After a fantastic amount of false starts on a new blog entry I’ve decided to take this time to tell you about some things I’ve been into lately, some things I’m excited for, and make you an MP3 mix. Lets get to it shall we? Yes. We shall.

First up, I love McClure’s Pickles. Ryan brought a jar of these spicy pickles out from Brooklyn last Christmas and they are probably the most addicting thing ever. A small family operation run from Brooklyn and Detroit, they create amazing pickles with a fiery kick. Use the spicy pickle brine as a back shot to a shot of whiskey, to make an amazing pickle martini, or a kick ass sunday afternoon bloody mary (or if you are like me, use tequilla instead of vodka for a bloody maria). Their website has a place to order, as well as kick ass recipes for the pickles. Enjoy.

Another thing I’m loving right now, Noise Canceling Headphones. Do you work in an office with no doors or ceilings? I do and these baby’s are a godsend. No more having to crank up the volume to drown out all the conversations. Even with no music, when the noise canceling is on, you can’t hear shit. But noise canceling combined with some music at a decent volume, ahhh. Good if you fly on airplanes too.

One more thing I’m loving? Rick Froberg. Ever since working on the R.F.T.C. R.I.P. packaging I’ve been back to listening to healthy doses of everything John Reis has touched musically - Rocket From the Crypt, Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu, Sultans, Pitchfork and the Night Marchers. Along with that is all the amazing artwork (and music) that Froberg has contributed to some of those bands. I’ve been working up the nerve to ask him how much it would be to commission something. I love his black ink on paper drawings more than Pettibon.

So that brings me to things I’m excited for. First off are Dodgers games. Nothing beats a Spring day or Summer night at the ballpark with a cold beer and a hot dog. Give me a pennant this year at least guys? Please?. Second is soccer, I’m going to opening day of the LA Galaxy this year. I wish soccer games were as cheap as baseball games, I’d go a lot more. Last thing I’m excited for is movie season in the cemetery. Every year in Hollywood Cinespia puts on movies in the Hollywood Forever cemetery. You sit on a big lawn and watch movies projected on the side of the mosilium with a picnic and drinks. It’s amazing. I’ve seen Sunset Blvd, Maltese Falcon, Strangers On A Train, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Harold and Maude, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (Introduced by Pee Wee himself!), and countless other amazing movies. This season starts in May, I can’t wait.

So I guess the last thing is your mix. Download it Here . I tried to make a mix based around a spring/summer theme, and I’m pretty happy with it. This mix is pretty much a mix I would have made in 1999, with a few exceptions. It makes me happy to listen to and I hope you like it too.

It seems like only a long time ago that I was writing about The Best Records of 2007 (The Halfway Mark) and now here we are at the the second half, or “The Home Stretch”. We all know no good records are going to be coming out between now and January 1st so lets get to it. Shall we?

Against Me! - “New Wave”
I was pretty sure this record was going to rule and boy was I right. Absolutely my favorite record of the year. So much so the title of the post right below this one was named after one of my fav tracks. Against Me! is one of the few bands around that reminds me why punk rock was such a big part of my life. Their lyrical commentary on everything from the state of the music industry to the state of the world is just as important as anything the Dead Kennedy’s, Bad Religion, Crass, or anyone else said in their day. A++ (gold star) on this one boys.

Bishop Allen - “The Broken String”
Bishop Allen is a band I discovered way too late. Unique witty lyrics, and poppy melodies; it’s pretty much everything I love about music. Built from some of the best tracks of their E.P. a month project of last year re-recorded and re-worked this album is solid all the way through and is hard to wear out. I’ve probably listened to the song “Rain” about 1,000 times and still every time I hear it I get a little spring in my step. Fans of the Beatles, Belle & Sebastian, Quasi, or pretty much any good rock n’ roll band centered around solid songwriting will LOVE this record.

The Weakerthans - “Reunion Tour”
The Weakerthans are another band I didn’t discover until this year. For some reason I always thought they were some shitty ska-core band. Then Jonah started saying “Dude, you’d really like them they’re one of my favorite bands” and i would say “Yeaaaaaah.” So when this record came out I got it for him and gave it a listen and went “whoa. They’re really good.” It’s like a pop punk Death Cab For Cutie. I almost don’t even care that they are Canadian. How anyone could write a song about curling that I am interested in is beyond me, but they pulled it off. (I totally like Canadians by the way).

