one last thing before I quit

I've never been a big advocate for putting stickers on my electronics. I just figured that I'd grow old of it very fast and surely regret it as I'd never be able to scrape off all of the glue. But as many of my opinions have changed over the years, thank you technology, I am all for this stuff. Presenting GelaSkins.

GelaSkins are these custom covers that you can put on to protect your electronics, but also don't look like 2 dollar off-the-rack purchases. They are also removable.

NYC | eBoy

The Life Tree | Anthony Hurd

Underworld | Colin Thompson

Anatomie | Jason Freeny

Boombox II | Lyle Owerko

Tres | Alberto Cerriteno

The Enamored Whale | Alberto Cerriteno

If you've heard about Winnipeg, but are not from there, I'm sure you hear most people joke about how we have different seasons. It usual involves some words like mosquitoes, construction, winter and Hoth. I don't actually find it too funny.

Now, it seems like our winter is fading away quickly right now. So what would one call this season? Pothole season. It's talked about everywhere. We even have a 'hotline' to report potholes. Ugh.

There are two people who beat us to something that screams Winnipeg. Mypotholes is a place where a couple of artists are showcasing their pothole art.
Why couldn't we think of this?!

Maybe about 10 days ago, I received an early Christmas present in the mail. I had ordered a book containing 229 Pearl Jam posters, all designed by the Ames Bros from 1995 - 2007.

The book is officially called Pearl Jam vs Ames Bros: 13 Years of Tour Posters and I think it's unreal! There are two different versions. The unbelievably cheap $50 US green copy is the one I ordered. It's got 229 posters, interviews and some explanations and inspirations behind some of the posters. The $200 US orange copy is numbered, autographed by the 3 Ames Bros head designers, 32 bonus pages featuring over 250 sketches, an 8 page overlay of the printing process, and 3 silkscreen art prints, just to name a few things.

For any fan of the band, the artists or poster art in general, I can't highly recommend this enough. It's just awesome.

About a month ago, I went to a camera sale that a bunch of businesses put on. I managed to pick up a Canon FT QL for $20. It even came with two lenses. A steal. After picking up some rolls of film and a new battery, my current interest in photography continues to grow. Oh, and I even picked up a SX-70 Polaroid camera for $10.

Anyways. That should give you a good idea of what's been on my mind lately, and sets up this post quite well.

I've watched Saturday Night Live for quite a few years now and one of my most favorite things, other then the Digital Shorts, are the bumpers that they have of the hosts and musical guests. It took me quite some time, but I finally figured out who was behind all of them. Her name is Mary Ellen Matthews.

She doesn't have a website. Or even a Fan Facebook page. But I'm most certainly a supporter of hers and am very intrigued in her art. It's not like her photos are revolutionary, they're basically all just portraits. But they are quite fun and they have purpose.

Pearl Jam
"Different lighting -- you know, I’m such a fan of music across the board, but of them, for sure. I just thought this would be an interesting take, especially with Eddie Vedder. His bone structure being that it is, this would really work for them."

Tenacious D
"I saw the Simon & Garfunkel cover -- 'Bookends' -- where they’re both in the turtlenecks and they’re kinda leaning on each other, so we kind of riffed off that. [Simon & Garfunkel are] one great duo in our musical history. They're just another one [laughs]. With Jack Black, you always kind of get a show. Kyle Gass as well. They’re loose, let’s say, but amazing musicians."

Foo Fighters
"I think it just says a lot about who they are, for sure. I think it really captured them. Dave Grohl is so free-spirited, free-living, has a great time with what he’s doing. And they’re such a group, I think they really enjoy what they’re doing. And they were happy to be there that day."

Alec Baldwin

Ellen Page

Hugh Laurie

Jack Black

Jack Black, again

Justin Timberlake

Michael Phelps

Natalie Portman

Paul Giamatti

Paul Giamatti, duece

Scarlett Johansson

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks, numero deux

Will Ferrell

In the back of my mind, I feel as though one of my true callings might rest in the field of photography. There's just this certain spark that grows most times when I pick up a camera. I love composition. Ya, I admit it. Composing shots is just satisfying. That said, struggling to make a shot work is very frustrating.

I came across a very interesting site regarding a place in Russia's history. Thanks to the wonderful and always reliable Wikipedia, I've learned that The Siege Of Leningrad was an unsuccessful military operation in WWII, that actually lasted 872 days. Ok, enough history.

From what I could find online, since my Russian is a little rusty, this man named Sergey Larenkov has taken old photographs from the war and superimposed newer ones on top, figuring out the exact same locations and angles.


I think that this is just beautiful. In most cases, it shows the destruction of the past as well as the restoration of many buildings. Russian architecture doesn't really interest me too much, but I very much enjoy seeing the history of it all. Some shots are truly neat, seeing what used to be and what inevitably then stood there. See, history can be fun kids!