OBSERVATIONS AND REACTIONS - TO PHOTOS

My Reaction: I’m thinking this is an Asian city somewhere, and it reminds me that Communist China has 30 cities with over 1,000,000 people… (but something also tells me this city is not in Communist China)… staff: Tumblr Themes now available in 5 languages Starting today, you can switch all of Tumblr’s featured and premium themes between English, German, Japanese, French, and Italian, with more on the way! Just use the Language menu under Customize → Advanced. This has been a big undertaking, and we’d love to hear your feedback on the translations. If you’re blogging in any of these language, please try it out! Theme designers: Localizing your themes couldn’t be easier! Simply replace any English text with variables from Tumblr’s new theme dictionary. If your text string doesn’t exist yet, just request it and it will be queued for translation by our international team. Thank you!

My Reaction: I’m thinking this is an Asian city somewhere, and it reminds me that Communist China has 30 cities with over 1,000,000 people… (but something also tells me this city is not in Communist China)…

staff:

Tumblr Themes now available in 5 languages

Starting today, you can switch all of Tumblr’s featured and premium themes between English, German, Japanese, French, and Italian, with more on the way!

Just use the Language menu under Customize → Advanced.

This has been a big undertaking, and we’d love to hear your feedback on the translations. If you’re blogging in any of these language, please try it out!

Theme designers: Localizing your themes couldn’t be easier! Simply replace any English text with variables from Tumblr’s new theme dictionary. If your text string doesn’t exist yet, just request it and it will be queued for translation by our international team. Thank you!

My Reaction: They look like a nice combination… I haven’t heard them yet, so I can’t vouch for the sonic claims… “Way back in 2006” lol (I have to laugh, that was ‘yesterday’ for me) (actually, in a lot of ways, it is still tomorrow)… staff: Name Ra Ra RiotLocation Formed in Syracuse, NY / Currently touringFirst Post July 2009 Ra Ra Riot is an indie rock band from Syracuse, NY that fuses swooning strings and intricate, emotional vocals to create a unique sound. Formed way back in 2006, they got their start doing shows around the Syracuse University campus and eventually moved up to music festivals. Consisting of a vocalist, guitarist, bassist, cellist, violinist, and drummer, they quickly started to grab attention thanks to their energetic live performances and the well-orchestrated layers of their music. RRR use their blog to show fans glimpses into their daily lives and into life on the road as they tour the world. Their second full-length album, The Orchard, drops today. Also check out… Crimes against Hugh’s Manatees A daily comic strip which features a variety of animals who experience the same mundane experiences that we humans have to put up with. Also, dinosaurs! Oh Yeah Facts Edmund Burke said that “facts are to the mind what food is to the body.” I’m positive this is true because I just read it on Oh Yeah Facts. My Mom Reviews My Photos Tanner takes a photo every day, emails it to mom, and then posts her commentary which may or may not have anything to do with the actual photo. Mom’s dog Toby also weighs in. Be sure to recommend your favorite blog today!

My Reaction: They look like a nice combination… I haven’t heard them yet, so I can’t vouch for the sonic claims… “Way back in 2006” lol (I have to laugh, that was ‘yesterday’ for me) (actually, in a lot of ways, it is still tomorrow)…

staff:

Name Ra Ra Riot
Location Formed in Syracuse, NY / Currently touring
First Post July 2009

Ra Ra Riot is an indie rock band from Syracuse, NY that fuses swooning strings and intricate, emotional vocals to create a unique sound. Formed way back in 2006, they got their start doing shows around the Syracuse University campus and eventually moved up to music festivals. Consisting of a vocalist, guitarist, bassist, cellist, violinist, and drummer, they quickly started to grab attention thanks to their energetic live performances and the well-orchestrated layers of their music. RRR use their blog to show fans glimpses into their daily lives and into life on the road as they tour the world. Their second full-length album, The Orchard, drops today.

Also check out…

Crimes against Hugh’s Manatees
A daily comic strip which features a variety of animals who experience the same mundane experiences that we humans have to put up with. Also, dinosaurs!

Oh Yeah Facts
Edmund Burke said that “facts are to the mind what food is to the body.” I’m positive this is true because I just read it on Oh Yeah Facts.

My Mom Reviews My Photos
Tanner takes a photo every day, emails it to mom, and then posts her commentary which may or may not have anything to do with the actual photo. Mom’s dog Toby also weighs in.

Be sure to recommend your favorite blog today!

