December 15th, 2008

December 11th, 2008

I’ve gotten pretty quick at blasting through a photoshoot in Lightroom to select my favorites, do some basic color correction, and spit out some jpgs. So I thought I’d share a sped-up video of the process from a recent blind tasting at the Snooth HQ. Enjoy!

December 1st, 2008

Say it ain’t so! Looks like they’re finally pulling the plug on that aging Sony PSP billboard on Houston Street.

Have you ever tried to download new movies?

November 29th, 2008

I had a wonderful and totally not-terrifying experience at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday.

November 22nd, 2008

Geeking out on Wine

Among the bevy of things I’ve learned while working Snooth, one that caught me off guard (even though it’s pretty much the entire point of the site) is that it IS possible to know a lot about wine and not be a dick about it. I guess for a number of historical reasons, being “into” wine is seen as a pretty snooty endeavor, but the more I think about it and the more I learn, you can geek out about wine as much as you can geek out about anything.

Gregory Dal Piaz - a fellow Snoother, a Master of the Domaine (wait, that’s actually pretty funny), and a genuine nice guy - first got me thinking about this when he referred to his peers as fellow “wine geeks” rather than what I was expecting him to say - “wine snobs.” (True, while a snob would probably never admit to being one, it takes a true geek to refer to him/herself as a geek - it’s a basic tenant of Geek Pride.) So when Greg dropped that g-bomb, everything just became a lot clearer for me.

As with any topic, hobby, sports team, or other endeavor that inspires geeking, wine offers all the back-story, trivia, subtle distinctions, and of course - enjoyment - that makes it hold up as a pretty enjoyable thing to geek out about. Plus it can get you shitfaced. (Let’s see you try THAT, stamp collecting.)

So anyway, all this is what’s swirling around in my head as I read Greg’s latest blog post on the Snooth Blog, covering a blind tasting of Pinot Noirs for Thanksgiving. There’s a lot of no-nonsense, entertaining, and enlightening discussion about these wines (as well as a few well-placed curse words), and it’s all especially entertaining because nobody knows what they’re actually drinking until after all the reviews are done. Hence, none of the snottiness and all of the geekiness. It’s a lot of fun to read. (The photos are pretty good too. I’m just sayin…)

November 20th, 2008

Geeky but fun question - how long has it been since you’ve restarted your computer? (If you’re a Mac user, the best way to find out is to open up the “Terminal” program inside your Applications > Utilities folder and type “uptime” without the quotes, then press return. Shazam.)

To the comments!

November 18th, 2008

Do you ever have days when you feel privileged to know people who can make stuff this awesome?

Check out the trailer for Jason Pollock’s new documentary, “The Youngest Candidate.” Trailers don’t get much better than this.

PS - check out the movie’s website, http://www.theyoungestcandidate.com. It was designed by Shepard Fairey. Don’t know who Shepard Fairey is? He’s the guy that designed this. ‘Nuff said.

November 14th, 2008

Ever wonder how creative professionals at a big ad agency goof off during brainstorming sessions? Check out markercomp.blogspot.com to see more. Full disclosure: this kicks ass.

November 9th, 2008

November 8th, 2008

Here’s another cross-post with the Snooth blog. I promise I’ll be adding more to this site in the near future, or Snooth isn’t a made up word!

November 6th, 2008

If anyone’s curious, here’s some of the stuff I’ve been up to at Snooth.

November 5th, 2008

Some very encouraging news coming from America these days. There’s not much particularly insightful information I can shed on the situation except to mention that from a branding perspective, it’s finally time to ditch the Obama “O” logo as fast as possible. It was a great symbol of change and it’s served him well, but to McCain supporters (who make up slightly less than half of our country) I’m sure it remains a strong symbol of their opponent. It’s time to switch back to the good ‘ol American flag - one of the most powerful brands in the world - and move forward as one country with one brand.

November 1st, 2008

When I saw this satellite photo of Mount Everest, I couldn’t not put a tilt-shift effect on it. The result is pretty cool:

October 30th, 2008

Palin Failin:

October 30th, 2008

Yesterday was a pretty cool day at Snooth. Among a slew of usability improvements we rolled out, we launched the Snooth Pulse - a real-time geographical measure of what people are searching for on Snooth. I hope you’re ready to have your mind blown.

