This is phenomenal, really. But it's only the second-best rap song based off highlights from a b-movie. Number one: weng weng.
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 10:20 AM on March 27, 2008

The shot of bush with his hand over his tummy at the 9/11 memorial is priceless...
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 5:20 PM on November 3, 2007

Interesting, the SVSP was started by Northwestern folks who then moved to NYC. Chicago seems to have a lock-down on stories-turned-into-weird-theater. You may also notice that original Story Pirate Kristen Schaal is now blowing up as Mel on HBOs "Flight of the Conchords."

If you are in NYC, make sure to check them out. They also do monthly "Story Pirates After Dark" shows that highlight the odder stuff, and there's free wine and snacks!... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 9:12 AM on September 14, 2007

A great piece in Oxford American about Billy Mitchell
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 9:53 AM on August 30, 2007

Camera Lucida - his last book - has always been my favorite work of his. It provided me with the notion of the 'punctum,' one of the terms I use the most when trying to describe art.
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 2:00 PM on August 27, 2007

Funny, when I first read the post, I thought it was going to link to this NYT piece - possibly the largest thing used as a musical instrument?
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 5:50 PM on July 2, 2007

If you have a free moment, revisit Mark Slouka's "Quitting the Paint Factory": "Idleness is not just a psychological necessity, req­uisite to the construction of a complete human being; it constitutes as well a kind of political space, a space as necessary to the workings of an actual democracy as, say, a free press. How does it do this? By allowing us time to figure out who we are, and what we believe; by allowing us time to consider what is unjust, and what we might do about it.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 3:15 PM on June 1, 2007

A local radio program did a piece on a sound installation of hers. The piece is part of a larger half-hour program on birds in New York City. The story is at about 23:40...
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 1:23 PM on May 17, 2007

Don't want to wade too deep into the argument, but it might be worth introducting the concept of Appropriate Technology. A lot of these items were not designed to be "green," they are socially responsible mainly by default of their being simple and low-impact.
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 7:12 AM on May 3, 2007

Very interesting. On consecutive pages, there two stunning examples. The second, in particular, would be difficult for a sighted person to "see."
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 11:46 AM on March 20, 2007

I don't think duct taping enormous signs - featuring a slick design and product logo - to a lightpost counts as guerrilla marketing.
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 3:12 PM on March 14, 2007

An open letter from Reverend Billy to Bono. Billy explains himself a little more in this article.
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 2:32 PM on March 6, 2007

It was in the 1-29 issue of the New Yorker and is available online at their site as well.

I hope this doesn't sidetrack the conversation too much, but does anyone know which publication commisioned tha piece first? (It was in TNY one month earlier). Neither of theses publications seem to be the type to buy an already-printed piece. But anyway, it's very good and worth reading, even on a Sunday.
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 6:55 AM on February 25, 2007

These guys may not be drinking the water, but they've chugged the kool-aid. Anyone care to wade through and post a coherent summary?
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 1:10 PM on February 13, 2007

This is the best post I've seen in MONTHS.
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 12:48 PM on February 8, 2007

The blog this comes from is pretty amazing - it has eaten up my entire morning.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 11:12 AM on December 19, 2006

This is a very interesting project, but the photoshopped pics of the supercentarians are a pretty cheesy way of portraying that they've got lots of old memories rattiing around in their wrinkly little noggins. And this one: oh my god! they've made a fruit basket out of that poor old woman's head!
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 7:24 AM on December 4, 2006

It's interesting to look at this post in comparison to the one sitting just below it on the front page. Is it more compelling to look at slick pictures of Individuals, who want desperately to be seen, or groups of everyday folks who have no idea any stranger is going to be looking at them.

They're both fascinating, but for some reason I think I'm moved more by those amateur group pics.
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 8:39 PM on November 24, 2006

Okay Limon, no way you can be serious, so I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt and high-fiving your comment.

I also love this post. Yes, I know people like to take group photos, that's nothing new, and this collection doesn't seem particularly special, but that's the very charm. It's fascinating and mesmerizing in its banality, and I'll have forgotten all about it in five minutes: the perfect MeFi post!
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 5:07 PM on November 24, 2006

These are brilliant, thanks. I'm off to try this myself tomorrow. Anyone got any other links to reinvigorate my point-and-shoot photography?
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 4:07 AM on November 23, 2006

Great post. That clip on google video is from my main man David Attenborough's "Life of the Undergrowth." All of his stuff is amazing, but this one in particular is mind-blowing. Highly recommended.
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 2:33 PM on November 21, 2006

A monumental loss.

I'm going to rise to the defense of Prairie Home Companion. I think its biggest success was that it captured the spirit of the radio program so well. In essence, the radio show works because it absolutely insists that its funny, homey, and quaint.

The film does the same thing. Practically none of the jokes in the movie are very funny - most of them are outright duds - but after a while, you just sorta... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 9:48 AM on November 21, 2006

Why are a blind man's songs so full of images? As GWB's favorite press corps member would say - "I guess it depends on your perspective."
posted to MetaFilter by jtajta at 3:45 PM on June 20, 2006