16 5 / 2012
"What we need are new measures of density that do not simply count how many people we can physically cram into a space but that accounts for how well the space is utilized, the kinds of interactions it facilitates."
“The Limits of Density” - Richard Florida, The Atlantic Cities
Richard Florida is way too into branding and that makes me skeptical and cranky, but he’s so right about the need to define density in terms other than floor area ratios and people per square mile. Of course he would use the word “utilized”…
22 3 / 2012
Thank you, mother, for the greatest passive aggressive note ever.
I can’t believe I missed this last week. She really elevates it to an art form.
21 3 / 2012
"The Muppets—and Chicken Work, especially—has always revolved around teamwork, integrity, a spirit of humility: the secret feed that made our staple-gunned, styrofoam henhouse great. It wasn’t just about comically clucking and erratically shedding feathers. It had something to do with pride and belief in poultry puppetwork and efforts to posthumously simulate Frank Oz’s voice."
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16 3 / 2012
Fuck your big vintage sign.
New favorite tumblr, courtesy of Eric. It’s hilarious.
I want 75% of these things, so it’s a reminder not to take myself too seriously.
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09 3 / 2012
Is it just me, or does Vivienne Jolie-Pitt look like a younger version of Kristen Wiig’s roommate in Bridesmaids?
I won’t even start on Shiloh. I’m feeling charitable today.
Can’t. Unsee. This. (Also, I know it’s mean to love this Tumblr, but I do.)
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01 3 / 2012
This is either God telling me to quit being so dramatic, or my boyfriend via a fake Twitter account.
10 2 / 2012
While this is not a ‘goodbye’, the time has come for me to leave Ra Ra Riot.
Thank you for the wonderful 6 years— so many beautiful places visited, with incredible fans & close friends made along the way. I will carry on what I have learned from each and every one of you in future endeavors, whether it be music, becoming a pilot, or the next Iron Chef.
Playing music with Rebecca, Milo, Wes, Mathieu, John, Kenny, Gabriel, and Cameron has provided some very special opportunities in my life, alongside all the talented and amazing bands that have shared the stage with us throughout. I have learned so much from all of you, and most importantly, you have have taught me to strive every day to be a better musician and songwriter.
much love,
Alexandra Lawn
——
A few nights ago I happened upon some early videos of us playing live; back from when we were a newborn of a band. I began to reminisce about the early days and temporarily got sucked into a black hole of nostalgia. Seeing the early footage was a glowing reminder of how far we’ve come, and how much we’ve changed—as a band, and as people.
Back when we first started, the thrill of being allowed to play was enough to keep us going. We functioned week-to-week and were playing every show as if it might have been our final, trying to make the most of it all while it lasted.
Our first priority (and ultimately the reason why we started the band in the first place) was simply “to have fun.” This objective acted as a mission statement in the early days. It was our pole star as we navigated our course into our unknown future. It was a fundamental goal that provided a guide for our decision-making process.
When we first formed, none of us could have guessed that we’d still be a band six years and however many hundreds of shows later. Since then we’ve been through a lot together. We’ve seen the world. We’ve learned about ourselves. We’ve learned about each other. We’ve made a lot of memories that will last a lifetime. And we’ve shared experiences that cover the extreme ends of the human emotional spectrum. Life. Love. Death. Sometimes it’s difficult to keep these things in perspective. We are not the same band that we were six years ago, for we are not the same people. These sorts of changes are only natural of course. They are the result of living life. It would be counterproductive to try to deny change to ourselves or to the band. Nothing lasts forever after all… as they say, with every end is a new beginning.
Allie’s decision to leave the band reflects a true sense of self-awareness and is a testament to her continuous quest for contentment. Taking active control over your destiny is a sign of strength, and I am happy for Allie that she is pursuing whatever it is that she is looking for.
It was by chance that Allie and I ended up in a band making music together. Unknowingly at the time, we’d come to effectively alter the course of each other’s lives in countless ways. I feel very fortunate that we got to play music together in the first place and I consider myself lucky that we have spent the better part of the last six years doing so. For that, I am grateful.
-Milo & Ra Ra Riot
This is so sad! She is my hot cello-playing idol and I love this band. I hope she does something cool next so I can keep listening.
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03 1 / 2012
"But as sure as the followers of Farrakhan deserved more than UFOs, anti-Semitism and conspiracy theories, those of us who oppose the drug-war, who oppose the Patriot Act deserve better than Ron Paul.
…
The fervency for Ron Paul is rooted in the long-held hope of a redeemer, of one who will rise up and cut through the dishonest pablum of horse-races and sloganeering and speak to the people. It is a species of saviorism which hopes to deliver a prophet upon the people, who will be better than the people themselves."
-TNC, of course. His takes on most things are the most even-handed, the most well-thought-out.
This whole redeemer-savior candidate thing is annoying and reductive regardless of the party or person. Obama can’t save democracy, and Ron Paul is not a panacea. They are leaders in a system of checks and balances.
02 11 / 2011
Just saw this. Pretty solid Halloween move.
how i am treating trick-or-treaters this year
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