Poly is a three-piece band about to release their first 7". You can hear the whole thing on their bandcamp or come out to their release show and pick one up in person. If audio bores you, check out the following videos:

• Sidewalk Chalk
• Parachute
• Give it a Go

Still need more convincing of the worthwhile nature of this band? Well, just check out this show flyer and now you're 100% in.

Listen, I know I shouldn't play favorites with the submissions to the Summer Mix Series. I can find something good in every compilation that comes my way. BUT I'm only human and some appeal to me more than others. That being said, this mix from McBurney - Summer Long, Some Aren't. is one heck of a compelling listen. I'm a fan, you likely will be too.

Also go nab At the Radio, The Swami Mix and Everybody Likes Something Good.. while you're grabbing everything else.

Sawtooth Printhouse is a letterhouse / design studio based out of Nashville, TN. They've got a studio and are already printing but they want to open up their space to the community - offering printmaking classes and, generally, just bringing people together through art projects. In order to do this they've got to renovate their studio and they need some help to do that. So, of course, they started a Kickstarter and they're almost there. I'm a firm believer in helping people restore old printing mechanisms and this is right in that wheelhouse. If you've got $5, send it their way.

Until yesterday, I'd never heard of Punks Jump Up and hadn't ever encountered their track Mr. Overtime. However, upon watching this Making Of video regarding the process of creating the video, I'm was totally entranced. Most of the shots in the video are derived directly from a number of familiar movies - Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive, Drive, Somewhere, etc - but they've been reworked in such a way that it's certainly not a rip off. You can read more about the process here but I suggest just sitting back and enjoying the side-by-side of the original shots and end result.

Finally got a chance to see Beasts of the Southern Wild last night and highly enjoyed it. Based on what I saw in the trailer I really had no idea what to expect from the actual story of the film. The end result is pretty emotionally intense with undeniable performances from Quvenzhane Wallis and Dwight Henry. Find a way to see it, trust me!

OMG Cats In Space is.... well, if I have to explain it, it's already too late. Enjoy.

No offense to any of you out there with children, I am sure they are lovely, but hopefully you can see the humor in Unbaby Me - a Chrome extension that replaces images of babies with more "awesome" stuff; like cats, cars, art and bulldogs. Granted, the "awesome" stuff is debatable in its awesomeness but the concept is strong!

I often find myself needing to get the hex value of some random pixel on screen. Don't ask why but it happens more often than it should. I've seen plenty of tools to squash this problem in the past but Frank DeLoupe seems to be the most robust and straightforward version I've encountered in some time. Check the demo to see what I mean. Upon sharing the news of Frank with Arlo he informed me that he had no use for such a thing because he's already running XScope; an iconfactory application that does it all; color picking, easy on screen measurements, screen templates and more. It looks crazy robust. Maybe too robust.

Tap to Retry is the first attempt at stop-motion animation from Neta Cohen. If that's the first attempt, I'd say there's a promising future ahead. The models, the sound design, the balance of childish yet super weird and the overall random nature of the whole thing is just perfect. Absolutely love it.

There's some serious diametric goodness going on with the artworks of Calvin Ross Carl. I won't say that I understand all of it but when I see one of the simpler pieces I can't help but be intrigued!

via Magnificent Ruin.

Indie film producer Keith Calder has a number of great things to say about the film industry but I'm suggesting you start with the latest - Tear Down These Walls. His take on the restrictions of the current distribution model for movies is great but his excitement for the future is even better. He's a big champion of VHX and I'm glad to hear him mention the company in the same breath as Louis CK, Amanda Palmer and Double Fine.

Yet another article to file into my Instapaper. Shane Jones essay on Why I Write looks to be an insightful bit of advice about sticking to your craft - not only for the potential improvement but because it's okay to be obsessed with a particular area of interest. It's nice to be reminded that your little hobby can sometimes be worth keeping going just for the stake of sanity it can provide.

Thanks to Maggie Scintilla I have been browsing through, and highly enjoying, the abstract works of Brendan Smith. It's hard to express why abstract work is appealing but I look at works like this or this or this and I'm just compelled by it! Lousy reasoning aside be sure to browse the archives.

Demetre pointed out that a good chunk of the Warby Parker design work I've been admiring is done by the folks at Partners & Spade*. Their portfolio is filled with a variety of great works.. spend some time with it. Be sure to check out their Store Space as well - lots of great knick knacks, packaging design and exhibitions going on.

* Also note that Whiskerinoite Jarrett Fuller is on the WP design team

While I certainly don't condone or endorse it, I am curious about this feature article over at The Verge on How I Hacked My Brain with Adderall: A Cautionary Tale. It's quite lengthy (again, thank you Instapaper) but echoes many of the sentiments I've heard from friends that take the drug for focus on their school studies. I mean, a pill that supposedly gives you lazer focus on a particular subject for upwards of 10 hours or more sounds like the stuff of science fiction. With that in mind, I'm sure it's just contributing to the over medicated society we're becoming. Point being, the article is a worthwhile read and worthy of a conversation or two.

Dave Lozo manages to capture that perfect balance of Legitimate Nerd Rage and Knowing Absurdity in this little writeup on What Happens After the Ending of The Dark Knight Rises. Yes, it's stupid and silly and about a fictional movie character but, regardless, it's entertaining. And kind of true. It always stings to put a bit of reality into a movie scenario but at least it's funny.

It's no secret that I've been smitten with VHX for a long time. Friday Videos have been VHX Powered since last September, I browse the social side of the site every day, and I even helped them launch the Aziz Ansari site.

So, with all that in mind, I'm overjoyed to announce that I'm now officially employed alongside Casey, Jamie, Chad and Steve in the further development of all things VHX. There's a whole lot up our sleeves and I'm excited to work on every aspect of it (and to share the fruits with you).

If you're not already, go follow @VHXtv to get tasty video treats and the latest announcements about new VHX Powered offerings.

Dear Warby Parker,
Sorry I'm just now seeing your Summer Crystals campaign so late in the season but I just wanted to send you a sincere Thank You to your graphic design and advertising team for killing it on such a regular basis. Really love what you're doing over there.

Thanks,
Michael

Must remember to read The Heretic from Tim Doody regarding LSD researcher Dr. James Fadiman. Looks quite interesting. Thank goodness for Instapaper in times like these.

Did you watch the Opening Ceremonies for the London 2012 Olympics? Well, I did. All four hours of it. And now I've got a bit of Olympic Fever. Granted, I don't have TV anymore so watching actual broadcasts will require a little tunneling.

Anyway, if you don't have The Fever of any kind, maybe watch The 8-Bit Games instead and get excited that way.