cooooooooool

Think before you throw away that kidney!

Ezra pointed out that there's no issue too far removed to align it somehow with being green. AdFreak brings another example to my attention. Ladies and gentlemen, it's no longer organ donation. It's organ recycling!

Club Vee Dub

Sometimes, in the mornings, instead of doing productive things like getting ready for work, I make playlists. This morning I was feeling very hip hop. And I had a fraking tremendously fun drive into the office today. Windows down, T Pain featuring out of my windows all the way down the parkway. It was, perhaps, a little too fun. My office feels nothing like a club, and this contrast is sort of killin me. I don't have this problem when I listen to, ya know, folk music.

WOO WOO WOO WOO WOO!

SOMEBODY FINALLY RENTED MY CONDO!

Somebody Stop 'Im

As someone who was actually exposed to Measles last week (at the Harris Teeter by my office; I am, thankfully, vaccinated and haven't been around any unvaccinated babies since... I don't think) and just generally cares about people in the world, I'd like to join Gawker in saying SHUT THE F*&$ UP JIM CARREY!

HAIR DISASTER

I've calmed down now, thanks to Liz forcing me to show her my hair by pulling the covers off of my head and telling me it's much better than I thought it was. Apparently what I see as orange-roots-with-poop-colored-hair, she sees as Farrah Fawcett blonde. There's still the matter of the too-short, too-choppy, Bridget-Fonda-in-Singles meets "The Rachel" cut. Which is why I poured myself a delicious beer (Brooklyn Local #2, so wonderful). So, again, I'm calmer. But if you see someone walking down the street and you think, "that looks like Amanda, but WAY WAY UGLIER," it probably really is me. Hey, at least it's not purple anymore! (Which it was after the first round of color they put on it. Which is how I ended up with this current shade.) And yes, I went to my normal girl who I trust and love. I guess this was just an off night.

Listen

Open up all three of these MySpace pages at once. I like the sound it makes.

Bowerbirds
BELL
birdlips

These three bands are playing at the Rock & Roll Hotel on Saturday. It probably won't sound like this. But I hear from reliable sources that it will sound very, very good.

two images for today

hairless chimp, via The Awl



flowing barchan sand dunes on mars, via Astronomy Picture of the Day

I twisted my ankle on Friday night. I twisted it while I was stooping. You know, hanging out, on someone's front stoop. Emily and The G both assumed I'd injured it while dancing, so, that can be my backup story. It doesn't hurt too bad, but I do have this truly awesome bruise over my whole foot and up my leg that gets grosser and moves around more and more every day. I actually think this is very cool. I should have been taking pictures of it, but I haven't been. So use your imagination. Imagine Rorschach's, face, but on my foot. Cool, right?

That place I was stooping? We had an awesome lady dinner. We ate pasta atop arugula, drank wine and campari, had artichokes, and neopolitan klondike bars. It was heavenly.

Then Saturday I had lunch with my gramma and began a great day of more stooping and other celebratory things because it was the MOST BEAUTIFUL DAY POSSIBLE. Liz and I stooped for a while, and had to break up a fight between Stinker and the dog next door, Buttons. I made some jalapenos diablos and added them to the delicious offerings at Stu & Lana's bbq. After sitting and talking for hours, we walked around the block to Cecily's SCIENCE birthday party, which was so great. Lab coats, goggles, glowy things, light up things, chalk, miracle fruit -- you name it, she had it. I learned though that I kind of hate that magic fruit stuff. Because it makes bitter things taste sweet, and I far prefer bitter to sweet.

Sunday I went to the Green Apple Festival on the mall, which was kind of a bust. But I got to hang out with Jenna & Liz all day, so that was top notch.

This morning, I was on my way to work and saw two strange things happen at the same time. The guy in front of me opened his car door and puked out of it, and a guy rode by on his bicycle smoking a cigarette.

So, now you know. I've been a crappy blogger lately, but ya know, I have grilled things to eat and lovely people to talk to. A girl's gotta have priorities.

Warning: This video may make you cry

(Not out of sadness. Out of joyful cross species bff-eration.)



(thanks to Liz for sending this to me)

Today Means 3 Things

First: It would have been my grampa's 85th birthday.

Second:
One more day until the IFA Happy Hour

Third:

“What gives you the right to say that Charles in Charge is not important!"

And other musings on the n+1 Hipster panel.

I won't leave my house tonight until I've achieved this.

Ya know. Probably.

Wow

Via Julian, this clip shows some shockingly egregious recycled bits in the Disney catalog.

Please stop. It's only getting more embarrassing.

Today I received a an email from Thomas Jefferson. Actually, it's the third email from Thomas Jefferson I've received in as many weeks. Yes, that's right. That Thomas Jefferson. Third president of the U.S., author of the Declaration of Independence, and founder of the University of Virginia — who died in 1826. Each email has asked me to consider giving more (more money, that is) to UVA. All have included the phrase "This Interweb Thing" in the subject line.

