Tiny desk, big sounds.

Every so often I have to remember to check in with NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concert series. After all, I discovered Kishi Bashi there:

And Canadian Brass:

And, very recently, Avi Avitel, whose video you'll need to watch from this link, because it is not on youtube yet. I did mean it when I said need to, by the way.

The Modern Mix Tape.

At least a year ago, a former co-worker turned me on to a music site called 8tracks. Different than Pandora or Spotify, it's less about discovering what you might like via association and more about discovering what others like and then discovering that you like it, too. Or something like that. 

Much like the carefully crafted cassette mix tape that you (if you were of that era) made for your friends or yourself, the mixes are personal and hand-arranged by real people who have a love not only of the songs featured, but also the way they work together.

I've made only three of my own mixes, but I am simultaneously working on my fourth and fifth. The finished ones are here, on my profile. Listen and love. Or find someone else's mixes you love.

Work It.

I should probably file this under "you had to be there," but maybe some of you can relate by being there in your own world.

This Advertising Life is a collection of selected clips that exemplify what it means to work in the advertising and/or marketing industry. We see their pain, we feel their pain, and we live it. When we're really feeling it, we go here to laugh at it.

This is one of my favorites. This one is right on, too. If you're a really clever copywriter, that is.

Carry on, now.  

Talk Nerdy to Me.

I'll confess that I've still never made any of her concoctions, but The Cuisinerd has, at least, my visual attention. Exceptional design and layouts make me want to love everything she does, even if it involves squid ink. Check her out!

I Am SO Sure!

If your one reference point for Frank Zappa is 1982's Valley Girl, then you might just shrug him off your shoulders like an ugly sweater.

Though I do like to wrap myself in a weave of weird, I don't know that even I would have lent Frank my eardrums had Ben not insisted that I listen and listen good.

At this point, I am typing and deleting flattering words that attempt to describe his work, his influence, and his profound talent and innovation. They just aren't hitting it because it's all pretty much indescribable.

But this wiki article helps detail the milestones of his groundbreaking career.

This clip begins to reveal his divergent stance on free speech:

 

And this video, well, you should probably just give it a watch:

BB on Cue.

I had to go in to work today, so my easy dinner fix was my favorite pulled pork recipe.

I've simplified it a great deal from its original form, but I still use almost all of the ingredients. I start with a pork loin cut into 3" lengths and roll each piece in the rub. I put all of them into a dutch oven and pour the mop into the center of the dish (reduced to about a quarter of the recipe and usually minus the oil) and bake at 300° until tender. 

Once it's cooled I shred it, after which it becomes anything I want it to be. Kettle chip nachos, three-bean chili, BBQ quesadillas with caramelized onions...

Mo' Hawk!

Thanks to an old college friend (not saying she's old, but the years between then and now are long), I've been turned on to Humans of New York (HONY). Always something stimulating to turn my eyes on.  (Follow it on FB for more, more, more...)

Don't think I won't try to put myself in front of his lens when I'm there a few weeks from now. I will. If I get the chance, that is.

Meanwhile, our night out in downtown Grand Rapids at the Hispanic Festival did lend to some HOGR moments. This guy was more than happy to give me a pose, once I returned a smile. Attention is what he wanted, anyway.