experimental bed-making

the experimental bed-making book... an oldie but goodie! this beauty was brought to life several years ago by the collaborative efforts of goatmother industries, j. shelley (smallkit) harrison, and william winchester claytor, but saw a second run a few months back here in LA. 

i had the honor of helping out with the binding of the 2nd book, which i believe is now in the loving claws of some angelino. 

you can find the first one in indiana university's library thing, and scope out the pages online here:

http://shatteredcape.com/experimentalbedmaking/

The 2011 Dow Flipbook

The 2011 DOW Flipbook.

This book was created as both a fun and interactive way to relive the rollercoaster ride that was the Dow Jones Industrial Average for the year of 2011, and as an object that reflects the increasing prominence that economics is gaining in the daily commentary of people throughout the world at this point in history. The 2011 DOW Flipbook allows the user to flip their way through the 252 daily closing prices of everybody’s favorite market index.

WHY: Many reasons... the combination of the taser factory coverage and insight provided by Marketplace (APM) + Freakonomics that sparked a hobbyistic obsession with economics and kicking my own ass for NOT attending Kelley School of Business in retrospect... an constant internal want to just quantify my personal time vs. $$$, a thrill for coming in under budget on a project, etc.


I realize I'm not alone. At this point in time, economic matters seem to be threaded deeper into the everyday dialogue of folks from all walks and age. It's a response to all that.

Big thanks to Jennifer from Phiffer Books for beautifully constructing the book. 
I sent a copy to America Public Media's Marketplace. Kai Ryssdal is the coolest.
More info: http://www.rebelhandspress.com/

the family fang

fiction fiction fiction, say what you will. a lot of folks say it's a great thing for the wintertime. 


since it's appears that wintertime is closing in, i thought i'd bring up this book. "the family fang" by kevin wilson. it's the best piece of fiction i've encountered in ages. 

i feel like i'd be terrible at literary review and have no intention of starting...so i'll just leave it with some stolen words from the author's website, http://www.wilsonkevin.com/:


Mr. and Mrs. Fang called it art. Their children called it mischief. 
 Performance artists Caleb and Camille Fang dedicated themselves to making great art. But when an artist’s work lies in subverting normality, it can be difficult to raise well-adjusted children. Just ask Buster and Annie Fang. For as along as they can remember, they starred (unwillingly) in their parents’ madcap pieces. But now that they are grown up, the chaos of their childhood has made it difficult to cope with life outside the fishbowl of their parents’ strange world.
 When the lives they’ve built come crashing down, brother and sister have nowhere to go but home, where they discover that Caleb and Camille are planning one last performance—their magnum opus—whether the kids agree to participate or not. Soon, ambition breeds conflict, bringing the Fangs to face the difficult decision about what’s ultimately more important: their family or their art.
 Filled with Kevin Wilson’s endless creativity, vibrant prose, sharp humor, and keen sense of the complex performances that unfold in the relationships of people who love one another, The Family Fang is a masterfully executed tale that is as bizarre as it is touching.

this book was delivered to me from mrs. mary steffens, wrapped in a pair of canvas fangs handed out as part of a performance art project called "aliens of the devil". clever and thoughtful, and excitement on my part, as the book was just recently added to my read list. 

perfect timing. a lot of things in this that i needed to read, even a few close to home things, like a detailed bit about an art project almost identical to one that we, (knee shy), had planned. 

and even though i often say that i don't really care for illustrators, the cover art by Julie Morstad is pretty cute, and apparently tattoo-worthy for some...

...it's seems as though nicole kidman has gained the film rights for this...hopefully this doesn't end up giving me a new reason to dislike her.

"scanwiches"

this is f-ing amazing! "SCANWICHES". it is what it sounds like, scans of sandwiches...or as the creator writes: "Scans of sandwiches for education and delight." 

this is the type of action that keeps the little universe in my head spinning at the proper speed, and encourages me to continue following the passions in my big blood-filled heart.

powerHouse Calls Presents: Scanwiches: The Ham, Apple and Brie from powerHouse Books on Vimeo.


k. that's enough...there's a book available, and looks like prints as well....see for yrself: http://scanwiches.com/

maybe a great new mind-blowing item of interest for fans of "tom selleck waterfall sandwich"

river city ransom. the book.

over the past year or so, books, or rather making them, has seriously infiltrated my working habits (i can't imagine why...). whenever an idea for a project comes up nowadays, one my immediate responses is: "let's make a book."


such is true with this new thing...