Maritime - “Heresay & the Hotel Choir”
“Very Emergency” is the only Promise Ring album I really liked, and I didn’t just like it, I LOVED IT. So after the disappointment of “Wood/Water” I wasn’t too interested in Davey’s new project Maritime. But last year when I was out of things to download with my E-Music credit I decided to give their last album a try. Being more than pleasantly surprised by that record I was eagerly awaiting this one. After you’ve listened to the opening track “Guns of Navarone” a million times, try the rest of the record. It’s good.

Justice - “Cross”
I know what you’re thinking, “Ben, a dance record? Really?” What can I say? It’s a great driving record. Maybe It’s the brilliant artwork and marketing, maybe it’s a better dance record than any other dance record I’ve heard. I don’t know. Have you seen the video So-Me did for the single “D.A.N.C.E.” ? FUCK it’s good. And the rest of the album kept me tapping my toes. So sue me, I like a dance record.

And finally, the award for the MOST OVERRATED RECORD OF 2007 goes to Radiohead - In Rainbows. I wouldn’t even pay 0.00 for it. I’ve been sick of people treating this band like gods for the last 8 years. They made two good records, get over it.

Somebody please get one (or all) of these Helvetica 50th Anniversary Shirts from Helvetica Nation and send them to me. I want one so bad. Especially the Italy and Spain shirts.

If Jeff Foxworthy were a Graphic Design comic instead of a Redneck comic - this post would definitely be the fodder of many “You know you’re a Design Nerd when you want to spend 45 bucks on a shirt commemorating the 50th aniversary of a typeface” type jokes.

(via AisleOne)

I remember playing with these little Perler Beads when I was a kid at day care like it was yesterday. So seeing that they are still around, and that someone made these AWESOME coasters with them has been the highlight of my day (yes, that’s what my day has been like). I think I’m going to have to buy some and make my own. T&C Surf & Skate Coasters anyone? Link (via Craft)

Have you ever HOPED that someone could prove that something you owned was whale vomit?

I have a few random links to share that have been collected this week.

The future from the past. AT&T’s “you will” commercials with many technological predictions that have come true, including EZ Pass and in car navigation. It’s pretty cool to watch. Although none of them were brought to us by AT&T like the commercials say, oh well.

One of my favorite holiday songs. Christmas with a fast food theme. mmmm.

I remember in high school this kid has one of those things that made the noise that would let you bypass putting coins in a payphone, essentially letting you make free phone calls (this was before anyone I knew had cell phones.) I thought that was the coolest thing in the world. Now, thanks to the internet, kids know how to do all kinds of evil shit. like opening padlocks with a soda can or making and using bump keys

I watched a couple shows on the Travel Channel the other night, and now there are a few things I really want to do. One I’m doing very soon, and that’s visit Phillipe’s. The French Dip sandwich was invented at Phillipe’s in 1908 and it’s pretty much a Los Angeles landmark. I’m going there and eating some sandwiches, soon. The other thing is something I’ve always wanted to do since I was a little kid and that’s go prospecting. At The Roaring Camp Goldmine you pay for a week of camping, and you can pan for gold, use a sluice box, and all that jazz. This is definitely on my agenda for this summer.

It’s Christmas time and I bet a lot of you are taking your children to see Santa for the first time. I hope you get some awesome pictures like these kids.

Awesome little video interview with Mark Mothersbaugh. Mothersbaugh is the co-founder and lead singer in DEVO, has done the score for all of the Wes Anderson movies (as well as countless other cool movies/shows), and is also an amazing artist.

(again via BoingBoing, jeez I need some better sources)

This amazing flickr set really doesn’t need much explanation. Just check it out. Souvenirs replacing actual landmarks from all across the world.

(via BoingBoing)

Scar Stuff Blog has posted an archive link of all their vintage halloween music and sounds. and it’s probably the coolest shit ever. Download Download Download.

Just a collection of some of the cool/funny/amazing videos I’ve seen on the net.
I think i’ll periodically do one of these posts. too amazing

Zappa on Crosfire 1986
Few people remember how hard we had to fight against censorship in the 80’s and how much Frank did to fight for our rights.
Chips Ahoy
New music video from the Hold Steady
Edie (Warhol’s Greatest Superstar)
with “After Hours” by Velvet Underground
Anarchy In The UK
The Sex Pistols changed my life at 14 years old
Johnny Cash
“Hurt” Directed by Mark Romanek. Probably the saddest video ever.
Ping Pong
Amazing Shots Ridiculous Soundtrack
Sierra Freak Out
My friends Blake and Jen have psycho dogs.
Silly Cats
I could watch AFV cat videos all day.
Evan Dando
Evan Dando acoustic (That’s my album art in the background)
Little Superstar
By far the most amazing video ever
So True
How “Star Wars” should have ended.
Skittles
My favorite commercial ever