back to Seattle

back to Seattle
Originally uploaded by praank

A Holiday Present for your Ears

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday!  Usually by this time of the year I am sick of the holiday tunes that have been playing in every store and commercial non-stop since Thanksgiving.  I think it may be because a) I love me some electronica, and b) there are only so many songs that invoke that holiday spirit.

Back in 2006, I discovered DJ Drüe with his "Holiday Flavor" mix which features electronic remakes of popular holiday tunes.  He has since come out with a 2007 mix, but I haven't seen anything from him this year.  In the process of finding the links for these mixes for you guys, I also discovered he has a 2005 mix as well!  Check these mixes out while you stuff your face and enjoy your family!

Holiday Flavor 2005

Holiday Flavor 2006

Holiday Flavor 2007

If the name DJ Drüe sounds familiar, you probably have heard some of his mixes while hanging out with me.  He's got some awesome west-coast style house music (that for me, is hard to find!).

I'm coming home tomorrow, granted my flight is not delayed/cancelled.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed, because I've heard nothing but horror stories about Sea-Tac this past week.  I'll be coming home with a shiny, new 1TB external HD (omg do you know how much music that can hold???) and an herb garden (fresh produce!), among other things.  See you tomorrow!

pretty winter colors

pretty winter colors
Originally uploaded by praank

A guide to Understanding Flow Charts presented in flow chart form

I love this!  Sorry about the nerd humor if you don't get it!!!

source: xkcd

Designer Furniture Orgasm

lounge Kitchen_1.jpg
Originally uploaded by Filip001

Knoll sofa
Eames lounge
Noguchi table

I am totally in love with flickr user Filip001's lounge & dining room, not to mention the rest of his flat. His place is chock-full of beautiful designer pieces!

tables, charts, & lists... oh my! Google Zeitgeist 2008

As a designer there is something about maps, charts, graphs, etc, that gets me all giddy. So you can imagine my excitement today when I woke up to find that Google released its 2008 year-end zeitgeist. Zeitgeist is German for "the spirit of the age and its society," which ultimately boils down to the major events, thoughts, trends, and big ideas that were shared by us as a society. What makes the Google year-end zeitgeist unique is the way Google has integrated itself into almost everyone's life through their handy tools, so it provides a fairly accurate snapshot of most of the world.

Google.com - Fastest Rising (U.S.)
1. obama
2. facebook
3. att
4. iphone
5. youtube
6. fox news
7. palin
8. beijing 2008
9. david cook
10. surf the channel

Seems pretty accurate, but what is with Obama being the #1 fastest rising search, and Fox News being the only news network on the list? Bizzare contradiction. My guess is the people looking for the Fox news website couldn't type in "foxnews.com," completely understandable.

Fastest Rising (Global)
1. sarah palin
2. beijing 2008
3. facebook login
4. tuenti
5. heath ledger
6. obama
7. nasza klasa
8. wer kennt wen
9. euro 2008
10. jonas brothers

I am completely fascinated/confused by Sarah Palin's celebrity status. Even now, after the election, she is staying in the limelight. I'm also confused by the third fastest rising global search, "facebook login." I don't know, just seems easier to type in "facebook.com," or even easier, bookmark it.

Funny that these charts provided me a good hour of time-wasting (go look through past zeitgeists), yet I didn't use nearly any of these search terms over the course of the past year.  In fact, for some results, I had to use Google to learn their relevance.

Google Zeitgeist 2008

Tristan plays with his food...

Tristan plays with his food...
Originally uploaded by praank

If you can't tell from the picture, those are garlic mashed potatoes that Tristan made to go along with a big roasted turkey, and some tasty stuffing.  What seemed to be a severe case of Thanksgiving déjà vu, was actually a mini turkey dinner–because, for a cooking novice, turkey isn't as easy to cook as it may seem.

Prop 8: the musical

HI,MITCHO! hay gurl of the week: Kevin Pereira

Oh hay gurl!  Kevin Pereira and Olivia Munn host G4's daily geek-centric news show, Attack of the Show.  A few weeks ago, they flew to Japan, which leaves us with this little snippet: he learns sumo.  He's nerdy, hot, and funny?!?!?  Let's just get to the clip.

HAY GURL HEEEY!

gurl is back! Britney Spears "Circus" pre-release

Oh, girl girl girl! A shout out to all my gays: you can listen to Britney's new album online a whole week before it comes out! I really enjoyed it, welcome back BRITNEY!  I want to listen to it some more before I can really begin to talk about it, but I can say I did really like almost all of the songs!!!

Britney Spears "Circus" on imeem.com

fillin the streets with GLITTER!

fillin the streets with GLITTER!
Originally uploaded by praank

fall cleaning

Since I've got some extra free time, I made it a personal goal to remove any excess clutter in my life.  I'm a shit collector, so this is a BIG job... Step one of the cure was my desktop:

BEFORE


AFTER

minimal ear candy: Sunday Night Sleaze 11/02/08

on a little hiatus right now... but here are some tunes to keep you busy until I'm back. This is some of the best minimal I've heard in a while, so I felt the need to share. :)

"Sunday Night Sleaze" Chloe Harris / Magda / Pan-Pot (Nov 02 '08)

All three sets originally aired on Sunday Night Sleaze, a show on Proton Radio.  Check out Proton for some more great music...

tracklist & source: The B-Log

Blue ska-doo you can too!

