The Beatles VS. Wu-Tang

My expectations for this were pretty low considering Danger Mouse did something similar with The Beatles and Jay-Z not to mention my low tolerance for mash-ups these day. However, this thing is really good and it's free to download here.

Hot Tourist Destinations: Chernobyl!

Tropisms > Chernobyl > Lost Souls from POLYMORF on Vimeo.

The area of the Ukraine surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear power plat is a modern day ghost town. Military vehicles sit rusting in fields and plants that seem to be unaffected by the radiation have reclaimed the space humans took from them. In this ghost town buildings sit eerily vacant in the same state they were abandoned except for the years of decay. Books and boxes of food sit out never to be eaten or read by their one time owners. You can't look at these images and be a bit scarred that this may be all of our futures due to nuclear war or an accident at a nuclear power plant.

Stuck On Repeat

These are some songs that I can't stop listening to lately.

Graffiti Artist Saber Speaks Out On Healthcare

The graffiti artist Saber was a finalist for a contest the Obama administration ran about getting the message for health care reform out there. Due to his use of the American flag Saber was attacked by Conservatives opposed to reform. In this interview he did for MSNBC Saber explains his work and the health care crisis better than most politicians I've heard.

J.D. Salinger R.I.P.

Well crap, yesterday it was Howard Zinn and then today J.D. Salinger has left us.

Polyphonic Spree In Uganda

Illustrated Alphabet by Paul Thurlby

Paul Thurlby is an illustrator based in London, England. I'm really digging his alphabet prints which have a picture to go with each letter. By spelling out my name I found out I'm vicious, bad ass at karate, read newspapers, was born on an island and will embrace you.

R.I.P. Howard Zinn

Howard Zinn was a historian and political activist who challenged the truth of what we are taught is our history. His book A Peoples History of the United States made heroes out of farmers and union organisers who brought about change on a grassroots level. Mr. Zinn's spirit and intellect will be greatly missed.

Vintage VW Bus Signage by Delicious Industries

Featuring great color combinations and great signage these VW Bus illustrations from Delicious Industries are amazing. The pictures are based on real vehicles taken from an old dealer brochure. This is the kind of bold and simple advertising that you don't see in today over-the-top approach.

Awesome and Creepy new Yeah Yeah Yeahs Video

The Art Of Ian Johnson

Ian Johnson is a San Francisco based artist who also happens to be the art director for Western Edition Skateboards. Johnson's work mostly features jazz musicians and singers like Ornette Coleman, Miles Davis and Billie Holiday.

Andy Warhol Decks By Alien Workshop

Skateboarding has come a long way as an industry. Gone are the days of ripping off popular art for graphics and thinking no one is going to notice. Now days if you want to have Andy Warhol art on your boards you have to contact the Andy Warhol Foundation For The Visual Arts. The good news is that skateboarding as such a cultural and economic powerhouse these days they are likely to say yes. That's what makes these boards by Alien Workshop so special because the people at the foundation don't license Warhol's work to just anyone. I think that the artist would like these boards and the idea that the images are temporary because as the boards are skated the the graphics will be shredded away. One of Warhol's most famous quotes is "art is what you can get away with". Many skaters (like me) consider skateboarding to be more of an art than a sport and in many ways "skateboarding is what you can get away with".

Skateboarding Watercolors By Christopher St. Leger

I don't know anything about this artist other than that he is a local from around the Austin area. The "bio" section of his website simply lists his shows which have mostly been in the Central Texas area. What I do know is that I really love these watercolor pictures.

The Wall Paintings Of The Meena Women

The Meena are a tribe that reside in the Aravalli Hills of India. These white painting are a way for the women of the tribe to document their past and present experience.

New Banksy!

Looks like Banksy is taking in the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah where these new pieces have been spotted.

What Up Gangstars! Episode 2.

What Up Gangstars - Episode 2 - Skateboard from Jay Louis on Vimeo.

Los Campesinos! - Romance Is Boring

Romance Is Boring by Los Campesinos! from Los Campesinos! on Vimeo.

The Ladies Of The Street By Miss Bugs

This is some great street art found throughout London by collage artist Miss Bugs. These pieces were designed with their future location in mind creating a sense that the pieces are meant to be there.

