StayFocused -- Google Chrome extension that helps restrict time on websites (Facebook in my case)

I'll admit it. I'm addicted to Facebook. I realized this about a month ago. I tried to limit myself by turning off all the email notifications on Facebook so it only sent me an email if someone wrote me a message or wrote on my wall. All the other notifications like "send me an email if I am tagged in a photo" or "send me an email if I've been poked" got turned off. It seemed like a good idea because it would reduce the useless daily emails I get and help me cut down my Facebook'ing... but for some reason it did the opposite. I ended up checking Facebook more often than I did before. Not really sure why, maybe it was because I wasn't getting any notification emails but I still knew that there was a possibility of having a notification on Facebook (so then I would log on and check). It started to get out of hand. I would get distracted by the blackhole of picture browsing and status reading. Dishes were piling up in the kitchen. Chores and errands were being set aside.

I finally had to do something. I had to seek some form of rehabilitation. So I found this tool.

It is StayFocused. It is a Google Chrome extension that allows you to set a daily amount of access time for websites. There is also access settings like "limit certain hours of the day" or "only view the website on certain days". There is also a funny setting called "Required Challenge". If you turn this on it makes you complete a challenge before you can change the settings of a website, making it harder to add more access time to a website. What I really like about this program is that any changes to the settings you make take effect 24 hours later, so if you run out of time then change the settings to have more time you will have to wait until tomorrow to get more time. Neat-o!

I know this idea isn't fool proof. If I really really wanted to procrastinate I could open up a different browser and check my Facebook, but I think this is a step in the right direction (I hope).

Ginger Candy -- Good summer sweets

I like the logo.
Put 2 of them in hot water and it makes ginger tea. Whoa! And they are only 86 cents a box

From Civilization to Power: The making of Kanye West's "Power" by Marco Brambilla

I am excited for the video's release. Check out Marco Brambilla

Hans Zimmer "Time" from Inception soundtrack -- Now that's how you let the beat build!

You can buy the MP3 soundtrack for Inception by Hans Zimmer at Amazon.com. It is some powerful stuff!

Herman Miller Blog -- Inspiration from a famous furniture company

These guys have been making great furniture for quite some time (including my favorite chair. I WANT ONE!) and I recently found out they have a blog of what inspires them. I like that idea. Now I have it bookmarked under 'My favorite links' ---->

Pre-Order ODDSAC -- A Visual Album by Animal Collective and get a free exclusive poster

DVD PACKAGE INCLUDES:
* The 55-minute film, with new songs and score by Animal Collective
* 40-page art book in a slipcover case
* 5.1 surround sound audio
* Region 0 (world)

"ODDSAC is a feature film collaboration between the band Animal Collective and filmmaker Danny Perez, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in early 2010 and has screened to sold-out audiences in dozens of US cities. The film was co- conceived by and stars Animal Collective, whose 2009 album “Merriweather Post Pavilion” was named album of the year by SPIN, Entertainment Weekly, and Pitchfork, and topped critic’s end of year lists worldwide. ODDSAC is a dense and surreal layering of audio and visual elements that eschews conventional narrative to create a visceral viewing experience.

ODDSAC represents a new synthesis of music and film, a “visual album” whose songs will not be released in any other form. It features an original score with new songs from the band and complex digital manipulation by Perez, a debut filmmaker and visual artist known for his concert projections with musicians such as Black Dice and Panda Bear. Perez and Animal Collective have also collaborated on two music videos (“Who Could Win A Rabbit” and “Summertime Clothes”), and a major art installation piece Transverse Temporal Gyrus, which occupied the entire Guggenheim Museum in New York City. ODDSAC is the result of over four years of intense collaboration between Perez and the band."

This looks interesting.
Note: This is my 420th post. coincidence?

"Santo Volpe - Wine, Oh!" Mixtape -- Great mixtape you can't find anywhere but here

I'm not sure why but this "dj" has fallen of the face of the earth and I can't find any of his stuff anymore, so I'm trying to keep this mixtape alive by posting a download link on my website. It's a great laid back chill vibe. Feel free to download/spread it around, it's good.

Track list:
1. Steppin' Out - Stephane Pompougnac feat. Daedelus (Santo Volpe Fair Weather Mix)
2. Fair Weather Friends - Daedelus
3. Originality - Thievery Corporation
4. Moretime - Nightmares On Wax
5. I've Got a Cat - Stephane Pompaugnac
6. Dancin' With Myself - Nouvelle Vague
7. Sound Check (Gravity) - Gorillaz
8. Loud Pipes - Ratatat
9. Underground - Sneaker Pimps
10. Lebanese Jungle Brother - Thievery Corporation
11. I'm a Lady - Santogold feat. The Cure (Santo Volpe Closer Mix)
12. Close to Me - The Cure feat. Gorillaz (Santo Volpe Tomorrow Mix)
13. Tomorrow Comes Today - Gorillaz
14. Gettin' Up - Q-Tip
15. Online - Gnarls Barkley
16. Sound the Alarm - Thievery Corporation
17. L.E.S. Artistes - Lily Wood & the Prick feat. Eric B. and Rakim (Santo Volpe No Joke Mix)
18. Coming from the Top - Thievery Corporation feat. Parliament (Santo Volpe Funk Edit)
19. Give Up the Funk - Parliament feat. The Rolling Stones (Santo Volpe Miss You Mix)
20. Miss You - The Rolling Stones feat. Thievery Corporation (Santo Volpe Pueblo Edit)
21. El Pueblo Unido - Thievery Corporation
22. The Sound of Silence - Stephane Pompougnac feat. Bat for Lashes (Santo Volpe Edit)
23. What's a Girl to Do? - Bat for Lashes
24. Wild Cat - Ratatat

Favorite tracks:
17. L.E.S. Artistes - Lily Wood & the Prick feat. Eric B. and Rakim (Santo Volpe No Joke Mix)
22. The Sound of Silence - Stephane Pompougnac feat. Bat for Lashes (Santo Volpe Edit)

The angler fish car

Found this car parked behind a tavern. Eugene is just weird. Luckily the owner of the car was walking out as I was taking this picture and I got to talk to him about his interesting automobile. "My plan is to turn it into an angler fish" he said. "I even want to put a light that dangles off the front of the roof".
The scales on the car are made of foam and completely cover the surface of the vehicle. "I've never gotten a chance to fuck up a car this much. It's fun".

I personally think this car is great, maybe not the subject of his creation but his intention.

Vehicles are an interesting subject, especially in America. It is one of the key elements in the "American Dream" right behind a family and a house. I think there are too many people who over cherish their vehicle. For me a vehicle is just an A-B machine, simple as that. I love my car, I maintain it well, and I love to drive it, but if I happen to get a dent in it by me or someone else by accident... it was an accident. Chill. As long as it still gets me from A-B safely I'm good.
I understand getting a new car with all the bells and whistles and keeping it nice and flashy, but you have to realize it isn't going to be new forever, so why not have some fun. Get some foam and turn it into a dang angler fish, or a spaceship, or whatever the hell you want. I realize that the resale value probably won't be too high after the alteration, but you can't put a price on seeing peoples faces as you ride around town in a damn angler fish. Am I right??

Moral of the story have fun and don't take things too seriously.

Desk Sketch

Cool Car

The weather in Oregon is starting to resemble summer and with that comes all the classic cars from hibernation.