You may be wondering what I have been up to the past couple of centuries. Besides autographing copies of the Declaration of Independence with my feather pen, I have been hanging around Grounds trying to make a little difference. Given the growth of the school, my new mission is to build young alumni giving. To this end, I’ll be in touch between now and my birthday — otherwise known as Founder’s Day — on April 13th.

That's the intro on the first email. I understand the motivation — I'm sure the University is in pretty dire straits right now, as far as donations go. And I know that a good marketing campaign is a step in the right direction to reaching out and opening up a few more wallets. But this is not a good marketing campaign. It is really, really bad. I know how hard it is to come up with fresh ideas to promote the same message — it's sort of my job. So I don't want to be too hateful. But holy crap, this is just a sad attempt at being cute. And especially sad to try to milk this joke three+ times. The worst part is that this bizarre ploy is being used to try and make me feel guilty . Here are a few more samples of what TJ has had to say:

In fact I'm told that this interweb — which is a series of tubes — has simplified things even more. All you do is click on this link with your "mouse", and you're one step away from giving to the University.

///

And be sure to join my Cause Page on Facebook (a technology I believe will someday be an inalienable right).

///

I must admit I'm feeling a little lonely these days. Perhaps it is the sense of aging that accompanies my 266th birthday. Or perhaps it is the fact that I chose to stay behind and work in Charlottesville while my buddies Madison and Monroe headed out for spring break. What's really getting to me, though, is the sense that I'm alone in my efforts to support the University.

///

Spring has arrived here, and the Lawn grows greener with each passing day. It is satisfying to see my architectural vision come to life this time each year—though I find myself wholly unfamiliar with this new tradition of "streaking the lawn." At least the deadly duels have stopped.

///

While you're at it, why not sign up for one of the University's electronic newsletters? See what's available. I am told signing up is easy. What will they think of next? Motorized carriages? Video feeds from the University?

Please note, marketing team: the "feelings" of our university's long-dead founder do not inspire me to make a donation. In fact, far from inspired, I'm a little bit offended. I'm probably less inclined now to give some of my not-so-readily-available money to an organization that's employing such a ridiculous campaign. I love UVA, and I do intend to make supporting the University a part of my charitable donations whenever I can. But this is a really, really bad tactic, and not one that's going to put my alma mater at the top of my current list of priorities.

Put Yr Hand To Yr Mouth Space*

Real life Michelangelo? Awesome nebula fingers, from Space.com [via io9]

*This subject line will make sense to all of 3 people. Luckily, all 3 of them read this blog. So that's like, 75% of my readership.

vid vid video

Scared. Confused. Intrigued.

Urban Outfitters, duh.

I want these, please

On Etsy, of course.

Join us, won't you?

We folks of the Internet Food Association are having a little get together. Come join us next Thursday, April 16, at PS7 (Gallery Place/Chinatown metro) from 6-8 p.m. We've lined up some specials: $3 flatbreads, a $3 beer special, $4 sparkling wines, and are very charming, interesting and good looking people, so it's worth your while to come. So mark your calendars and prepare to discuss the merits of raw milk and beans in chili. Or more likely, how excited we all are to see the new Wolverine movie.

Well.

The Harlem Shakes have canceled their Saturday night show in DC due to a family emergency. This leaves a few of us sad and searching for some live indie pop to fill our weekends with. I might bandage my broken heart with Pomegranates at the Black Cat. I'm a little bit in love with this song of theirs.

Corriander

Also on the desired live music list this week: Title Tracks at the Cat tomorrow, US Royalty at R&R Hotel Wednesday, Whispertown2000 at R&R Hotel Friday.

John F. Mattos

He was my grandfather. And he passed away at home on Friday. In accordance with his wishes, there will be no funeral -- only a party. And a trip to the beach. RIP, Grampa.

John was born in Washington, DC on April 15, 1924. A WWII veteran, he was wounded during combat in the Pacific Theater. He was the past president and CEO of Mattos Profinishes, an active member of the Civitan Club of Alexandria as well as the Kena Shriners Temple of Alexandria for over 50 years, the past president of Alexandria Grandstand Managers, and past president of ASIA. John was a member of the Army Navy Country Club and his favorite hobbies were deep sea fishing, watching NASCAR, in particular Jeff Gordon, and cocktail hour. He is survived by the love of his life, Marjorie ; beloved children John, Kristie (Ernie), Nancy (Edgar) and Bruce. He also leaves his dear grandchildren Jerry, Kelly, Nicole, Amanda, Michael and Krista as well as his great-grandchildren Austin, Aaron and Kaeli. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army.

Extra Thick

I whole-heartedly support Tom's endorsement of the new Harlem Shakes record. It's fantastic. Which is why I'll be seeing them on 4/11 at DC9.

You know what I am completely and totally NOT feeling, however? Living Thing. With the exception of maybe 2 songs, it is booooooooring.

Dear Food Blogs of the World

Please stop posting recipes containing blood oranges. They all sound delicious and look gorgeous and I want to make them. But blood oranges are completely and entirely nonexistent in the greater D.C. area. So, your recipes, they make me jealous.

I've got plenty of rosemary. What do you have in the way of rosemary recipes?