We also added a Features page, which basically gives people an overview of Snooth at a glance, and showcases a pretty nifty video I put together. That’s right - I just said nifty.

October 16th, 2008

Exclusive photo of John McCain’s notepad from last night’s debate:

October 16th, 2008

Any street photographer will tell you that one of the most difficult parts of photographing people is building up your balls.

That’s right. Your balls.

Because in most societies (including ours) it’s considered rude as hell to whip out a camera and start taking a stranger’s picture without permission. Sure, there are ways around this - such as shooting from the hip, using a telephoto lens to keep your distance, or a few other tricks up the discreet photographer’s sleeve. But in my opinion, if you don’t have the balls to walk up to someone and snap their picture, then you’re doing it wrong.

Cut to today, when I’m walking through SoHo enjoying some rare free time, and low and behold I see Vincent DonOfrio sitting on a street corner outside his trailer during a break in shooting Law & Order, Criminal Intent. I had my Canon G9 in my pocket so I figured it would be a good chance to grow my balls a little bit by snapping a picture of arguably one of the most intense actors of our time. (Sure, he’s been in some crap lately, but the guy was in Full Metal Jacket. I mean, come on.)

So I stop in the middle of the sidewalk, fish out my camera, and take aim. And get this - he looks at me. And his eyes are doing more than just looking into my eyes. His eyes are looking into my soul, telling me he’s going to murder my children. My children. So I took the picture and got both the hell out of there and the heeby jeebies at the same time.

So that’s about it. Enjoy the photo below. It’s going to cost me dearly.

October 16th, 2008

It’s no surprise to me that the very same scheming Wall Street financial engineers who masterminded such risky practices as credit default swaps and naked short selling have unveiled their latest, and perhaps most brilliant way to keep raking it in - the “triple fist”.

October 16th, 2008

The Cleverest Responses (123)

  1. You kiss real good, fat invisible lady.
     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +113
  2. I have poo in my pants…

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --26
  3. I need a diaper change … quick

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --25
  4. Oh great, now I’ve got the AIDS too.

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --29
  5. Hanoi Hilton flashback….

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --26
  6. oh-crap i think i got cancer again. hope everyone is ready for prez palin

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --26
  7. Let me see you stripped, Obama!..
    —————————-
    btw, Mike…. www.per.ec - the same idea …heh!…

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --5
  8. Gawd, BA-rack, when’s the last time you took a shower?

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +8
  9. Ugh… Heart Attack!!!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --13
  10. my tongue tastes like bad shower

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --18
  11. . . .this guy smells like curry

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --6
  12. Let’s roleplay! You be Joe the Plumber and I’ll lick your plumber’s crack!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --12
  13. I’m shit in the polls but my creepiness index is through the roof!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +14
  14. EEERRRRGGGGG!!! What did u eat yesteday?

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +10
  15. I must take this but home !!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --16
  16. Braiiins…. must find braaaains… for masteeeeer

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +79
  17. I just touched a black man’s ass…..erghh, they wont like that at the next KKK gathering…..I’m in trouble.

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --6
  18. Hey, give me back my credibility…. I think I see it….. Arghh, it’s all dirty now…

    [LMAO Oh man, I’m on a roll]

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --16
  19. You put your right hand in, you put you right hand out, you put your right hand in and you shake it all about…..

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --16
  20. Honey, wait for me, you know I cant walk that fast….

    (Obama) Man, why can’t I just put him in a home??

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --16
  21. aawwwwwsss!!! smels like teen spirit!!!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --18
  22. my name is simpson - hoomer simpson.

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --14
  23. igor needs obama’s ass for experiments

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --15
  24. Shit!! I hawe so short tongue to lick him. I must train more

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --9
  25. Hey Obama, you debate like this, “dur dur dur!”

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --9
  26. Is that a Pubic Hair of Palin in my Through? Ihiieee she got a shave that Cold Alaskapussy.

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --9
  27. Oh, I remember the good times…

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --4
  28. Obama is the best candidate

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --8
  29. John McCain approves this hand jive.

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +4
  30. I have two left hands

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --7
  31. Waaooo Mama, I wanna kiss your black ass.

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --13
  32. You think you’ve got the All Blacks thing covered?… KA MATE, KA MATE, KA ORA, KA ORA…..

