Top Albums of 2008

These are my picks for 2008. I realize everyone has their own tastes and opinions regarding music, so I will withhold any statements regarding bands that aren't on my lists. But I feel like I've scanned a lot of music this year, and these are basically the ones that have stayed consistent on the playlist.

Top Ten
1. The New Frontiers-Mending
2. Bon Iver-For Emma, Forever Ago
3. This Town Needs Guns-Animals
4. Nada Surf-Lucky
5. M83-Saturdays=Youth
6. Alaska in Winter-Holiday
7. Thrice-Vol. III & Vol. IV
8. Sigur ros-Med sud I eyrum vid spilum endalaust
9. Mates of State-Re-Arrange Us
10. Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell

Honorable Mentions
Mike Hale-Broken With No Hope
School of Seven Bells-Alpinisms
Jesu-Why Are We Not Perfect?
Brendan Canning-Something for All of Us...
The Middle East-The Recordings of The Middle East

Top Ten Instrumental
1. This Will Destroy You-This Will Destroy You
2. Russian Circles-Station
3. A.Armada-Anam Cara
4. Bitcrush-Epilogue
5. Ef-I am Responsible
6. Pivot-O, Soundtrack My Heart
7. Lymbyc Systym-Love Your Abuser Remixed
8. Matthew Robert Cooper - Minatures
9. Frakkur-Songs for the Little Boy
10. pg.lost - It's Not Me, It's You

Honorable Mentions
Mogwai-The Hawk is Howling
El Ten Eleven-These Promises Are Being Videotaped
Lakes of Russia-Stars Decorate The Fire
This is Your Captain Speaking-Eternal Return
The American Dollar-A Memory Stream

Top EPs
1. From Monument to Masses - Beyond God & Elvis
2. This Will Destroy You/Lymbyc Systym- Field Studies EP
3. Thursday/Envy Split
4. Envy/Jesu Split
5. Moving Mountains-Foreword

Honorable Mention
Minus the Bear-Acoustics

Oh, AT&T

...and your outrageous cellphone bill. This week is just not working out too well.


On the sidenote, I might be able to get my external hard drive files back. or some of them. Been non-stop, trying to remedy that situation.

Oh, External Hard Drive

I just spent 3.5 hours trying to get my now unmountable external hard drive to mount to my computer. An apparent technological plague has hit the Lee family-Mike's computer died (but might be fixed with a power supply), my parents computer crashed and officially is irrepairable and now my external hard drive (all my files!) seems to not cooperate with me.


I officially hate this week.

Oh, Target

"Chris Lee,

Holiday 2008 is now complete. Thank you so much for all of your hard work and commitments to the team at Tacoma Target during this busy time of year."

Merry Christmas. Guess I'm back on super job hunt.

And then we start the countdown to New Years...

Christmas has come to a close. Considering the circumstances, I'd say mine was pretty good. Christmas Ever, we had a Lee family conference call (as deemed by Lindsay), involving a videochat with me and mom/dad/sister and speakerphone with us and then Mike/Lindsay. It's times like these, where you have to appreciate technology. We opened a few gifts via the internets, which was nice. And then today was a little more gift opening, and then sat around and watched a couple movies (National Lampoons, and ET!-I forgot how great this film was) I hope everyone else had a good Christmas and spent time with their loved ones.

Here's a few links that have been sitting in a draft post.

-National Geographic Top Ten (viewed) photos of 08
-The Big Picture: the year in photographs (3 parts)
-Pitchfork's Top 20 Worst Album Covers
-Tetris art on a subway entrance in France. Saaaweet.
-Freshbump. The new Notcot. and automatically added to the bookmarks.
-Between Two Ferns: Ep. 3 w/Jon Hamm. Funny as per usual.
-Lego Battle of Hoth. Someone has too much time....
-NYC Trend of the Month. That's great...but shouldn't it be more like, "every hipster in your town's trend of the month."
-8-Bit Jesus. Classic Christmas tunes redone in true 8-bit music.
-Photshop Toolbar Evolution
-Visual History of Video Games
-The American Dollar-Anything You Synthesize. Great Tune, Great Video (off one of the top instrumental albums of the year....still working on it.)
-andersonhorta.blogspot.com. Nice work from a product designer in Brazil. Check out the click hands and ghost lamps. Very nice.
-Analogue Agenda. Notebook done in the fashion of a computer interface. I want one.
-Skittles: Human Pinata
-Clarendon Type Book. Very nice.
-Brand New's Best/Worst Logos of the Year. And of course, OKC Thunder is on the list. HAH. Oh, Ackerman, when will you learn.

