Now this crew - Tochka - out of Japan does animation, graphics and comics. Their Pikapika project is a hypnotic little abstract animation piece, using the same technique Pablo did: flashlights on long exposures. They stitch the photos into this film, which was nominated in the Ottawa International Animation Festival. [Psssst, I know that's a pretty pathetic honour, but don't tell Tochka okay? They were led to believe it was the Canadian Cannes.]
Last Friday was all about good times as we celebrated Cody's birthday by getting hella drunk at the Bayside.
If you don't know Cody, you should probably get a clue, because anytime you want a dance floor, party or really any moment to be 40% more fun, who else you gonna call? Ghostbusters?
As an added bonus, we got to party with Monica, who left the next day for Europe indefinitely. Lucky for her; unlucky for Vancouver.
Our household gift to Cody - a product of our cumulative artistic efforts. Everybody needs a self-esteem collage.
Birthday Boy meets Travel Girl on the dance floor. Can the two belles of the ball share the spotlight? Of course they can!
Brief snapshot. I love the colour in this one.
K-Ro and the Beckstar.
Woo hoo! Scott's signature party face.
I know exactly what story I am telling Allison here. No, you so don't want to know.
My other gift to Cody - commemorating him in fog. Cody's very equestrian you see.
Sure, you could watch that guy doing the Evolution of Dance comedy performance. You know, the one where one guy performs the entire history of popular dance, from the twist to the robot and beyond. Yeah, it's pretty good I guess.
But, if you will, let me present an alternate, more compact, little history, focusing on funk styles which are obviously awesome and rule:
Let's start with an all-too-timely video from one of the first hugely popular masters of the style, Mister James Brown:
Grab your notebook, because the Godfather is taking you to school.
And after James of course came Michael:
This video compilation of MJ's best dance moments? Reason #4510 that I love YouTube.
And... do I even need to 'justify' including the current master of pop dance?
Haters can hate, but I'd like to see them dance like JT.
As an additional bonus, check out this video of one of the many, many unsung masters. This guy, Pop N Taco, taught Michael Jackson to dance. Word.
Breakin'. One of the best movies of the 80's by far. After Revenge of the Nerds, obviously.
Missy said it best I think:
Big Daddy Kane and Public Enemy, Salt'n'Pepa, Lyte, EPMD, LL, Run DMC, KRS-ONE, Rakim. Most of them artists used to dance and still get respected in the street.
Don't be scared to bank-head or bowl-gowl [??] Or moonwalk as far as I care - it sold Michael Jackson 43 million. Shoot, everybody had a zipper jacket, and have of these thugs had the glove to match it, you feel me?
Yo it's okay though. If you wanna be hard and ice-grill, and Harlem-shake at the same time.
Whatever - let's just have fun. This is hip hop, man. This is hip hop.
Puma is better! I came out first and made sneakers cool! Nike is better! I make your feet cushy and styled! Adidas is better! I rocked Run-DMC!
</billy-madison-voice>
Okay, so the point is that designer sneakers have been around for ages, continue to stay current, and have a cultural significance very separate from their constructed brand personalities.
The Puma video below, a short film produced by Imperial Leisure, articulates this beautifully, don't you think?
Okay, now for some random shoes of goodness. These are from solepedia.com, a site that is all over the latest and greatest.
Clockwise from top left: MadFoot!'s Mad Professor denim sneaker; the amazing Vaughn Bode-inspired Pumas; Clot Air Max 1’s - designed for Kanye West and Edison Chen, for one show only. What?!?; Japanese movie star Kubotsuka Yosuke's signature New Balance; glow-in-the-dark Nikes
Why stop the thrill ride there? Check these fun shoe-related links for more hot leather action:
- Adidas has high-res images of all kinds, like the 2003 ad on the right, in its image bank.
- Puma has a crazy addictive shoe customizing tool called Mongolian Shoe BBQ.
- Flight Club took first slot in the Dime magazine best boutique sneaker shop in the U.S. rankings. Their site is easy to get lost in.
- nicekicks.com is a sneaker blog. It is way current, with lots of eye candy.
"I like women who look like me. Generally, you're attracted to women who look like you, because the most beautiful thing in nature is your own reflection."
:: supreme douchebag Terrence Howard, in a pretty revealing Elle magazine interview.