Blue ska-doo you can too!
Originally uploaded by praank

pretty fall colors! pt.2

pretty fall colors! pt.2
Originally uploaded by praank

get out and vote!

more design goodness at visitoffice.com.  These posters were made for a competition for AIGA.

pretty fall colors!

pretty fall colors!
Originally uploaded by praank

the other 9 to 5

I can't believe the weekend is already here...AGAIN.  Most of you are probably rejoicing, and can't wait to go hang out with friends and have a weekend.  For me, it's back to the grind.  My work week effectively started yesterday, but Friday is when the real work begins.

There are going to be a lot of changes at my bar in the next few months, and some really major changes after the holiday season.  This is both exciting, and scary for me, the bar used to be something really beautiful and conceptual.  Now, while still beautiful, the concept is being stripped away layer by layer.  The only thing that scares me is the original concept isn't really being replaced by another solid concept.  As a designer, I truly believe that a concept is needed for most things to be successful.  It is the glue that holds all variables together into one, cohesive product.  I'm hanging in there to at least try to salvage something of a concept at this place, even though it feels like little ol' me against the world.  I feel it is totally worth it, and if you've seen the bar when I started working there, and how it is now, you probably do too.

At the bar, we're starting to make plans for Halloween, which is also our 5th Anniversary.  We usually throw a big party, and this year is no exception!  With all of the big, gay parties on Cap Hill (like Comeback), and Freaknight all on the same night, we're going to try and pull a Belltown crowd.  I know, I know.  But it makes sense so I support it.  If I have to deal with D-bags for a night to make some money, it wouldn't have been the worst thing I've done.  It's going to be a burlesque themed masquerade, with fire performances and other cool acts.  The Saturday after Halloween, is the first Saturday in November so don't get too messed up Halloween night, it's Confession bitches, with Larry Tee (myspace, podcast) headlining!  Big name.  Can't wait.  Props to Colby on this one!

I guess the real reason why I wanted to make a post today, was to let you all know that You Suck at Photoshoop has some new episodes.  Totally one of my favorite webseries, and I really think it goes beyond design nerd humor... just check it out.  Episode 1, right here.

idea: beatport playlist

My mixing software, Traktor2.0, died on me a couple of months ago...  it's been hard.  I don't know if you have ever loved something so hard, that once it's taken away, you kind of lose a part of yourself.  Music, in itself, is amazing...  but after I have had the chance to play with it, mixing parts in and out, I feel I actually got to know the tracks I listen to.

So in my insanity to mix again, I though of a cool idea; Try to make a playlist purely based on the samples Beatport gives you.  I do this alot, I have noticed.  I am going to start keeping track (lists)and once I can mix again, I will try the playlists out.

I surf Beatport a lot.  I always keep tracks in my Crate for a while before I check out, just so I can review the samples in different moods, so my Crate essentially becomes a rough mix in a way.  Of course I will edit some more, but it is fun to go back and review, and listen to new stuff.

So go to Beatport.com and try it out for yourself.  I will work on a Beatport playlist to share, and you better too!!!

POS-T-VAC penis pump

POS-T-VAC penis pump
Originally uploaded by praank

ah munna eat choo!

I think I am loving the leafy-green background over the concept of a "bird condo" or what have you...  Nothing is lost, though, I would love to take a stroll through the forest and run across this awesome bird house with so many different types of birds residing in it... tweet tweet!  I think the whole bird condo looks kind of like some silly monster, too.

electronica escapades & Deadmau5

So the Deadmau5 show was last night.  It was good, what I saw of it...   I really liked the openers that I saw, Luca Bacchetti (really good, but a little dark.  this guy had some great mixing) & Santiago & Bushido (a little too clubby for me, but had some deeper stuff later on in their set).  I dunno last night, like most other nights I go out, I was just jonzing for something deeper.  You know me, I like the music that is so deep it penetrates you... the stuff that teaches me how to dance. While I was outside Neumos, taking a break from the crowd, the heat, and the progressive house, I met a girl who told me about the place across the street.

It's officially called Sole Repair, a little venue just across from Neumos holding another Decibel Festival event.  Lucky me!!!  I actually got to see five different DJs in one night!  Deadmau5 was really good, but there's something about those big, big (and it wasn't even that big, it's just Neumos) shows.  I just can't get into that.  It all seems so pre-produced, so... perfect.  I don't know if it is the size of the show or the type of music that pulls a crowd like that around here, but I just don't feel much from the DJ.

Over at Sole Repair, Derek Plaslaiko (I think I saw Jerry Abstract, too) was spinning when I popped in, but after that, things get a little fuzzy.  But I know I liked it.

Not too bad for a Friday night!  Especially going it alone.   I am starting to like going to shows by myself...  I feel it helps me focus more on the music, and I learn more.  I used to hate going by myself, and sometimes still do, but I am learning to overcome personal issues so I can study and grow.  I also ran into some cool people from the past, those people who are always good to see, that's awesome about going out on the real weekends!

gurlgurlgurl, how's that for a blog??  I'm still getting used to this thing!  Anyways, off to work tonight, I'm bartending!  Sometimes it feels like a promotion, even though it is mostly circumstantial, I'LL TAKE IT!  I don't think I want to talk about work in this post though, it deserves a post of it's own!

HI,MITCHO! hello,there!

welcome to post no.1 @ himitcho blog...  this blog will give insight into some of the things I find pretty and interesting!   open up your eyes and ears, here we go!