A Smile of Termites

Watched The Grinch tonight. Classic. That kicked off my mid-week weekend (today is my Friday), and gladly have the next two days off, that I'm quite grateful to have. The roads are still bad, especially parking lots, took me like ten mins to leave the Target parking lot. I'm just going to take the next couple days off, relax, watch some movies and avoid the insanity of the outside world. I have this 'movie-a-day' thing going the past week. It's a bit sad, but more so awesome than lame. Tomorrow begins Christmas movies (Joyeux Noel, National Lampoons, and whatever I can think of....)I have a couple things to do on my to do list, but nothing of real importance right now. Plus it's the holidays. time to just chill. I'm just staying here in Washington. Mike's in Detroit. and my family is still in OK. I think that's a first for our family (everyone being seperated). but we had a good Thanksgiving together. and I'm going to try to video chat with them probably a couple times in the next few days, open some gifts via the internets (I love you internet).

I am also working on my top albums of the year, which is a bit hard trying to remember what all came out this year. but I think it will more than likely be like last years, with a top ten, and then my top post-rock instrumental releases, as there was a lot this year. So look for that, post-Christmas. I thought about doing top movies of the year, but haven't decided if I have the time and effort to put into that list, plus all the big ones are obvious enough (Dark Knight...?)....I'll have to think about that one. With all the viewing I do, it only makes sense. And I'll have another link filled post here shortly...once I get all caught up....

Check my flickr in the next couple days as well, as I will be posting a few photos of the snow out here. and on the sidenote, sledding is no fun by yourself.

Well.

I didn't make it to Seattle this morning. It's been snowing all day and quite the bad traffic, as it took Mike about 5-6 hours to go to Seattle and back this morning. Off to Target.

The Start of a Long Weekend

While Mike is anxiously anticipating his Christmas adventures (flies out tonight), I will be taking on quite a load of work this weekend. It begins tomorrow at 6:45. Wake up, go to the bus station, take the 7:30, go to downtown Seattle, meet over at Media Index about some work, work there in the morning, take the bus back early afternoon, then go to work at Target at 330-11. And after all that, there's a 50/50 chance I might have to do it all over again Friday. I have my fingers crossed that I won't have to head back up to Seattle on Friday, as in, I will be able to get all of the work done tomorrow. But who knows. Then I close at Target til Sunday. And I know it will be crazy insane busy, because it's the weekend before Christmas. Hopefully we will be well staffed and everything will be OK.......

BUT, I have a few days off after that. I did offer to pick up any available shifts, so it might change, but either way, I will have a couple days off for myself. and then I think I will embark on my own movie marathon.

On that note, I must try to get some sleep.



Oh yeah:
Flight of the Concords Season 2 Online Premiere

Pling Pong

Hope everyone had a nice weekend. I'm missing my old 9-to-6 job, as my weeks have been very odd and unconsistent. I actually had a Friday, but I picked up a shift on Sunday, so I barely had a weekend, then I'm off Today, but I have a bunch of stuff to get done, then I'm back to work, wed/thurs. The week is non stop, but I'm thinking I will have a couple days next week to recooperate. That's if I don't get called in. Kind of a win win situation though.

Misc.
-Controversial Burger King Documentary. The controversy, regarding BK's neglect for the people in poor countries, but I still like the idea of it: finding people who have never tried a burger.
-Walmart Bingo. Wish I had this in high school, could have given me and the friends a few hours of entertainment. Anyone have a Starbucks bingo yet? Via Mike.
-Just Like The Movies. Short film, recreating events of 9/11 with scenes from movies before 9/11. The music can get sort of cheesy in there, but still a neat concept and must have taken forever going through old movies based in NY.
-Godfather Spaghetti Measuring Device. I need one, actually any spaghetti measuring device will do. Can't ever seem to know how much to stick in.
-Speaking of spaghetti, how bout a pasta fork? I'm curious on how well that works.
-Mustache Pint. I don't drink, but still wouldn't mind adding this one to the collection.
-Wifi Networks rename their networks to guilt freeloaders. Brilliant.
-Jonas Brothers are Killers. It just makes it more hilarious because the old lady that died was from Lawton, OK.
-Millenium Falcon Sled
-Star Wars Art Remix
-Wolverine: Origins trailer out today. Looks cheesy. aaaaaaand being the nerd I am, will probably watch it.
-Socket Deer. Ok, this is clever solution to the ever going problem of having my cellphone charger always plugged in and placing my phone on the nearby floor.
-Scrabble by PES. I love PES films. and the combination is great.

