HappiestList 2K8: Number #5, #4, and #3

#5: Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama's cool and all, but she has not been bestowed this mighty honor--one of the Happiest of 2k8--just because she's 'cool.' M-Bama is the Happiest because she is married to a President with benefits. America's changing for the better (like, way better), and while we are all blessed enough to be alive to watch the transformation, M-Bama's got the best seat in the house.

Oh, and there's this:

#4: Sam Sparro

Sam Sparro is an enigma. A gay ex-soul singer son of two preachers from Australia, there are so many adjectives applicable to his description--sexual, effervescent, genuis--there aren't enough descriptions in my vocabulary to describe him. Impressive production qualities aside, his debut Sam Sparro created its own disco vernacular: the ominous single "Black and Gold," the sparkling dance track "Cut Me Loose"--cuts that speak directly to the spirits of the young and the restless. Sparro's also become somewhat of an icon, with a personality ill-fitting any stereotype. If I may be childish for one moment, (LOLZ) the one flaw in Sparro is his horrible style. Neon is sooo 2k7. Agreed?

For a full review of Sam Sparro, click here.


#3: Preps

It was a good year for the preps. No, the preps aren't some alt-indie folk band or a new STD (or is it?). I mean what I say. Sorors, fratties, rich white kids and Ivy League types all benefited from 2k8. The election of BaROCK-N-RObama the sole exception, the cult of being preppy has once again ascended the pop culture ladder and now sits proudly on the peak. Why, you ask? Why, because the alts and the emos have lost their sting. What is 'mnstrm' is now what is 'alt.' So what's "alt" now? How can one differentiate themselves from the herds of American Apparel zombies?

Throw on a sweater, pull up some khakis and kick off your Toms. If you're a girl, you've got only one clothing option: Nike running shorts, a teeshirt that makes you look rich ('I <3>) and nike running shorts. For evening, swap out the shorts for black tights that end mid-calf and a pair of brown Uggs. I promise you'll feel better. Don't believe "prep" is the Happiest of 2k8/possibly the Happiest of 2k9? Two words: Gossip Girl.

You're reading the blog of a guy who bought his first pair of Sperry's last night. Prepare yourselves, people, for the altapocalypse has begun.

A few things, 2nd edition

1. Ghostland Observatory put on an amazing show last night. Their opening act, I think named DJ Boothe, was actually amazing as well, something I didn't expect. He totally transformed Stubb's from a BBQ rock venue into what I image a rave in Buenos Aires would be like, complete with glowsticks and diet coke with a little "extra."

2. My new boots. They will kick your ass.

3ish. Old, old picture. I took an old sweater and cut it in half to form a deconstructed cardigan. This photo also demonstrates two other design details I've taken on; wearing dark blues with black and voting pins. The voting pin thing, eh, it ended on November 4th. But I thought it was kitcshy and of the moment, and the tilted, thrown-together look was perfect for the summer-to-fall transition.


4. My favorite detail. I no longer tie around shoes. Not my boots, not my Lacostes, nor my cons. I tie around the lip in a circle or around my ankle. It freshens up what I consider a waaaay overplayed shoe. Really, Converse is not an attractive shoe. Especially the black and white versions, essentially substitutions for "style" when people have none. This elevates the look a bit and catches the viewer off guard. I certainly don't think this would be for everyone, but with shorts or long jeans (where you tie outside the pant), try it out.

5. The Great Magazine Die-Off needs to end. Now. Two of my favorite reads--including Men's Vogue--have been canceled by Conde-Nast. Clearly, I subscribe to a few magazines, ranging from TIME to Entertainment Weekly to Bon Appetit. Reading magazines is simply the easiest way to read, and the layouts and designs of some inspire me in my advertising work.

Dear internet,

Don't kill the magazines.

Love,

The H.A.

Matt Drudge can't spell, conservatives don't notice

I've never drank champaign before. It must be Republican juice.

Effing. Idiot.

Studiospooky

A steampunk sketch artist from Brighton, England. He puts the phenom in phenomenal.

I'm proud to be an American!

For all six Republicans under 35 still around after this election, I hope you realize these guys are your figureheads. Granted, the Dems have Pam Anderson and Spike Lee and a hundred porn stars, but at least they aren't this blatantly stupid. Regardless, Heidi and Spencer are visionaries (notice the labels below the post), because they make me so proud to not be a Republican.

The New Paris Hilton

Funniest thing I've seen all week

Mad Style: Jenna Bush!?

This whole issue has been way overblown, but for anyone who doesn't know, Jenna Bush (the prettier of Bush's two daughters) declined to say she would support John McCain this Fall on Larry King Live. Not a big deal.

