The Journal of Awesome: 2008

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

5 More Awesome Things of 2008

The iPhone 3G...not only the first product that i had to wait to wait in line for, but something that changed the mobile world and opened the doors for the new blackberry and g1 phones as well. truely an awesome product.

the dark knight movie. granted milk was a better film and i have yet to see slumdog millionaire...the dark knight consumed our summer and the home version consumed our holidays. and ledger owned that roll like no one else

the return of the boston celtics, garnett, allen & pierce getting their rings, and the return of the lakers/celtics rivalry. the nba is back!

the summer olympics brought us two superstars who not only shattered records, they brought popularity to two random sports, swimming and track. hopefully they'll inspire a new generation to participate in more than just football and basketball.

and then there's the man who represents change. whether he lives up to the hype or not, he gave millions of people around the world hope that things can get better

Un-Awesome Ad: great cause though

really? faking john lennon's voice...wow

Awesome Trailer: street fighter: the legend of chun li

Awesome Product Name: the wunder boner

Awesome Kicks: the air jordan 2009

now that they reached XXIII this year, next year begins a new with the jordan 2009. check for it in feb. '09

Awesome Ad: full version of nike id spot with mike epps, kobe & dj am

Nike Zoom Kobe IV iD - Kobe Bryant + Mike Epps + DJ AM - Full Version from Freshnessmag.com on Vimeo.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Awesome Fail: step to the side homie

thanks sb for sending this in

Awesomely Stupid Video: teriyaki boys ft. pharrell & chris brown - work that

Awesome Billboard: undftd x nike x neil leifer

Awesome Catch: hakeem nicks of unc

Awesome Art: 10 foot lego hoth base

Awesome Video: asics - origami

Origami In the Pursuit of Perfection from MABONA ORIGAMI on Vimeo.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Five Awesome Things from 2008.

I'm limiting myself to just five things -- because I know your attention span doesn't stretch to ten things.

And these are just the things that made 2008 memorable for me. Whether that's movies, TV, music or other junk. I suppose you could easily fill this list with things Obama related because. That, however, would be a little too easy.

1) Awesome Video Game: Dead Space

I'm only three chapters in and it's literally the scariest video game I've ever played. The monsters are freakish. The atmosphere is like a perfect distillation of all the atmosphere space monster movies ever: Aliens, Alien, The Thing, etc. The voice acting is solid and the method in which they lay out exposition never makes it feel like exposition. The only unawesome thing? I'm out of freakin' ammo and I don't have enough money to buy all the ammo I need! Wait? Did you hear that? I think my exclaimation point attracted them. They're moving in the ventilation you know...I'll call back later, when it's safe.

2) Awesome Album, from 2005, The El Michels Affair.

I'm way late to the game on this one but I listened to this album more than anything else this year. It's like an album full of lost soul-funk grooves from the 60's and 70's. Vintage, contemporary, and absolutely essential listening.

Check out some samples here.

These guys are apparently working on an album of Wu-Tang instrumental covers. Need to work a little faster though guys.

3) Pete and Peggy's Scene in the Mad Men Finale.

Mad Men is full of awesome moments. But this one caps them all for me.

And it's just absolutely heartbreaking. This scene has stayed with me for months. TV is rarely this good.

4) The Trailer for Doomsday.

Wow. This trailer kicked an amazing amount of ass. It had everything you could possibly want.

Too bad they actually had to make the movie, which was a pretty big let down.

5) "Wild card, bitches!" from It's Always Sunny...

Man, I loved this bit. Charlie finally determines his role in the group's dynamic.

Awesome Ad: vw golf

thanks mk for sending this in

Awesome Ad: dj am & mike epps with kobe for the kobe iv id

Nike Zoom Kobe IV iD - Mike Epps + DJ AM from Freshnessmag.com on Vimeo.

dj am is wearing kanye's nike air yeezy btw

Awesome Shoes: ooooh, so that's why there were people sleeping on market street in san francisco last night

the jordan xx3 premier...only 23 stores in the world got them and each store only got 23 pairs...i think nike makes more people sleep on the street without laying anybody off than any other company

more info here

Awesome Sports: jets' shaun ellis tosses giant snowball at seahawks fans

Awesome Hit: ref helps out the niners by laying out the rams' darby

Monday, December 22, 2008

Awesome Christmas Mixes: DJ Riko On The Holiday Wheels of Steel.

For the last few years DJ Riko has been releasing holiday mixes chock full of cool songs.

