The Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction

This is the stuff you just can't make up. I'm almost two months into my new gig, but I still don't feel right looking at my blogs while on the job (even though I've seen plenty of co-workers chuckling at YouTube vids). Somehow the sucio-ness of my would be lover Michael K over at Dlisted doesn't seem like it would fly in a litigation office. So when I get home from work one of the first things I do is scope out the pop culture garbage that I missed all day. Today I came home to find that Dlisted had posted an entry about a guy a went to summer camp with. His name is Ohad, and I remember him oh-so-well. He sang "I Swear" by All-4-One at the camp talent show, and it blew my mind. His fake tan, huge muscles, highlighted, straight ironed, and extremely gelled hair were all part of the cheesetastic package. And then to top it all off the next year his boy band blew up in Toronto, and I forced like 50 people to watch the videotaped footage of the talent show so they could see just how dedicated Ohad really is. I dare you to watch this without peeing yourself just a little (if you must, watch it on mute to protect your ears). Behold! Ohad's boy band b4-4:

via Dlisted

The Dark Side

1. Brooklyn Bridge Double Finger Ring, $250; 2. Spike Ball Pyramid Ring, $210; 3. Multi Pyramid Bracelet Set, $150; 4. Diamond Pyramid Earrings, $50. All available at nOirjewelry.

I am completely obsessed with nOir Jewelry. It's been over two months since I started rocking my Stack Pyramid Rings, and yet every time I look down at my hand I still get a thrill. That's when you know you've made a sweet purchase. The best part about nOir (besides their unbelievably edgy, sexy designs) is of course their reasonable prices, because you know I love a good deal. I'm generally accessory crazy and anytime I can find jewelry that's this high quality (most of their pieces are 18K gold plated) without breaking the bank is a victory in my books. But I'm not the only one digging on them. Lady Gaga, Rihanna, and Gwen Stefani are all fans, and you know those ladies have got serious style. But don't be intimidated! Designer and owner Leeora Catalan’s styles aren't just for celebs, they're for any dangerous dame out on the prowl.

Life's But A Walking Shadow

RIP Daul Kim

Design Within Reach (No, Really!)

Adorning your walls with art can be overwhelming, so why not solve the problem with a temporary fix? Wall decals are an easy way to add strong visual focus to a room, without the permanence of paint or the stress of hanging heavy artwork. There are companies that can design your very own vinyl decal, while others have a wide array of styles to choose from. Etsy is a great place to to find decals that are both unique and reasonably priced. ShaNickers based in Florida will even frame your very own text in a decal like the one pictured above. So get stickin' and breathe some much needed life into your bare walls.

All Eyes On Precious

So much has already been written about Precious, that writing another positive review seems redundant. With that said I'll just keep it simple: see this film. You won't regret it. Like a Zora Neale Hurston novel, the film is rife with despair, introspection and despite it all a good dose of hope. The performances are utter perfection. From newcomer Gabourney Sibide to Mo'Nique, Paula Patton and Mariah Carey, this film showcases the thespian within them all.

Puppy Love

There's something about Mr. Schwartzman. At age 15 I saw Rushmore at a local movie theater, and I was completely confused and perplexed about the film's lead. He was dorky yet confrontational, repulsive yet endearing - I couldn't put my finger on it but I was intrigued. Two years later when he made an appearance on Freaks & Geeks I decided that Schwartzman wasn't just a one trick pony and I wanted more. Thankfully he's taken on roles in both mainstream and independent films, in addition to creating some great music (Coconut Records). He's become one of those celebrities that dudes want to chill with and ladies want to get with. The roles he's taken on range from creepy stalker and power hungry aristocrat, to lovable detective. He's even dabbled in some modeling for Band of Outsiders (pictured above). Good things come in small packages... sometimes they even brandish incredibly shiny luxurious hair. Sigh.

Have You Heard?

Brooding teenagers are run of the mill, but brooding teenagers who can take that angst and transform it into expertly crafted pop songs are exceptional. The XX are a bunch of 20 year-olds from London, and in the spirit of Joy Division they've got sullen pop music down to a science. Their self-titled record just came out in August, and every track is almost flawless. The harmonies are haunting, as are the classic "coming of age" lyrics about love, loss and lust. I'm totally obsessed with their single "Crystalised". Check it out below:

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow? No Way!

Maybe it's just the mentality of a perpetual renter, but every time I enter a space, especially in New York City, I always think about it's history. What was this before it became what it is today? What words were spoken here 20 years ago? 40? 50? Did some tragic or joyful event transpire in the very place I stand? I'm happy that I'm not the only one that thinks this way, as evidenced by an article today in the New York Times. The photography above is of 316 E 59th Street in Manhattan. The first two pictures were taken in the 1930s, and the last picture was taken this year. But these aren't just personal pieces of memorabilia: between 1938 and 1943, 700,000 black-and-white images, known as tax photos, were taken to make property assessments in addition to creating a jobs program for the federal Works Progress Administration. Once again in the 1980s, a second set of 800,000 photos was taken, also for tax purposes. These images document the changes that transpire in a city, but also highlight the constants that stand the test of time. The architecture that peppers NYC is more important than we think, and it takes a second glance to really appreciate the fact that an old building can shelter both old and new souls alike.