River City Ransom (a text-only, play-by-play account of the 1989 video game, as played by some guy.)

as a kid in the 80's, i spent a decent amount of time with the nintendo entertainment system, but somehow missed out on river city ransom. then a few years ago, when i was on tour with the Mean-Agers, Mean Chris turned me onto the game at a place we were staying in Pittsburg. 

personally, i thought the game kinda sucked, but it was really funny and i loved how excited Mean Chris was about it. earlier this year, river city ransom seemed liked the perfect target for this project...

so here it is....
a text-only play-by-play account i wrote of watching the game being played by some dude from beginning to end. all written in that weird monotonous phrasing and pace that i use to chronicle action packed stories. 

the physical product, at least phase 1, is now completed as a super limited edition handmade book. 

find more and new stuff at http://table-blue.com

mailbox day

i love mail. and the united states postal service. and i did email my congressman in concerns to the future of that entity...
anyway, here are 2 new prime examples of why:

the naughty "english muffin" jigsaw puzzle from maarrrrk rice. i imagine this was born into the world at a time when benny hill was at his prime. it seems the assembler found the pieces missing on the box cover image.

a beautiful book by jeff moerchen...tentatively referred to as "11 of 15". some schematic pages prepared with what i imagine to be some of the famous red dirt from the artist's current location along with other coloring. it came with a proud feather bookmark.


mail.

the Point Break is...

Our bi-coastal collaborative has been, and still is, a totally taser factory, rippin' blast! the Point Break is... is now live online and getting radical in print form! Check it, brah-

The film Point Break (1991) famously chronicled the adventurous outings of Bodhi, Johnny Utah, Tyler, and Pappas from the sunny shores of California to a stormy coast in Australia.

With the Point Break is..., the whole crew rides again in a new presentation of their journey, as interpreted by Jeremy Kennedy - Jeff Moerchen - and David Smith.

ABOUT THE the Point Break is... PREMIUM MEMBERSHIPS:

2012 marks the 21st anniversary of Patrick Swayzes passing at Bells Beach, Australia. To commemorate the occasion, the the Point Break is... Foundation is honored to offer these timely and timeless membership options.

Our entry level "Surfing with Swayze" membership package comes to you at the low cost of $15.15 (USD). This membership tier includes 1 bound hardcopy of the Point Break is... created by Jeremy Kennedy, Jeff Moerchen and David Smith, as well as unlimited access to the exclusive the Point Break is... blog for the rest of your life.

As an extra special, limited edition option, The "Ex-President" membership package includes all the features of entry level package plus 1 of the 20 coins found in the change purse that Bodhi left wrapped in his beach towel before surfing the 50 year swell at Bells Beach in 1991. In addition, each subscriber at the "Ex-President" level will receive an exclusive Point Break related voice-mail message from Co-creator David Smith. True "breakers" can catch this ride for only $50.50 (USD).

*For further details, please contact:thepointbreakis@hotmail.com

surfin's the source - change your life - swear to god

"SLO-MO" number three...

"SLO-MO" is a reoccurring collection of photocopied items found (or other acquired/created) by justin clifford rhody...who i write about often. 

i recently received the latest copy "number three. it's absolutely taser factory. maybe even more taser factory than taser factory..?.

while breathing and laughing thru the booklet, it dawned on me that jcr has also been slowly making my desk, office, and other parts of our crib an archive for the original documents contained therein via the mailman.

here's a scan of a favorite from the pages...

available from friends and relatives records...and i've personally encountered it (or other f&r materials) in neat store when least expected.

The Institute for Rational Living - 1961

It would seem like wisdom, if not for the warning in my heart. On second thought...Mr. Albert Ellis and Mrs. Robert A Harper both have at least one Ph.D (unless that is a typo). On third thought...i live really near a fortress of scientology.favorite chapter (s):
9. The art of never being desperately unhappy
17. Rewriting your personal history

Other Books and Monographs by the authors:
-The Folklore of Sex
-The American Sexual Tragedy
-The psychology of sex offenders
-How to live with a neurotic
-Sex Without Guilt
-What is Psychotherapy
-Marriage
-Creative Marriage

and 2 other titles mentioned in the book not written by either authors:
-Psychosomatic Gynecology
-Psych Yourself into Better Tennis

Read More Books.