Designerly:
-Pantone selects color of 2009
-Drop Caps. Heads of State creates type out of ceiling tiles. Very Nice.
-Best Typefaces of 2008. I can't read it, but Yes. I'm digging that SoHo Gothic.
-Paper Graphic. These are some intricate and awesome works.
-Ode to the Criterion Box Art. Mike sent this to me, knowing my love for the Criterion Collection dvd cover arts. and exploring that site, led me to Eric Skillman blog, who designs for the Criterion, and also includes some of his process within. Which led me to some more awesome Criterion covers. Every time I see them at the stores, I'm tempted to buy them just for the design/art, even if the movie isn't as great as I would like.


Also, I think I'm going to take Christmas day and just watch movies all day, any recommends?

Mojojojo

Was just thinking, I think I have my internet mojo back, as the links have been flooding in. With that being said, I've been quite busy lately, finished up some OK work a couple weeks ago, working party time at Target and I think this next week I will be picking up some work for Sports NW. But I have been cut some hours at Target this next couple weeks; Not sure what is up with that, but I think I'm going to try to pick up some more hours, because I don't really feel like sitting around here for more than a few days, not doing anything.

Heres some Friday links.

-15 Worst Joker Costumes
-Surfing for Seniors. It's like the crane game at the fair!
-This is what happens when you find a glitch in the Tiger Woods game
-Amor De Madre Cutting Board (first one on the left). Brilliant design. I want one; I always hate stuff falling off the cutting board.
-Weehouse. More prefab homes that look awesome. I like.
-Falling Tetris Blocks in Sydney, Australia
-Looking at the Nooka Zon. I really like the digital Nooka. One day, I will own one of these. and while you're at that site, be sure to check out the nice info graphic regarding this year's top albums.
-A scary but exciting thing happened in science today, Scientists have apparently extracted images from someone's brain.....next step: dreams?
-Every Flight on Earth in 72 Seconds
-London Shop Fronts

-And lastly, the link of the day, and the greatest thing since faceyourmanga, Pho-ho-hotobooth! Be sure to post yours up when you do it.

Downtown Tacoma on Thanksgiving

This was taken off the Bridge of Glass in downtown Tacoma, at the end of our adventurous day on Thanksgiving.

Mid Week Post

I have to head to work at Target in a little bit, but I have a short shift today. aaaaaand I actually have Friday on Friday this week, which is kind of nice. Here's some links for you:

-Detroit Ruins. Makes me want to revisit the Dirty D, so I can photograph some stuff.
-Top 10 Movies of the Year (TIME)
-8 Life Lessons from Star Wars
-10 Best 80s Cartoons Theme Songs. I watched like 8 out of 10 of these.
-Spy Lens via Shannon.
-Inside a frozen pizza factory
-Carts of Darkness. Something along the lines of homeless people racing shopping carts, seems to be a lot more documentaries about the homeless lately.
-Real Life Mariokart. Kind of cheesy, dorky, and humerous.
-Genetic Programming: Evolution of Mona Lisa. Basically someone has developed a way of making the masterpiece with 50 semi translucent polygons.
-And for some of you trying to find gifts for your designer friends, check out Core77's gift guide under $77.

Friday Link-A-Rama

-I've been saving a few of these, so they might be a few days/week old. but here's some linkage to pass the Friday for everyone (Tuesday for me).