The Banksy Film "Exit Through The Gift Shop" Trailer

Skateboarders Helping Haiti

Back in the day people would often think of skateboarders as a bunch of hooligans and criminals. Anyone who has ever ridden on four urethane wheels and wood knows the truth, skateboarders have big hearts. That's why it does not surprise me that Canadian company Control Manufacturing has made these awesome skateboards with all proceeds going to the Canadian Red Cross in their efforts to help the people of Haiti. From Control MFG:

St-Nicolas, Qc January 18th 2010 –In an attempt to come to the aid of the people who are suffering in Haiti in the aftermath of a violent earthquake that brought death and destruction to the country last week we have decided to release a special edition skateboard. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of these boards will go to the people of Haiti via the Canadian Red Cross – Quebec division, c/o Fabienne Laisné, 6, Place du Commerce, Verdun (Quebec) H3E 1P4. This board will go on sale across Canada within the next 2 weeks. This board is made out of 100% hardrock Canadian maple at the Control Manufacture in St-Nicolas Qc Canada. The project however is from our sales team. We will use all the contacts we have built over the last 15 years to reach out to all shops, brands and skaters accross Europe, Canada, USA and South America that currently buy boards from us.

Not a penny will be kept of the proceeds, everything we make is going to Haiti.

When I saw the desperation in Haiti I didn’t know what to do to help… finally I decided to help the only way I knew how: selling skateboards” said Dan Saindon, Sales Manager at Control MFG.

“We are very excited to be part of this project and we will do all we can to make this a success” added Fabienne Laisné from the Red Cross.

Control MFG is a leader in the skateboarding manufacturing business. We are specialized in high end skateboards and have been in operation since 1995. We will post a complete list of shops carrying the boards in the next few weeks.

The Canadian Red Cross Society is a non-profit, humanitarian organization dedicated to improving the situation of the most vulnerable in Canada and throughout the world.

We also encorage you to make a direct donation to the Red Cross. Here is the toll free number: (800) 363-7305

Coal Burning Power Plant

Coal Power Plant Timelapse from Jeff Grewe on Vimeo.

Wow, the coal industry certainly would not want this time lapse video of one of their plants running anywhere near the "coal is the future of energy" commercials I see on TV all the time. It's pretty scary that some people have to breathe that air.

Inside Outside (Graffiti Documentary)

What could be better than a documentary featuring street artists Zevs, Os Gemeos, Swoon, KR, Ron English, Earsnot, Pigmeus, Adams & Itso and more. Well it could be on English but hey it's free so I'm not complaining.

Funny!

Machotaildrop

Huh, interesting film that features skateboarding pretty heavily but not in that dumb hollywood way.

Amazing New Gil Scott-Heron Video

This is his first new material in over a decade and it's a good sign that the song and video are killer.

Mike Giant Remembers Skateboarding In The 80's

Oh man these graphics bring back some memories. Neil Blenders "coffee break", the Bones Ripper, Lance Mountains "Cave Men", The Santa Cruz Screaming Hand, these images bring you back if you skated in the 80's.

The Hotel Fox In Copenhagen

Man I love art themed hotels and the Hotel Fox in Copenhagen might just be the best one I have seen. All of the hotels 61 rooms were decorated by one of 21 artists. The rooms range in style from street art, Japanese Manga, childhood fantasy to classic graphic design. If that isn't enough the hotel has it's own sushi restaurant on site.

God Bless Keith Olbermann

There is nothing I can say here that Keith does not say much better.

Band You Should Know - At The Drive-In

At The Drive-In were a Post Hardcore or Post Punk if you prefer band from EL Paso Texas. The band was known for it's rapid tempo shifts and nonsensical lyrics. Their third and final album Relationship Of Command is a modern day classic which provided a new way forward for fast guitar music. The record goes a long way to capturing the chaos and energy of the bands live show while still leaving place for some studio wizardry. The band had signed to the Beastie Boys Grand Royal Records label and the song "One Armed Scissor" became a surprise hit on radio and MTV. Faced with the chance for mainstream success the band split up forming the even more spastic Mars Volta and the more traditional Sparta.

WTF, French Star Wars Dance

Alex Pardee For Team Conan

With this new print artist Alex Pardee has thrown his support behind Conan O'Brien. The image features Conan's trademark hair on the classic Powell Peralta "Bones Ripper".

Weekly World News the Comic

The one time bible of the absurd is now a comic book featuring their most popular character Bat Boy. Says writer Chris Ryall "“Some might place Bat Boy alongside Superman, I’d place him above. Bat Boy is far from invulnerable, and only wears a pair of torn cut-offs, yet he’s out there, fighting our wars and helping kittens. He’s a true hero for the ages.” Batboy interacts with other real and make believe characters like President Obama, Hunter S. Thompson and Frank Millers Batman. You can learn more and checkout additional pictures over at Wired.