This year's collection delivers the goods with everything from Nat King Cole to Liz Phair and even Boxcar Willie.

Eclectic? Yes. Essential? Definitely.

Don't sleep. Any of these joints will liven up a party quicker than a batch of spiked eggnog. Go here for the mixes.

Awesome Christmas Song: Fuck Welk, We Got Waits.

I love Burl Ives. But sometimes you need a little something different this time of year.

Ring in a little holiday cheer with the troubador of the gutter: Tom Waits.

Thanks to BC for hooking us up with this gem.

Awesome Art: using the 2010 BMW Z4 as a brush on a canvas the size of a football field

artist robin rhone & bmw

Awesome Kicks: not usually a fan of the fusions, but the af1/jordan vi's are kinda nice

Friday, December 19, 2008

The Week In Awesome: Semi-Awesome, Awesome and UnAwesome Go Shoulder to Shoulder in This Post.

Where's Santa? He's in the ER after this tumble.

Cheetalicious Christmas? UnAwesome!

Sexier Than Halle Berry. But less famous. Awesome!

More Holiday Hoes. Semi-Awesome!

Stoner Vision! Awesome!

Bass Guitars That Are Weird. Awesome!

Awesome Product: The Internet is a Weird Place.

Sometimes you discover a business on the internet that seems to flaunt logic or appeal. A business that seems like a complete joke.

This is such a business.

Merry Christmas from Your Nutz

Awesome Sport: they're calling it tricking

Awesome Ride: mclaren slr stirling moss

Awesome Photography: the year in photos

check out the rest here

Awesome Freestyle: krs-one & micky factz

Awesome Party: puma turns 60 in SF

VIMBY - Puma I Am 60 SF from VIMBY on Vimeo.

Awesome Video: dear john....witherspoon

thanks b for this one!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Awesome Video: Running with the Idol.

Wow. I think we're a little late to the party on this one but this made me smile. Randy Jackson's comments are particularly funny. "Little pitchy, dog."

Hit play and prepare to have your funny bone rocked.

Awesome Artist: microsculpting pays off

thanks b for sending us this one!

Awesome Video: exile flips lil wayne's a milli

Exile "Milli" Video from Jonathan Kim on Vimeo.

Awesome Cover: who'd you expect? elmer fudd?

congratulations mr. president.

Awesome Photography: obama - the college years

view the rest of the collection here

courtesy of blindi

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Awesome Faux-Ad: The Truth About Hot Celebrity Endorsers.

From Holy Taco.

Awesome Video: between two ferns with zach galifianakis

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis by Between Two Ferns

thanks eg for sending this in

Awesome Video: How to Hack a Car Battery

I've been waiting for a video like this. Previously I was just using my old car batteries to build book cases and children's furniture.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Awesome Trailer: officail wolverine: x-men origins

Awesome Video: intro scene to skate 2

Awesome Video: Gary Busey Even More Spun Than We Thought.

This is mind-boggling. I must be old because I remember when Gary Busey was sane. Or semi-sane. Or maybe he was just one hell of an actor to keep all that crazy bottled up.

I'd tell you what this is for but it'll only confuse you more.

Awesome Jewelry: new lego inspired offerings from C+

i totally want a gold lego man...and decking someone in forehead and leaving lego ring marks is iller than rick james' unity ring!

check these out along with the rest of C+'s offerings here

Un-Awesome Video: so what does bush do in his last holiday season in the white house? make the most boring piece of shit video ever!!

you'd think with all the money in washington, they'd be able to make a better video...this thing is sooooooo lame and boring

Awesome Nostalgia: Time Warp Tuesday

Children's Television Intros.

a BBC Children's Educational Program Intro.

This one wins my award for most annoying.

And this one, which appears to be a show about furry meat balls.

Awesome Video: nerd - sooner or later

Awesome Kicks: mita sneakers x lacoste m85

i'm feeling the purple

Awesome Kicks: reebok court victory

remember the michael chang pumps? whoa.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Awesome Homage: Wes Anderson Loves Jacques Tati Obviously

So check out this recent Wes Anderson commercial. There's some actor in it who I don't recognize. Probably no one big.

Wes does Jacques

Then check out these clips by the master himself.

From Mon Oncle

From Mr. Hulot Takes a Holiday

From Playtime

And also from Mon Oncle

Now, admittedly, these clips probably aren't going to translate to our modern JOA audience but, hey, remember this, if they were good enough to influence Wes Anderson, they're good enough to influence you. (What you think you're so good you don't need influences? Lucky you.)