unsurprisingly, streams are not lucrative for an artist

It's starting to hit me that I head out for SXSW in one week. Can't wait. Enjoy this playlist while I soak up the anticipation.

• Sochi meets Mario Kart - had I not spent a great deal of my younger days playing Mario Kart this may not be so perfect.. but I did and it is.
• Netflix Introduces "Browse Endlessly" Plan - aka, the plan we all pay for already. Well done The Onion.
• Silicon Valley Teaser - TV series based on the startup scene are going to be undeniably goofy but when it comes from Mike Judge I'm willing to give it a serious chance.
• Dank Ass Sandboarding Son - I can't imagine a better soundtrack for this. The internet is so weird.
• db Band - Loosen Up - I am a huge fan of Supergrass and am glad to see that Mick - the non-Gaz talent in the group - has a new undertaking putting out some quality songs. Looking forward to more as it emerges.
• Alf Clausen - The Land of Chocolate - I could listen to this song all day. Read up on Clausen, pretty fascinating
• Mason Reese Dancing - I know I've seen this before but the fascinating terror aspect of it never dies down.
• 1989 Batman Documentary - have a spare 25 minutes to celebrate the 25th year anniversary of the 1989 Batman? Here ya go.
• Slow Motion Fetch - the enthusiasm involved here is beyond words. Love it.

Need more? Enjoy this jam, this dumb compilation or this trailer. That should do it! Have a great weekend!

At some point in the next 48-hours, take some time to read this NY Times piece The Mammoth Cometh. It's a surprisingly gripping, compelling read on the Revive & Restore program, an undertaking to resurrect extinct species such as the Wooly Mammoth or the Carrier Pigeon. While there's some hard science in there it does a great job of not getting too far into the weeds. The most fascinating part is further in when they begin to discuss the ecological impact introducing old species could have - some good, some very very bad. So, treat yourself! Find a bit of quiet time and give a thorough reading.

You know those Javascript experiments you see every so often that make you think "Wow, that is really impressive looking but I can't think of a single occasion when I'd be able to use that practically." Had I run across a cloud rendering demo I would have likely had that exact thought. However, seeing this page for Youth Machine lets me know that there are practical applications for all those grand undertakings. Take heed and enjoy flying around for awhile.

via Madrid.

It's completely ridiculous but the work of Ben Chen is undeniably entertaining. The jokes are goofy but who could deny their charm? No one with a heart! Also, anytime someone references Mars Attacks, I'm in!

via Adam.

man finally got himself a website!

the headline reads like a indictment but they're all good songs

I've been a fan of the performance from Relix magazine - and the songs still have life to them. I'd go as far as to say they have new life to them - continuing to grow and change the more they perform it. This isn't anything surprising in the world of talented touring bands with limited material but it's still refreshing to see... and even more refreshing to hear.

I am super excited for this documentary Stripped - a look at the history of comic strips, newspapers, the history of where it came from, where it's going and all the artists involved. Even more amazing is that they were able to convince the reclusive Bill Watterson to make their official one-sheet. It's his first cartoon in 19 years! That's bonkers and, unsurprisingly, it looks great. There's a nice

Designer News

posted February 27, 2014 #

lovely new EP

I can barely wrap my brain around the impressive amount of work from Script & Seal. I mean, look at this! I love the color palettes and illustration style throughout. Major accolades deserved to Gavin Potenza and Liz Meyer - the brilliant minds behind this work.

via David Sizemore.

https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-000071956780-eh3aw1-large.jpg?e76cf77

tahtipuikkoblogi

I am absolutely smitten with this tumblog of Experimental Music on Children's TV. From the ambient to the educational to all points in between - it's great! Stop whatever you're doing right at this moment and soak in the weirdness of Al Jarnow's "Cosmic Clock" and try to imagine watching it as an impressionable young child. Then, go show it to your impressionable young children - they need it in their lives.

via Bonus Kottke.

Never let it be said that alluring packaging doesn't extend to all forms of product design. I randomly encountered this Omnipollo beer the other day with an incredible label design from Karl Grandin. There are plenty more alluring bottles but be sure to check out the onslaught of other great work throughout the portfolio. Stunning.

The Whistle is an activity tracker for your canine friend. It looks very well designed and can provide some insightful info regarding the amount of activity or rest your pet is partaking in. As a cat owner, I can't imagine this being an effective bit of technology (unless I want stats on just how much rest the beasts are really getting) but I just love that well-designed technology is now being extended to animals. Wearables are the future for humans and creatures everywhere!

Just by happenstance, I ran across Duo - a Mac app that lets you view desktop design side by side with mobile view. There's plenty of apps that do this but this one seems very well done. However, I also happened to run across this Responsive Tester from Shaun Fox and Broderick Young that seems to do the exact same thing and is free! Viva la web applications!

VHX

HBO