keith birthday is not in russia

Guess I just ‘released’ my newest Norwegian Arms ep type thing called ‘jttrbg’ and it’s now available on my (bandcamp) 4 free n stuff. Two songs on this one, one that ya’ll may know because it’s been around a little bit but without a ‘proper release’. Also includes a super duper old song [written circa 2007] while living in Germany but also had yet to be recorded or what not. enjoy if you enjoy things like this.

Also now available there is my first ep release from last summer ‘Louise’ in its entirety. Also free. Share away friends.

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Buffalo Stance - Maya

Everything about this song by these Philly natives appeals to me, the bouncing beat, the layers of keyboards, the vocal delivery that reminds me of Paul Simon in a You Can Call Me Al sort of way (the good kind).

A Starburn Hurts More Than A Sunburn

Do yourself a favor and go listen to The Armchairs’ Deep Sea/Frogs in the Bogs

Check out this sweet hip party that occurred in my american domicile while I reside in Russia. Sorta wish I had been at my house for halloween. Miss u guys.

PS, the girl to the left (crazy zombie) in the first picture is priceless

Always Sunny Season Five Preview: Kitten Mittens

I seriously am:

1. excited for this season
2. pissed that I’m not going to be around to watch it.
3. Wish I was Charlie

Social Torture At McFadden’s (told in text messages)

So last night a very dear friend of mine attended the ‘bar’ known as McFadden’s on fifth and spring garden because it was a coworker’s birthday and they decided to celebrate there. She did express some reservations about going in the first place, and I would say (through personal experience) that they were very founded.

For those who don’t know, McFadden’s is a bar/club/clusterfuck where hundreds of twenty somethings descend each weekend to participate in debauchery. As you can imagine, I am super biased against this place, although tons of people (bros and hoes) love it. I’ll never get why

Either way, she decided to go for a short while in order to wish her friend a happy birthday. I then received the following text messages at the times listed. I didn’t have my phone on, so I got them all at once, and to be honest, found them quite amusing.

11:23:39 - Why didn’t I take a xanax before I came? (note: anxiety, not recreationally)

11:34:52 - I would take a video if it wasn’t so dark in here

11:35:03 - I’m thinking about getting up on the bar and dancing just to kill time

11:35:21 - I never wanted to die so badly.

11:36:32 - We need to find a way to get these people to stop reproducing. They’re fucking up the gene pool

11:37:12 - There’s a 45 year old man here with a 25 year old.

11:46:15 - We need to have a date night where we get super fucked up a come here.

11:46:31 - Scratch that last text

11:48:59 - I’m seriously getting the fuck out of here. A dude just hit on me. (apparently he did so by grinding up on her butt and saying “How you doin’?” As she walked away he screamed, “What?! I’m a good guy!”)

lol.

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

‘Louise’ - Norwegian Arms

So I finally finished what I guess could be called my first release. There are four other songs on it besides this one. They cost whatever amount of money or goods you feel is fair to give me in exchange.

I guess you could call this song the ‘title track’ considering it is also called Louise. Either way, it’s about a cat that lives in my house. She looks like the cover.

I hope to put out newer/more relevant material in the near future (aka before I leave for Russia). I just have to get my butt in gear.

I look totally rad playing four square in rittenhouse. I’m the chubby kid in the white shirt. (look at my sweet love handle action shot in the second picture).

go to this, have fun, maybe meet your future girlfriend, love the Armchairs

My friend Adrienne turned me into a doll. As you can see, I look super hot. Beyond doing custom stuff like this, her artwork is absolutely awesome. You can check it out on her blog and website

Here is some more of her work:

City Paper: Biketopia - How to Make Philadelphia a Cyclists' Paradise

interesting semi-thought provoking article from this past week’s philly Citypaper about what actions the city could take in order to promote biking to reduce the congestion caused by traffic around the city.

While many of the ideas seem feasible and possibly helpful, I personally feel that the decision to turn Spruce and Pine streets into half bike streets is a good idea, but for anyone who’s ever biked there, I’m sure you’re well aware that they are probably the most pothole-ridden streets in center city, to the point where I know that bikers avoid them (via casual conversation eg: “I was an idiot and took spruce today”. Obviously steps would have to be taken to change that.

“Ich Bin 8-Bit” Post-It Art @ Neurotitan Gallery Berlin

Philadelphia artist Jude Buffum has recently returned from this exhibition he created at the Neurotitan gallery in Berlin, an 8-bit resolution inspired exhibit created using only post-it notes. Not only is creating a room full of art with small sticky squares of paper difficult enough as it is, but the beauty and vibrancy of this exhibit is nothing short of stunning. Awesome job Jude. More pictures below. Check out more pictures on the Flickr here

As you can see, a lot of the smaller pink post-its were actually drawn on by various artists. An exhibit within one, so to say.

Promo poster, of course.

Ich Bin 8-Bit installation timelapse from Jude Buffum on Vimeo.

And nothing would be complete without a time-lapse video, right?

Fishtown Almost Sunrise on Mercer

Instructions for Philadelphia Driving Part Two

image by Ken Smith

When approaching a cyclist from the rear upon a somewhat narrow street, DO NOT make use of the adequate space he or she provides by riding uncomfortably close to parked cars. Do NOT deal with this heresy by slowing your pace. DO NOT back down. These are your streets, bold automobile pilot! Let that jerk cyclist know via honking, and apply liberally. Lean on that horn! Hold it down for five seconds or more! We all know that a stressed out/frustrated cyclist is a safe cyclist.

And it never hurts to top it off with a sprinkling of expletives.

Instructions for Philadelphia Driving Part One

When blatently going the wrong way down a one way street and encountering a cyclist going the right way, upon seeing his disapproving look, don’t shy away and apologize or even be amiable. Instead, roll down the window and yell “shut the fuck up!” If it came down to it, you could just run him over.