Mind = Blown

I've been sharing this non-stop everywhere, but I think it deserves it.

The description of the video reads: "We needed to figure out the best possible way to move NPR Music's Tiny Desk from our old headquarters to our new facility just north of the U.S. Capitol. So we had OK Go perform 'All Is Not Lost' hundreds of times, as we transported the Tiny Desk from one home to the other."


I cannot even begin to fathom the amount of work and patience this took, but only two creative forces like ok go and NPR could pull this off. Absolutely amazing.

Click here to see the video on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert Series.

NYC Cred

I'm sure everyone already knew / assumed this, but New York has been deemed the most competitive city in the world.

But believe it or not, it's also one of the nicest.

I've lived here for 4 whole whopping days, and I can already tell you how much more open-minded and friendly most New Yorkers are, even compared to "Minnesota Nice."

Need directions to the nearest C train stop? Sure, just another two blocks down.

Sorry I'm taking up all the space in this teeny-tiny grocery store aisle, as I'm reaching for the item I need on the very top shelf. No problem, honey, take your time.

It's pouring, and we drove here. Can I take you to your nearest train stop?

You sure are a pretty-lookin' lady. Um... Thanks sir. So are you?

Okay, so maybe some New Yorkers are a little too nice (quirky), but you get the idea.

To top it off, New York is actually a pretty safe city, too. Sure, you still need to stay alert and keep a close eye on your belongings, and there are certain areas you just plain avoid (like any city). But the dated 1980's notion that everyone walking down the street wants to take you, rape you, and murder you died with disco a long time ago. (We don't miss the rape, but we do miss the disco.)

So if you're fearing visiting or even moving to the city because of friendliness or safety concerns, just give it a shot. Have an adventure :)

Jimmy

While I was cruising the web tonight, looking for quick and easy post inspiration, I bumped into Jimmy Fallon. Jimmy was always one of my favorites on SNL, and his popularity grew a little with me after he became a late night talk show host. But I've really come to like Jimmy after discovering what a talented musician he is. He could easily be considered a jack-of-all-trades, which is definitely what today's entertainment industry requires in order to become successful.

So, tonight I'm taking the easy way out and posting a few of my favorite Fallon videos, and then putting this headache to bed. Good night :)


I'm not a big Carly Rae fan, but Jimmy and The Roots make this one of my favorites. They are all super talented.

I love that the guy on our right can transpose on his rainbow xylophone :)

Capitalizing on a viral YouTube vid for promotional purposes.



Turns out the Prizzy of the United Stizzy is pretty talented too.


And this one, to sum up, really needs no explanation. It's just great.

Find "A History of Rap" parts 2 and 3 here.

Formulas for Success: Friends

I feel like Friends has been around for centuries (sorry Jennifer Aniston, I just made you sound old). And I used to hate it, mostly because I was too young to understand half the humor. But now, as I get older and realize there is literally nothing else on TV, Friends isn't all that bad.

But what makes this show so re-playable? Somewhere, at some time, on some channel, Friends is always on. There's a few things I can think of that have made Friends what it is today.

1. Mostly Family-Friendly Humor

The humor of the show makes more sense to an adult, but is still safe enough for a child to be in the room. Most of the humor floats over the child's head to the adults in the room, and the kids are likely laughing because their parents are laughing. If Disney can do it, why can't Friends?

2. Real-Life Topics

For the most part, the majority of the topics covered in the nine years of Friends were relatable topics with unlikely twists added in. It's not so odd for your wife to admit that she's a lesbian, but it may be unusual to find this out after she's become pregnant with your child. And it's not so strange to do an in-person cooking interview, but it is quite strange that your interviewer is turned on by you chopping the romaine, and that he isn't actually a chef or restauranteur.

3. Great Theme Song
The Rembrandts' "I'll Be There for You" is a perfect fit for the show, and has become synonymous with the characters of the show. And it's catchy too! If you happen to flip to the channel just as the theme is playing, you know what's on without looking, which is a big plus and attractor for the show. I'm sure the band is still very happy about Friends success, too, even if it did make them a one-hit wonder.

4. Everyone Wants It

Nearly everyone wants what the six main characters have: Everlasting friendship. There may be disagreements, fights, tangled romances, and hurt feelings, but in the end, the group is inseparable. The group presumably spends every weekend night together - their schedules line up magically well. Everyone (in the real world) wants to be able to have this close-knit group of friends through thick and thin, with such a perfect variety of friends. Truth be told, this kind of camaraderie is hard to come by, and even harder to hang on to, which is what makes it so desirable. 

That's a little snippet of why I think the show has been so successful, but I don't have time for more. Gotta go - Friends is on.