The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

– Eleanor Roosevelt, and BangBang

The Old Battle of Venus and Mars

We've all seen When Harry Met Sally a hundred times. I'm pretty sure you're lying if you say otherwise. If you're like me, you had a mother who hated Meg Ryan so you didn't watch that film until you went off to college, where you watched it like all the time just to catch up. This movie is crucial to everyone's lives because it discusses the only thing anyone cares about: whether or not men and women can be friends.

Fancy Footwork

[Editor's Note: The following post was written by guest blogger and friend, BangBang. Please give her a warm welcome!]

On this perfectly rainy Friday, I decided to accept the offer of writing a short piece as a guest blogger on MindMedley. Little did I know, the task before me would not be as easy as I imagined. It took me awhile to figure out what I wanted to write about until I finally decided to stick with something I am passionate about, DANCE. So let me just give you a quick little glance into the dancing world. I tend to get overly excited when it comes to all things dance so I will do my best to keep it short and sweet for all of you MindMedley 

                                                                                 readers out there. 

Literary Doubles

Writers publish under pen names for many reasons, whether it is to conceal gender, hide political or religious affiliation, or to avoid the pressures of an overbearing audience. I too began this blog under the name "Basket Case" so I could write whatever I wanted without it getting back to me (you know... to avoid a spandex fetish scandal when I'm the first female president of the Moon). The only problem with this is that my nom de plume is pointless-- the only people who read my blog are my friends who have been instructed to read this OR foreigners who mistakenly wander across these pages after googling strange things like "linen sheath condoms" or "fuck gay vintage" (true story, unfortunately). And to them, I am but a mere speck in the universe. So, I have since changed my pen name to simply "KT" which rings a little closer to the truth of who I am.

Readership aside, blogging on the internet is a curious phenomenon, especially for the writer. When I was first starting out, I was both overwhelmed at the thought of putting myself out there for any and all strangers, and relieved to know that most likely no one was reading this. It's an odd feeling, having an imaginary audience amongst a few real ones. There is also the pressure to be incredibly witty, funny, or interesting. Sometimes, I think I pull this off, but mostly probably not.

Taste the Explosion!

Today's long-overdue post is going to be about Pop Rocks! Why? Because this blog is dedicated to the issues and asking the hard questions. The current events. Investigative journalism. I'm Linda Ellerbee and you all are a  group of teenagers and this is Nick News. Gather 'round and let's discuss.

Actually, Pop Rocks were brought to my attention because some jokester thought it would be funny to have his 82 year old grandma try them for the first time and record her reaction for all the youtubers to see. It was pretty funny! I'll post it at the bottom. Thank you for the inspiration!

Pop rocks were invented by a General Mills research chemist in 1956. Let's stop here. Are most candies invented by scientists? I guess I've never really given the birth stories of my favorite candies much thought. I know that Willy Wonka has oompa loompas and a chocolate factory and that's where Nerds and Nerd Rope come from, but my knowledge stops there. But really, scientists? "Once I get the results back from the boys at the lab I'll know once and for all if my Sour Grape Chocolate Chews are ready for the world's consumption!" - A "White Coat" at the Hershey Factory.

"I think the reward for conformity is that everyone likes you except yourself."

- Rita Mae Brown

But is it Art?

 Ever since Marcel Duchamp submitted a urinal as a piece of art in 1917, everything has become art! I mean, I love you, Marcel. You did some really cool things. And you were the original bad ass. What you did was CRAZY for your time! Snaps! But today, things have gotten a little out of hand. Is that apple art or is it just an apple? Can I still eat it if its art? These are the questions I am faced with on a daily basis. Below are some crazy art forms/ pieces of art. Is it all art? Are we art?

Scott Wade
Dirty Car Art
He brushes away bits of dust with a paint brush, using gray scale values to make his images. The medium is unique but the technique is very traditional. ART!

Bryan Berg
Cardstacker
Oh, boy. I'm going with a definite yes on this one. It may possibly take more skill to stack and balance cards than it does to brush away dust. The best I can do with cardstacking is a modest three-card shack. I think building anything from anything is definitely art. Building requires skill. Reminds me of the guy who made a ship from like a billion toothpicks. Do you know what I'm talking about? Click here to see pictures because it really is amazing.

For Use/ Numen (A Design Collective in Vienna)

Tape Installations

Another example of making something from something. Right, right, right.

I wonder what that all that tape smells like after so many people run and crawl through it. 

I feel like tape gets funky after awhile, you know?

