on those taxi rides is a mellifluous memory I shall never forget. When a young French girl swears back and forth from English to French it is a sound that can melt the hardest heart. Which reminds me that french rap is a good facsimile thereof.
Gangsta seems somehow cultivated in a romance tone.
Its so contradictory that it must be cool.
gross generalizations with almost no meaning whatsoever
Saturday, August 15th, 2009This site is devoted to soulful materialism. You will find no grist for the political mill here.
Disclaimer aside, we would like to make a observation about political belief. It can be said that the more religious a person becomes, the more religion becomes their politics. Conversely the more secular a person becomes, the more politics becomes their religion. This is a merely an observation that is perhaps worthy of a high school social studies project.
Once we are able to locate a precocious high school student to prove this empirically we will then make our second observation in the form of a parable. We are reminded of a comment made by either a Russian cleric or communist (the symbolism is appropriate) who said this:
“When I see a poor man in the street, I consider this a spiritual problem, not a political problem.”
If we learned anything in college, it is that altruism is metaphysical. For example, does a young man give up his seat for the old lady on the bus out of self-sacrifice or to placate his conscience? The answer, we believe, is that only a spiritual force outside of the physical world can compel a human being to truly sacrifice for others.
Before you think that this makes religion our politics, however, consider what motivates people to take up spiritual things in general. What is to be said of the spiritual healer a few days back who killed three people in a sweat lodge ceremony by confusing vomit with purification?
We’d rather commune with communists.
At least if the door was locked.
A Parton Priestess of Grooviness
Friday, August 14th, 2009
The new biopic Julie & Julia (more or less) on Julia Child reminds us of what it means to be and not seem. We think she looks rather fetching in this shot as well, don’t you think? With the popularity of this very good movie copies of the cookbook (the one and only) may be hard to come by. We suggest you bide your time by practicing the Art of French Kissing (for which there must surely be a manual) before you grow fat and ugly from all that classic (nouvelle is for nits) french cuisine you should be enjoying soon.
3 in 1 shower gel. An answer to prayer.
Sunday, August 2nd, 2009
I have to make a confession about the mother of personal makeover shows. If I were ever to have been nominated for “Queer Eye,” they would have exposed a personal habit that is pure fashion sacrilege. I use bar soap to shampoo, and even to shave. While I admit to being suckered into expensive “product” by a pleasant stylist now and them, I usually go back to Irish Spring, Dial or whatever sliver of soap that still lathers up.
Now I see this ad for 3 in 1 shower gel that serves as shampoo, soap and even shaving cream. This soap is from a company with a pleasant french name that conjures up images of Ban De’Soleil, which for a man of a certain age, remains the iconic image for the suave, stylish, and dare I say, groovy life.
3 in 1 shower gel. It could the answer to a prayer I did not even know I had.
So go to h-ll, Carson. And take your friends with you.
(submitted by Chris Birt for groovyman.com)
Blonde Women With Phones
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009
Someday, before I die, I will make a new wave, French style film on this very subject. While ostensibly it is of little interest to the general public, I believe this species of female, when captured “in-situ” with a said small communications tool glued like an appendage to their ear is responsible for many of the tectonic movements in society. For starters, I know of no other human being who spends quite as much time on the phone, not merely texting, but passionately speaking to another of the same species. Somewhere in their torrent of words, fashion trends, child rearing techniques and suburban migration patterns are established for the rest of us. I would write more, but alas, I can’t seem to get beyond the SUV in the parking lot. The contrast of black truck with blonde ponytail is leaving me blind.
Flipped Over Flyp
Sunday, June 14th, 2009
Just came across the most lavishly produced media experiment we have seen online, Flyp magazine. It is hard to believe the production graphics are what they are but they are. And just when it seemed that multi-media was a fetish of the web’s first wave.
We are tongue tied.
If you prefer magazines built with atoms instead of bits, there is still nothing like Visionaire, the former Nest or going back a few decades, Flair magazines for over-the-top production value. Nest and Flair both went bust pretty quickly but the balls it took to bring them to market forever holds our respect.
What can replace the scent of fresh ink applied on paper delivered in the morning mail?
Micro-or-make-that-nano-payments from Google?
Jaguar Mahatma
Monday, May 25th, 2009
Talk about ironic. Jaguar, the lion of British automotive libido (Rolls was never called a “Shaguar”), is now owned by the largest car company in India, Tata Motors. We feel this move to be devinely inspired if recent deals on Jaguar XJs are any indication.
It’s a simple fact that Jaguars have become perenially groovy since 2004. This is the year that Jaguars passed from sexy but unreliable to sexy and more reliable than a Lexus. The XJ Series, in fact recently scored #1 in J.D. Powers latest reliability ratings for luxury cars. You can Google Jaguar to give you the details.
Strange, therefore, that this model continues to sell in very low numbers relative to other luxury marques. This can work to your advantage, as the time has never been better to buy a classic-looking XJ Series Jag (before they re-design it). We will paraphrase a recent owner on how to buy this magnificent feline beast.
Prices:
04’s, depending on mileage, are now priced in the high teens to low twenties.
Models:
There is a standard length chassis, then the Vanden Plas and Portfolio which have seven or eight extra inches in the back seat. These models are pricier and you pay a little gas mileage penalty with the Portfolio (which is an XJR turbocharged model.)
Deals on the Lot?
Recently a Jaguar dealer in Minneapolis, Minnesota had four or five XJ’s in the used car lot. If you are interested, we have a strategy for getting an even better deal from a no-negotiation dealer that worked well for this car. (In a nutshell, find a car that is not sold by a Jaguar dealer–a non-negotiation dealer–then take that price back to the Jaguar lot and haggle.)
Other Stuff:
Since Tata bought Jaguar and Land Rover, they have been offering good 1.9% deals on financing and ridiculous warranty coverage. A recent purchase of an 2004 XJ with 19,000 miles came with a bumper to bumper up to 100,000 mile warranty for example (age/model independent). XJs also come with air suspension and drive like smaller, more nimble rides due to an advanced aluminum body and frame. This aluminum space frame (new in 2004) is as advanced as that in an Audi A8.
Which, come to think of it, cannot touch the 2004-2009 XJ in the J.D. Powers Survey ratings.
Nor can a Benz or a Bimmer.
Meditate on that.
The Measure, Part 3: Books
Thursday, May 14th, 2009
Now we’re down to the nub, because no matter how cool it is to know the best movies and the best music, it’s the best books that distinguish how you think. So here is Esquire’s
The list hits a lot of our high points that aren’t usually found on high school reading lists: Raymond Carver, Richard Ford, Richard Wright; and also hits some that are on the high school lists, and deserve another reading now that you’re an adult and can actually enjoy–rather than dread–a challenging read. Moby Dick
Notable for their absence though are any books by women, anything by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
So, take some time, put on some music and try a few of these. You’ll be glad you stayed in.
