100-word Project Runway recap: Episode 4

This challenge was tough to summarize in 100 words, so hopefully this recap makes sense. I also drop a lotta names, so I've linked them up in case you need a refresher. It's on now:

Challenge. Nina tells the gang they’ll each pick from some “fashion don'ts” (overalls, shoulder pads) and, in teams of three, turn them into a “fashion do” collection.

The Ricky/Victorya/Elisa combo gets the spotlight. Drama unfolds between Ricky (sucky team captain) and Victorya (passive-aggressive weasel). Ricky speaks to Elisa in a special way so she can understand. Seems condescending, but she’s into it, so whatever.

Judges. Ricky's team blows it. Shock! Jillian's overall-themed collection wins. She switches from timid to Christian-style überconfident. Christian's team falls to 2nd, causing his hair to get even crazier.

But Team Captain Chris gets the boot for his wacko shoulder pad jacket. Hope he drops a few pounds by the reunion special – we’re concerned.

Next week: The designers are shocked as their models are replaced by sea lions for the remainder of the season. The sea lions will be competing for a spread in Elle magazine and a bucket of fish heads. And Ricky finally gets kicked off, only because he runs out of jaunty biker hats to wear.

How to obliterate whatever credibility your magazine has left

I'm embarrassed to say I ever had a subscription to this crapfest.

The 100-word Project Runway recap, Episode 3

Yep, I've fallen behind. I blame my digital cable box, which blew up last week, so I'm playing catch up. Here's the ep from two weeks ago and this week's episode should be up sometime this weekend:

Opening. We learn that Jack is HIV-positive. OK.

Challenge. "Today show correspondent" Tiki Barber needs a outfit. Hubawha? Tiki's a guy. A big guy. The designers will still be judged as cruelly as if they were in their comfort zone. This challenge freaks people out, so everyone swears at each other. Finally!

Judges. Jack wins, though he only designed two pieces and swiped the pattern for his pants from his pants. The losers get verbally smacked around. Although Sweet P's outfit is the most messed up, she's safe. Ricky gets unfair abuse – at least his stuff looked like clothes. In the end, man-sounding Carmen gets the boot. Apparently, you need to make a shirt.

Next week: Elisa freaks after she sees Tim Gunn wearing a short-sleeve shirt and showers for 6 hours while screaming "I can only see my man like that!" Kevin asserts that he's straight 14 more times. And the rest of the designers desperately develop "a thing" so that they can be distinguished from the rest of the group. For example, Jillian starts wearing an eye patch.

That's it folks -- let's hope I get caught up this weekend...

Our pals are getting a break...

The Rumble Strips, the band Kari and I randomly gave a ride to at this year's SXSW, are currently on Rolling Stone's breaking artist page, complete w/ feature-y video.

Nice work, guys!

If you make it big and feel like returning the favor, a lift to London would be just swell...

"I'm a Radiohead dork" alert...

At the risk of dealing with backlash, I try to cover up my Radiohead love sometimes, but I couldn't resist posting this video of the band covering another amazing band, Joy Division (well, and New Order too). They don't bring anything new to the song necessarily (like Galaxie 500 did) -- it's just a cool performance video of the classic "Ceremony"...

Find of the month...

I ran across Prince's out-of-print "The Gold Experience" today while checking Everybody's Records used section and picked it up for 8 bucks. Why no one has re-released this yet is beyond me -- it's possibly his best "call me a symbol now" albums and after listening to it, the whole thing still holds up pretty well today.

I've kind of been half-looking for it for awhile and to randomly stumble across it was pretty cool. Out of curiosity, I checked eBay, and it's the usual range of minor bidding wars and crazies trying to sell it for $60.

Anyway, what was my point? Eh, not sure I had one. Want me to burn you a copy?

Late photo roundup...

A night in the Amazon...

y Paul's cumpleaños! ¡Tiene trente años!

100-word Project Runway recap: Episode 2

This week's episode turned things around a little bit. I'm already getting a feel for who I like and who is starting to get on my nerves and that's always a good sign. There was also a lot to talk about this week, so I went over a few words. Let's get started:

Challenge. Crazy -- Sarah Jessica Parker is the special guest! I've heard of her! She wants the designers to create something for her Steve & Barry line (it's called Bitten or Puncture or something). The designers cry hysterically at her presence. She's their Beatles.

Designers split into teams. Sweet P gets stuck with Crazy Hippie Chick. Ends up being a perfect match since the judges love their hood/dress combo. We also learn crazy hippie spits on all her fabric to enliven it. It's salivafied!

Judges. Victoria wins. Heidi gets meaner with the losers every season. Is Seal teaching her this? SJP looks awkward while Klum berates them. The Pocahontas look is apparently out, so it's good-bye for lil orphan Marion. Too bad -- seemed like a nice guy.

Next week: It's the hardest challenge ever as the designers must design a cocktail dress using a cocktail napkin in 15 minutes. Heidi takes a finger for each minute they run over.