However, watching the clip, I think she deserves props for saying "I don't know" in front of the whole nation; by process of elimination, she may support either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Which, in my mind, makes her way hardcore (or way trendy, if her support of Obama goes as deep as Kim Kardashian's).

President and Laura Bush seem like very nice people, but for Jenna to grow up in an extremely forced Republican household (surrounded by the GOP elite) and question her support of the republican presidential front-runner is astounding.

On the topics of politics, I retract my "I'm officially 100% Hillary/Obama neutral" statement and have gone back to being a Clinton supporter. She takes the crap of the campaign so well, and an interesting Wall Street Journal op-ed I read this morning applauded her ability to absorb and deflect her opponents' attacks. Speaking of her prime opponent, Obama doesn't play as fair as his campaign likes us to think. He pretends to be all "honorable" in debates but calls Hillary "old politics" off camera. He's not the real thing. He thinks that by speaking well and posing as JFK he can reform American politics. Politics just needs some men and women who aren't egocentric. I don't think Hillary is. Barack, I don't know.

I'm still a fan of both of them, though, and if anything my support is now something like 60% Hillary and 40% Obama, down from about 55% Obama last week. Who's the next campaigner to make a political blunder? Let's hope it's John McCain.

Reorganization + Neveau Riche

Well, I promised myself I'd stop watching so much TV. Does iTunes count?

My entire closet is being reorganized, and it's cool to see how my style is coming to fruition. Over the past few years I've transformed from my "homeschool" style (i.e. tees and tennis with argyle socks-no joke) to what I think is a really masculine and sophisticated look. I'm not embarrassed to admit I am passionate about style, whether that be clothing (Viktor & Rolf), art (Edward Steichen), or music (Kelis at the moment)--it's a part of who I am. I have a lot of black, navy, and gray pieces right now, with a few colored articles for contrast (an awesome red scarf I got from Dubai online). Anyways, suffice it to say I like getting dressed in the morning.

Politics: The Hillary/Obama fight needs to end. Either Hillary needs to renounce her race and join Barack as a VP or vice versa. I was a hardcore Hillary supporter until recently, and now I just don't want her to go down in history as the candidate who sabotaged the Democratic primary. I just don't want McCain to win. This war is wrong on so many levels.

I actually got into a long argument with my parents over the Iraq War and war in general. I am staunchly against the use of violence in war. War does not have to be fought with weapons. Yeah, yeah, I'm naive, I've never been in combat, I don't understand how wars are fought. I get it. But the bottom line is war hasn't worked for the U.S. since the conclusion of WWII. Korea? Failure. Vietnam? Don't even get me started. Gulf War? Failure. Iraq? The troops are doing such a great job; they are just men and women doing their job. The government is who is at fault for the destroyed Iraqi schools and murdered civilians. 4,000 troops have physically died. But how many are dead to themselves? One troop wrote to the New York Times, "With every death I see it gets easier." Easier to what? Easier to accept the violence? I'm sorry, but that kind of thing should never be made easier. The GOVERNMENT should not be making that easier.

Lesbian Chefs

So Top Chef was awesome. I actually like the lesbian chefs. I support their relationship--one of both professional and romantic means. Kind of cool, in an urban, post-modern kind of way.

Here's what I think about the state of the democratic race:

First of all, to anyone who thinks Obama or Hillary should drop out because they are risking a division of the democratic party: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? Politics have not been this interesting in decades. The tight race is spurring young voters and bringing in tons of publicity for the party (granted, it's not all good).

Anyways, Hillary made a big mistake with her Bosnian sniper comment. Not simply that she recalled the event, but that she stated she took "pride" in surviving the event. Come on, Hillary. If you are going to "falsely recollect" something due to "campaign stress," you could at least take a few seconds retract the statement. Or come up with a better story.

As for Obama, I am really bothered by his asking for Hillary to release her daily schedules as First Lady. She did some amazing things, even if it is not as extensive as she lets on. No one can deny Hillary has consistently fought for human rights. And what could be more important? Just because she was busy making public appearances and dissuading Tipper Gore's sexual advances does not mean she was not an activist for expanded rights around the world. She's no Laura Bush.

The bottom line is that Obama has shied away from so many controversial events in his campaign--the interview walk-off ("I've spent enough time on the grill"), his shady connections to Reverend Wright--and to call out a political veteran like Hillary on her daily schedules is insulting.



REGARDLESS, I am completely Obama-Hillary neutral as of this stupid Bosnian sniper fiasco. I voted for Hillary, but I like them both (or dislike them both, I'm not sure).

Listen to "Lights Go Out" by Foxy Brown. It wasn't a hit, but it's worth a Youtube listen.