-Chevy rips off Lakai Fully Flared. Via Mike
-Designer's comments regard Pepsi's new image I think this link might be dead, my bad.
-20 Stupidest G.I.Joe Vehicles
-Jeff Bridges Behind the Scenes Ironman Photos. There's some good shots in there.
-If you haven't yet, international trailer for Benjamin Button. This is on my must see list.
-80s montage ending to Shawshank Redemption
-Simpsons mock Apple
-Nikon releases the D3X - 24.5 mp awesomeness. Via Shannon
-House Industries Ampersand Cutting Board
-Enjoying these Christmas card and ornament designs
-70s Rockstars at home with their parents
-Veer's new "observant" screensaver
-Georg Jensen super clean bike
-Great list of this years best book covers
-Adding a little typographical goodness to your giftwrapping this year (I know I will be)
-Stories behind movie studio logos
-Guitar Key. Sweeeet idea.

Being Unbusy from a Busy Week

This has been a very busy and eventful week, thus the lack of updates. Let me try to summarize it for you:

Monday, 11/24: woke up sick, as I have been for the past couple weeks. Didn't feel good physically, runny nose, and just overall no motivation to really get up. Tried to work on some Oklahoma Today stuff, actually did for a while, and then my internet decided it wouldn't allow me to anymore. Not like my internet just cut off, but just wouldn't let me access a few sites, ones that I needed to do work....so I couldn't do that. Then I had a call from someone at NW Sports mag, about a lead for a freelance gig, and I tried to call back and got the voicemail (called today and got an interview on Tues), Got ready for for work (last day of training). Went to work, had a run-in with the Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile in the parking lot (let me cross the street). Work went ok. I bought some popcorn to give myself a littler treat and then found free cupcakes in the break room, score! Came home after work. Realized my toe was hurting and some sort of in grown ness going on. Fixed it with in the next day or so. Then finished my Oklahoma Today work. I think I totalled over 10 hours of work. I was tired.

Tuesday, 11/25: Went to Seattle. In some sort of odd coincidence, I found a very close spot in the parking garage and made it early to Seattle (never happens when I have an interview there). I kind of walked around then my way to Mike's work. Participated in this works Super Party Rock Band Party, complete with Ezell's Chicken, which is apparently Oprah's favorite (I was unaware of this). Then after all that, we went half a block down to Nuemos and watched School of Seven Bells and M83. We missed a few songs though, because we had to leave early to catch the bus home. But got to watch a good hour. Good show. Still trying to figure out the mysterious glass box he had.

Wednesday, 11/26: Took care of various errands, grocery store, post office, etc. Then later met up with my parents at McChord AFB. We hung out there for a while, then came home.

Thursday, 11/27: Met up with the family and made our way to the beach, with stops in Olympia. Ill have some pictures uploaded soon, I still have to edit some. Then after the beach, we went over to Shari's for Thanksgiving dinner, then came back to Tacoma and went through the Bridge of Glass and looked at some of Glass Museum down there.

Friday, 11/28: Had work from 8-4:30. I hate you Black Friday. Actually work wasn't too bad, just was my first day out of training. and it was non stop all day. After work, met up with the family and had an awesome burger at Red Robin. I missed out on the adventures to Seattle, but they brought me back a present, which was nice. Afterwards, we went to REI and they bought me a new coat, which is my early Christmas present. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Saturday, 11/29: Had work from 8-4:30 again. But the family popped in on my lunch break and brought me pizza. That helped the day go by quicker. Then after work, we just hung out at my parents quarters.

Sunday, 11/30: Work.

Monday, 12/01: Work.

Tuesday, 12/02: Woke up at 6:45 (Mike's Usual), then rode to downtown Seattle with him, and had an interview over at Media Index Publishing for a freelance gig. So far it's looking promising, just have to figure out a way to make sure our files are compatible with each other (they use Quark...who uses Quark?). The interview was pretty quick, then I started to make my way to Mike's work for lunch. Ended up stopping at an awesome book store, Elliott Bay Book Company, scored this book for 15 bucks, and then made a stop at a great toy store and H&M. I got to Mike's work, but he had to finish a project before 2, which ended up being like 2:30. Then we went at some good brisket sandwiches at the Honey Hole. and then I came home. Later, we jammed for a bit, which was an odd blend of music, something in the middle of Seaweed, Fugazi, Mogwai, and Dinosaur Jr. But ended on quite a good note. Then I made an ice cream run, watched Dexter and went to sleep.

Today. Well, Today has been my first 'off day,' and I've been taking the opportunity to try to catch up on the internets and emails and trying to make a list of things I need to do. Probably edit some photos, find some more jobs to apply to. I will have some more recent photos uploaded to flickr soon, and quite possibly some linkage later this week.