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --3
  33. Homo….orthograde

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --11
  34. oh YOUR ASS SMELL LIKE A YOUR WOMEN´S PUSSY

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --11
  35. Help me! The black man took my pills from me!!!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --3
  36. (Maybe if I keep acting like I’m senile, I’ll get the sympathy vote.)

    Look at me I’m retaaarded!
    duuuhhhhh….

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +10
  37. Meeestah Lova lova

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --8
  38. McCain: “Race will never be an issue in this election, the US has come a long way in terms of racial equality. I have no doubt in my mind that the fact that Obama is… UUrrghh… NNNgghhkk… UUUURRRGGHhh
    AAAARRRUUGGHHHHHH…. gurrrrrhh… URRRGHHKYHRHRH… erm sorry… is… UUrrghh… NNNgghhkk… UUUURRRGGHhh
    AAAARRRUUGGHHHHHH…. gurrrrrhh… URRRGHHKYHRHRH…”
    Intercom Guy: (Slightly grainy radio sound)”McCain, gather yourself together… Talk some bullshit to cover your ass, youc an do that… Can’t you?”
    McCain: Woah… oh woah… Sorry guys… I have erm… umm… convulsive tongue wagging syndrome. It, is a terrible disease that plagues millions of decent Americans.”

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +6
  39. Gotta get me some piece of that fine black ass.

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --9
  40. Oh, how I want, but can …

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --5
  41. At least I’ll tell my grandchilren I vomited on the President…

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +35
  42. Bleeeh,I won’t eat those cockroaches…

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --7
  43. hahaha
    what about whis?
    http://www.creomania.com/forum/index.php?s=029dcba3755beec19dee4b6506731c58&showtopic=35079

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --8
  44. I switched his water for a glass of my urine… WHEN did he switch it back?

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +3
  45. yammii!!!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --3
  46. I DIDN’T RISK MY DIGNITY TO HAVE A BUNCH OF RETARDS LEAVE HORRIBLY UNFUNNY CAPTIONS!!!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --10
  47. After ecletion ill enjoy this sweet butt

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --4
  48. At first i was like…

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --6
  49. Back that shit up!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --7
  50. c’m ere, bami! i’m gonna screw you, but GOOD!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --5
  51. Say Obama… What’s that smell?

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --8
  52. A mirrooooorr….AAAHHH

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --2
  53. aiq rica jorrrrrs

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --6
  54. FFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUU

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --7
  55. how would u like to suck my balls?

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --4
  56. guys

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --7
  57. your but looks tasty oboma i hope my nose wont turn brown

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --1
  58. I just remembered Mr. Burns of that great television programm ‘The Simpsons’. He is my great rolemodel!
    Perhaps I should start to act like him? The good-looking is nearly the same.

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --4
  59. “there’s shit on your pants”

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --4
  60. “There’s shit on your pants…”

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --4
  61. * non-verbal *

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --5
  62. Mmmm, pomacałbym takie czarne dupsko…

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --6
  63. behind you !

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +1
  64. Too much booty in the pants…

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --3
  65. yack that stuff on obama’s d**k not taste good

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --2
  66. lol

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --4
  67. Hi#

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --4
  68. Ble…

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --4
  69. umm l like bum

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --4
  70. obamas ass is hot

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --6
  71. WOW! BIG!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --4
  72. ACK - OOP!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --4
  73. I catch youuuu!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --4
  74. wow nice black ass///i liiiike it))))

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --2
  75. Come back! Unfreeze me! I didn’t mean it. :(

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +4
  76. woow… thiis ass… i want to liick it…:)

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --5
  77. I guess once you go black…you can’t go back. Ugh…

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --1
  78. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHNUS

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --2
  79. WTF???

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --3
  80. I’m holding this ass cheek, Obama, grab the other one. Excuse me Sir, Can I lick that for you?

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --3
  81. ufff

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --1
  82. After Election, now…ERECTION!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --1
  83. Hey, why do you kissed my mum?

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --3
  84. NIGGER

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --7
  85. uummbbllluughh , hell no i dont want sloppy seconds with ophrah!!!!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --4
  86. YUUUK!! Losing always did leave a bad taste in my mouth!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --1
  87. he has sharp blades up his ass,my tongue hurts!!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --2
  88. he has sharp blades up his ass,my tongue hurts!!

    edit : forgot to add anme :D

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +0
  89. WAZUUUUUPPP???

