The Art of Tim Burton

In my family, we don't really celebrate Christmas in the traditional manner - that is to say, we don't really celebrate it at all. What usually happens is that I go all gift-happy and buy my parents and brother a bunch of presents, my brother may or may not buy me a gift, and my parents feel bad and will give me a Chinese "red envelope" with money a bit later. I don't mind the arrangement; I just really enjoy giving gifts and seeing people react to them.

So this year, I bought myself a few presents to unwrap on Christmas, most notably, a special book!



Only available through steelepublishing (Not sold in stores! Limited time offer! Get yours today! ...I could totally be an infomercial.) You can get the "standard" edition, which is just the book as is, for $69.99, or, if you've got the dough/are a desperate die-hard fan, you could take the plunge and get the "deluxe" version for $299.99! Includes autographed book and a numbered and signed lithograph.

As much as I LOVE Tim Burton, I just couldn't justify paying an extra 230 buckaroos for a signature and a picture, even though I do have a modest art print collection...sigh. Maybe I should have just sucked it up and gotten the de-luxe! Whatevs, yo. At least I have the book! And we will be united, finally, on Friday!

Alma

An animated short by Pixar animator Roger Blaas [Via]. I've already shared this on my Google Reader, so some people have already seen it...but it just needs to be shared some more. And in full discretion, if you don't like creepy dolls, maybe don't watch this. But if you kind of like giving yourself the heebie jeebies, click play! (It helps if it's still bright and sunny outside...)

Alma from Rodrigo Blaas on Vimeo.

Christopher Kane is CKrazy

Okay, sorry for the lame title. This shirt is kind of cool, right? Different, funky, kind of hip?

But AHAHAHAHA if Christopher Kane or anyone else thinks I'm gonna pay $295 for a printed t-shirt. I mean, unless the thing is sewn with pure spun gold and the print is made of colored diamonds ground into a fine dust and then made into an ink...wait, nope. Still wouldn't pay 300 bucks for a t-shirt. Nice try, buddy. First it was the gorilla shirt, and now these atomic blast shirts. If there are more than 5 people (which I can almost guarantee) wearing these at the next fashion week, I will laugh at the predictability of the measurement of coolness by which some people live their lives.

And then I'll probably spend a few minutes jealous that they have a piece of Christopher Kane in their closet. And then I'll remind myself it was worth 30 movies/a mid-range designer handbag/eating out 10-20x a month/one Louboutin pump/more than an iTouch, and then I'll feel better about myself.

Dear Readers

Are you reading me?

Rational Fear

Part of why I am not such an enthusiastic ocean swimmer is because I am terrified of it past the ankle-deep waves. If there's any part of this world that might have horrifying creatures left, it's almost certain to come from the depths of that salty graveyard-junkyard-home of monsters yet to be discovered. I tell people that I have these recurring nightmares about a Kraken coming up to the surface to wreak some havoc, and almost always, the response I get is: omg you're crazy, that's so irrational! Um, no it's not! I'm giving myself the heebie-jeebies just talking about it.

The Sea: Ture Ekroos

So, yes. Krakens and other sea monsters scare me. But for some reason, I'm really drawn to art and jewelry that incorporate tentacles...as disgusting as that is...(but not that nasty hentai stuff that you might find if you try and google image search that! don't do it, kids! that is one search that is even more disturbing than my belief in mythical creatures!) I'd put up more examples of art and cool jewelry, but I'm tired and it's late, and frankly, I don't want to creep myself out too much that I can't sleep tonight. Yes, I am a baby. Wah wah wah.

Alicia Keys ft. Stephen Colbert

Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Downwww.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

U.S. Speedskating

Simon Doonon: The Cranky Elf

Credit: NYDailyNews

Most of my friends who pay attention would probably recognize Simon Doonan's name, if only through my constant bringing him up in conversations and random-fact-moments. So...I guess you could say that I'm a fan? A little bit?

He's snappy, he's snazzy, and he's so sassy. Did you know that Michelle Obama picked him to do the White House holiday decorations this year? What a terrific woman.

Just in case you're more interested in this FABULOUS GENTLEMAN, this article may be almost 2 years old, but it's still golden.