Wow.

I bring you the world’s 20 “crappiest” brands (in order):

American Idol // Dell // Internet Explorer // Ford // Windows // MSN // Wal Mart // AOL // MTV // Microsoft // Hyundai // Kmart // GM // Zune // Chevrolet // Sharper Image // McDonalds // Dodge // Gap // Pizza Hut

Also, the 20 “gayest”:

Bravo // Mini // Calvin Klein // Tommy Hilfiger // YMCA // Gap // Dolce & Gabbana // American Idol // Banana Republic // Diesel // London 2012 // Segway // Disney // Old Navy // MySpace // H & M // Louis Vuitton // Twitter // Second Life // NBC

→ Brand Tags {kill some time and hone your jaded-ness}

The hardest thing about Spain’s 3-0 win over Russia in the Euro 2008 semi-final was that the Spaniards that scored the goals were the only one’s I thought were cute. At least if they were not so attractive – um, like Carles Puyol – it wouldn’t have hurt so bad. Oh well. They played well – although seemed to start falling apart after Spain’s first goal – and gave me something to care about.

→ Fabregas can inspire Spain to final glory
→ The hot goalkeeper interview in Russian

→ more photos by greg z.

I just returned from 10 days in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve a bit of sunburn from a weekend in Portland with my wonderful grandparents and pseudo-bronchitis from a week of allergies in Seattle.

All-in-all it was a lovely trip. I had a fantastic time with my grandparents and it was fab meeting my Seattle co-workers as well as making some new friends and reconnecting with some old ones.

I’m looking forward to a return visit for sure.

→ more photos by Sr Viva L’Amour.

Yesterday was bike to work day! We signed up over 30 new folks at our station and clocked about 842 bicycles in two hours. Woo hoo!

In other news, I’m off to Seattle for the next 10 days.

I’ve had a music post in my draft status for, um, over a week now… but nasa, birthdays and life in general have all sort of been in the way.

But… I recently came across this (after the final list of songs had been chosen) and just needed to share it.

sounding off like
magnolias
through
pipe dreams

cling clang cling clang

i never was one for onomatopoeia

it’s like one of those things
where you’re on the bus
and you look outside the window
while listening to some mad crazy
beats. and the timing is perfect.
everything
falls into place. the huge bump or
chick solo comes in at just the right
spot. right when you see the perfect
matched scene. sound. odor. block. tree.
like it was meant to happen.
and you wish you had a camera or corder
so you could take a picture or
video so you can keep that moment forever.
the serenity. the colour. the air. all of it.
it’s not too late.
it’s not too late to go back
with your camera
it’s not too late to find it over again
it’s not too late to wish the light could
hit the leaves just in the same way
and the two dudes where sitting under it
and the birds sang.

“There aren’t as many hot guys here as I thought there would be.”

“That’s because they’re all in the war.”

He began by documenting his journey
in the first person
then
one day
a switch
hitter
was triggered

and he lost his voice

premature
even sometimes
when it counted

he was not always so skilled
at containing himself

a tide pool
resided
where his heart would have been
sometimes shallow and exposed
sometimes sheltered and elusive
it was this beautiful
inconsistence
that drove men
crazy