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +7
  90. i want to take it!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +1
  91. fuck dick cunt

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --1
  92. que culo que tiene¡¡

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +1
  93. I can´t dance, I can´t walk….

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +4
  94. yes i do it for my Country

    or yes i can

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +1
  95. Look at mee, I’m a breakdancing dinosaur!!!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +1
  96. Bruce Willis is dead…

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +1
  97. I aaaam aaaa zoooombiiiieeee…

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +0
  98. Obama! c’mon man we can be friends………. get my hands on some fried chicken … yeaaaahhhh!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +1
  99. Oh you’re wife fucked like my mother

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +1
  100. This is Spartaaaa!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +2
  101. Do the Humpty Dance……

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +1
  102. iirghhhh, you pass gas *barf*

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +1
  103. igrencsin yavrum!! birdaha yap göreyimm

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +0
  104. you have got a fucking ass
    XP

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +0
  105. Obama I can be your dog, look at me I can imitate a dog.

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +0
  106. obama is the president?!
    ARRRGH
    my heart!!!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +0
  107. In times of desperation thou must eat thy enemy…

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +0
  108. I like big asses :D

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +0
  109. hey hussein do you want to see a joke? kah kah kkhh :)

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +0
  110. you have some shit on your ass. Let me wipe it off for you. EEEEWWWWW does not taste like chocolate like those mushrooms said it would. MMMMMMMMM mushrooms.

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --2
  111. F**K THE SYSTEM!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --1
  112. i’m BEOWULF!!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +0
  113. America is for white only… You can be a president in your ghetto only.

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --1
  114. Your mother ass was big like that, this night, your turn nigger

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --1
  115. U’ve lost ur chance with Condoleeza…

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --1
  116. Fuu!!, what small $-(

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --1
  117. fuck.

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --1
  118. Must… Eat… Giant… Invisible… Burger…

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  --1
  119. COVER THAT ANKLE, I CAN SEE YOUR ANKLE.

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +0
  120. If I looked any more stupid, and could get any more captions on my dum ass posted, I would look like the former prez. George W Bush. Oh come on Barak, give it to me bro.

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +0
  121. 3 meters…2 meters…1 meter…

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +0
  122. WAZAAAAA!!!!!!

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +0
  123. That’s evolution (from human-left, to monkey-right)

     Rate Comment Up Rate Comment Down  +0

Leave a Reply - English Only, Please

October 14th, 2008

Hold on to your shoes people. Or at least tie your shoelaces very tight. Because what I’m about to tell you is going to knock your socks clean off and I don’t want your shoes flying all over the place and hitting some person in the face.

Tomorrow I’ll be leaving my post as group creative director at DCF Advertising as I transition my career trajectory from advertising into interactive and information design. So starting next Monday I’ll be settling in as the full-time web designer at my favorite website ever, Snooth.com.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t first say that the folks at DCF Advertising have been great to me for the past four and a half years. And when I told them I’d be moving on they were incredibly understanding and supportive. I’m going to miss working there. But enough with the tiny violins. Let’s talk about wine.

I’m so psyched to be working at Snooth it should be illegal. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Snooth, it’s the world’s largest online wine database wrapped in a slick interface (designed by my buddy Clint) and backed by a home-grown, extremely powerful social network and community. I could call it “Facebook for wine” but that would be a gross understatement. It’s a place where you can review wines (even if you’re a wine idiot like me), see what your friends are drinking and reviewing, and find wines close to your home. But here’s the kicker - Snooth’s magical algorithm will recommend wines for you based on what you like and dislike - automatically. So it’s a great site for people who know everything about wine and for people who know nothing about wine. Stop what you’re doing right now and create a free account and add me as a friend - my screen name is solomania9. Do it. DO IT!!!

So the bottom line is that working at Snooth will allow me to stay on the cutting edge of today’s web technology, while utilizing my passion for creating engaging and memorable experiences on the web and beyond. That’s a roundabout way of saying it’s going to be pretty fucking sweet. I’ll keep everyone posted.

Now please carry on and start picking up all the smithereens that used to be your shoes.


 

Recent Comments

  • "Everybody look at me! me!" "No, dont be asshols! look at me, sweet!
  • lucy
  • Might be the worst "mashup" I've heard all year. It's not synced and the pitch is way off.