BUT! (here's the big butt) I would definitely say that this is not art. What do you think? These guys walked into a New York convenience store and purchased EVERYTHING! They then took some of those convenience store items, placed them in clear cases and called them art. An upside down coke can, for instance, is selling for $150. I hate that. I hate them. Just because you give something a ridiculous price value doesn't mean it's art. I don't know why anyone would buy a $50 Bic lighter. There is nothing unique about it and you can pick up regularly priced lighters everywhere. Sure, sure, it's for charity--for the owner of the convenience store. Great! Raise those funds but don't you dare trample on the meaning of art in the process.

It's not art, it's just shit. Thoughts?

Type Beautiful

I love fonts.

Earlier this summer I embarked on a project for my job where I had to create a series of posters, each relating to different aspect of local history. It was something to reel in the tourists, basically. I was captain of the ship-- I got to decide how the content was written, choose the photos, decide the layout and the color schemes. But my favorite thing to select was the font. I spent way too much time browsing page after page of downloadable fonts, all in search for the perfect font to set the mood for my posters. One poster required the replication of the font used for Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, and that was my most satisfying find.

Sometimes, I even find it hard to write if I'm working in a font that is plain or unpleasing to my eye. I usually like to select a style that is classic looking. My favorites as of late happen to be Bell MT, Modern No. 20, and Rockwell. I'm already obsessed with words, phrases, alliterations, imagery, figures of speech so fonts to me act like the fancy wrapping it all comes in.

"People who love ideas must have a love of words, and that means, given a chance, they take a vivid interest in the clothes which words wear." - Beatrice Warde

Tonight, I have two stories to share with you. So come join me by the fire and I will begin.

Theory on Relationships

Despite the fact that I've seen this movie plenty of times, I can safely say that Love and other Disasters (starring the late Brittany Murphy and some hot Brits) is downright silly. But I also love it. This is one of the best parts.

"Son, never trust a man who doesn’t drink because he’s probably a self-righteous sort, a man who thinks he knows right from wrong all the time. Some of them are good men, but in the name of goodness, they cause most of the suffering in the world. They’re the judges, the meddlers. And, son, never trust a man who drinks but refuses to get drunk. They’re usually afraid of something deep down inside, either that they’re a coward or a fool or mean and violent. You can’t trust a man who’s afraid of himself. But sometimes, son, you can trust a man who occasionally kneels before a toilet. The chances are that he is learning something about humility and his natural human foolishness, about how to survive himself. It’s damned hard for a man to take himself too seriously when he’s heaving his guts into a dirty toilet bowl."

-James Crumley

Indubitably

Here is a handy guide for determining how drunk you are. If anything, it makes me realize that I need to start incorporating bigger words into my drunk vocabulary. I don't think I've ever attempted to say any of those words whilst drunk. I choke on much smaller. (Haha Dirty. So sorry. I get thrills out of saying risque things like this... assaulting your unassuming minds.)

Saved By The Bell

Origin of the phrase "saved by the bell":

When our ancestors realized that they were burying a great deal of people before their time had actually come, they came up with a solution. They tied a string onto the "dead" person's hand, buried them, and tied the other end of the string to a bell and then tied it to a nearby tree branch. If the person revived enough to ring the bel, their survivors would rush out and dig them up. Hence..."saved by the bell." (Circa 1500s)

One part lazy, two parts eerie.

BACON!

So, everyone loves bacon (except for the few weirdos who claim that they hate it, can't EVEN stand the smell of it, gross barf barf.... don't worry, as soon as bacon takes over the world, the first thing we'll do is drop all the haters on a small, dry, uncomfortable island covered in bacon factories.)

BUT, despite my love for BLTs, bacon and eggs breakfasts, and chocolate covered bakies, I do think some things have gotten a little out of hand. Maybe--MAYBE--I can understand bacon flavored vodka (pure.refreshing.bacon). Haha just kidding, not really. I've just had time to let it process and if someone had it at a party, I'd probably try it.

Hey Girl!

This is my new favorite thing. Enjoyyyyyy.

The Man Without a Facebook

Oh my god, you guys. I've struck gold. I've struck internet gold! Every video on the website tastefullyoffensive.com has been amazing to watch. I've re-posted like three videos already, not to mention spamming my friends on facebook with hilarious videos.

Here is another one.

Perhaps the BEST Epic Rap Battle

What do you think?



That was intense. I think Shakespeare won because he rapped on his own and super fast. Dr. Suess had his characters speak for them (but I liked the Cat in the Hat part best).

Favorite lines:

"...and then ask what light through yonder poser breaks." -Shakespeare
and
"...break a foot off in your ass with our feetie pajamas." -Thing 1 & 2

Handlebar Mustache Club

Another disadvantage to being a woman. Being British, having an awesome mustache, AND sitting around with your chums drinking large quantities of beer? Ohhhh man, what a life!

Note the dangers of being awesome.

Coffee and Assholes

I hypothesize that this is why women had affairs with their milkmen.

"Just because you feel it, doesn't mean it's there." -Radiohead

"Gone Wilde"