Return of the 100-word Project Runway recap

Finally, a new Project Runway season. And the premiere episode was kind of a snooze. Shocker. Well, let's just dive right in:

Opening. Too many new designers to remember. Everyone has exotic, fake names. There’s chubby guy, crazy haircut and glasses kid, and hippie yoga chick. I have a feeling she's going down.

Challenge. Boring. Take beautiful fabrics and make a dress. Usual chaos, generic stress. Don't get kicked off! Oh wait, I don't care. Hippie chick's model trips over her dress. Ad tie-ins are ridiculous. Use accessories from the Sellout.com Wall of Doom!

Judges. Judges are dumb. Some shaved head dude wins. Hippie chick somehow avoids elimination. Simone is out. Bye, Simone - I won't even remember you by the season finale.

This season on Project Runway: Let me guess: "Celebrity" guests that no one cares about?! One of the designers gets a big head and becomes a big a-hole?! Meltdowns aplenty!? Hapless idiots who design crap week after week will make it to the final five?! Can't wait!

Weird Squirrel, Phase One

Found this in my sketches and gave it a whirl. Kinda odd lookin' squirrel. I have a more complete version that I might use as art for my music wrap stuff, so this is just the solo squirrel.

Kari in Chi-town

Kari is spending the week in (what appears to be rainy) Chicago, visiting Pam and J. It looks like she'll be mobile blogging at least some of the trip, so check it out. Like any dude left single for the week, I'm taking full advantage... by eating frozen pizza, watching Twin Peaks and getting a little bored. Ow ow!! Stay away from this party!

Party season

It's been a crazy couple of weeks around here. Busy at work and attending a number of social functions, even hosting. Here's a brief rundown:

Here's a photo from Sue and Doug's housewarming party recently. At this point, I'm still a little camera shy and don't always know the right moment to break out the camera. This is the best of the bunch (unless you like M&M chugging contests), but if you'd like to see the rest of the photos, check 'em out here...

Up next, Kari and I had the Chalet Harvest Party. As host of the party, it was even more difficult to remember the camera and snap photos, so this gallery is also kinda tiny. There are a few quality moments though, check them out here. Of course, this was a pretty well-documented party in other ways.

Finally, the CiN Weekly party, which I sorta talked about nonstop there for awhile. I (as well as others) took plenty o' photos (check out the 100+ photos in this gallery).

Disclaimer: I should note that if anyone stumbles across a photo of themselves that they'd rather not have the public stumble across, just e-mail me (via the Ronsonville Chamber of Commerce) and I'll yank it. We keep the peace here in Rville and don't want any trubs...

What are you gonna pick?

According to a recent poll, the woman in our breakroom burned up a gooey hot Ham N' Cheese Hot Pocket. It just barely beat out the Philly Steak and Magma, which is hard to do. Thanks for playing! Click here to relive the story. More polls to come...

Go to CiN Weekly's annual party!

If not, these guys will be out on the streets...




It starts tonight at 9 p.m. If you don't live in the Greater Cincinnati area, go here...

Not much to say...

...but this is pretty great. I'm sure things will pick up once Project Runway starts up again next Wednesday. Return of the 100-word recaps!

For Only One Night

Last night Kari and I hosted a Harvest Chalet Soirée – I believe it's a rite of fall or something. The cool twist is that the night (and part of the day) were blogged by a number of the attendees. I, unfortunately, could not contribute (frickin' Cincinnati Bell), but I did pop up in a few of the photos. Check out the results here!

Another CiN Bash ad

Here's the final version of the first illustration/ad I did for the CiN Blizzard Bash. If you're feeling lazy, but want to see the original sketch, here it is. Now if I can track down the snowman and the penguin, we'll be set!

Happy Halloween

I didn't actually dress up for anything on Halloween this year (had a great time at the Turpin Farms Field of Screams in Beechmont though). Anyway, here I am from last year, in my meticulously put together Hipster Werewolf outfit (note his preference for PBR). This was part of my staff answer this week (we submitted photos to go with questions, so our answers online don't make as much sense). Like any good hipster, my C-List celebrity girlfriend (Kari's costume) is by my side. Have a good Halloween...hope you scare some people...or something...

Damn fine coffee...and hot

David Lynch and Mark Frost's Twin Peaks is finally getting a proper DVD release -- both seasons, plus the pilot (which wasn't even available when they released the whole series on videotape years and years ago). An appropriate Halloween release (October 30), this is one of the few TV series that I've watched over and over again. I'm pretty excited to buy it on DVD and be freaked out all over again...

Temporary side gig...

For the past few weeks, I've been writing the music column that runs in CiN Weekly, after the recent departure of star music reporter Kari. If you wanna check 'em out (although they're mostly of local interest), here are the 10/17 and 10/24 columns. I learned quickly that it can be difficult to cover music in Cincinnati from week to week (some of my picks are debatable), so I have a lot of appreciation for what Kari contributed to CiN for all those years...

If you're curious about the poll this time out, check out the Diet Coke story below...