My Reaction: Do you realize what those stuffed animals are based on? staff: Name Hunson NguyenLocation Portland, OregonFirst Post December 2007 Graphic designer Hunson Nguyen is a student at Portland State University, creator of popular Tumblr themes, and former competitive swimmer. A prolific blogger, Hunson helps run several group Tumblrs including Typolicious, I Heart Oregon, and Graphic Everywhere. He can recite pi to 15 decimal places, he loves Pokemon, and he takes public transportation as often as possible. Hunson’s favorite fonts are “Neutra Text” and “Cambria.” Also check out… Office Fridges Office Fridges aims to become the largest repository of office fridge photos available. Submit yours! My Kids Really Eat This This mother of three provides useful tips and tricks on preparing healthy, delicious foods. Now eat your scrumptious vegetables! Jen Bekman Projects Jen Bekman Projects is running a competition for photographers, Hey, Hot Shot! which ends today at 8:00 pm EDT. Grand Prize, $10,000! See you next Tuesday!

My Reaction: Do you realize what those stuffed animals are based on?

staff:

Name Hunson Nguyen
Location Portland, Oregon
First Post December 2007

Graphic designer Hunson Nguyen is a student at Portland State University, creator of popular Tumblr themes, and former competitive swimmer. A prolific blogger, Hunson helps run several group Tumblrs including Typolicious, I Heart Oregon, and Graphic Everywhere. He can recite pi to 15 decimal places, he loves Pokemon, and he takes public transportation as often as possible. Hunson’s favorite fonts are “Neutra Text” and “Cambria.”

Also check out…

Office Fridges
Office Fridges aims to become the largest repository of office fridge photos available. Submit yours!

My Kids Really Eat This
This mother of three provides useful tips and tricks on preparing healthy, delicious foods. Now eat your scrumptious vegetables!

Jen Bekman Projects
Jen Bekman Projects is running a competition for photographers, Hey, Hot Shot! which ends today at 8:00 pm EDT. Grand Prize, $10,000!

See you next Tuesday!

My Reaction: He will make good 50’s records… staff: Name Nick WaterhouseLocation San FranciscoFirst post May 2010 Nick Waterhouse wants to make records. Specifically, he wants to make them just like they used to. His band, Nick & The Turn-Keys, ended in disillusionment over the lack of commitment from his fellow musicians. Then something happened. One weekend, he was visiting family in Huntington Beach, and he stopped by an old studio he used to hang around — the Distillery. Nick knew it was now or never, so he used the money from a pawned amp to pay for studio time and called everyone who played music in the area, and Pres Record Co. was born. Their first release was never processed by a computer and mastered from tape to lacquer, the labels hand letterpressed, the pressing done manually — not a single creative corner cut. Also check out… Kristopher Grunert Uses lines, movement, and light to create architectural, industrial, and landscape photographs. Exhibit-A-Mixed Bag Curating items of personal interest. Kyle Bragger Kyle codes cool things.

My Reaction: He will make good 50’s records…

staff:

Name Nick Waterhouse
Location San Francisco
First post May 2010

Nick Waterhouse wants to make records. Specifically, he wants to make them just like they used to. His band, Nick & The Turn-Keys, ended in disillusionment over the lack of commitment from his fellow musicians. Then something happened. One weekend, he was visiting family in Huntington Beach, and he stopped by an old studio he used to hang around — the Distillery. Nick knew it was now or never, so he used the money from a pawned amp to pay for studio time and called everyone who played music in the area, and Pres Record Co. was born. Their first release was never processed by a computer and mastered from tape to lacquer, the labels hand letterpressed, the pressing done manually — not a single creative corner cut.

Also check out…

Kristopher Grunert
Uses lines, movement, and light to create architectural, industrial, and landscape photographs.

Exhibit-A-Mixed Bag
Curating items of personal interest.

Kyle Bragger
Kyle codes cool things.

My Reaction: Moral of this photo: If you put yourself up to being ridiculed, you will be ridiculed… So, to it: This photo was obviously taken from a mental institute… and no, being mentally ill is not a good thing, in spite of what Hollywood pushes on us… staff: Name The Time HackLocation Washington DC The Time Hack is an experiment aimed at exploring whether our perception of time is influenced by our actions. Research suggests our perception of time is partially dependent on the amount of new experiences we have during a given day. Journalist Matt Danzico is testing this theory by taking part in a new and unusual experience every day this year. After each experience, he documents his impressions and estimates the amount of time it took, then links to a video and a photo of a stopwatch with the actual duration. So far Matt has fought a boxer, gone to Trapeze School, jumped from a moving car, walked a mile with 20 balloons, watched paint dry, learned Swahili, and recited the alphabet in a public place. Also check out… No One Man Should Have All That Flour Kanye West lyrics rewritten to be about food. That’s right. Best Roof Talk Ever Two guys riffing on internet culture from a rooftop in Brooklyn. Infow 19-year-old artist with a distinctive style.

My Reaction: Moral of this photo: If you put yourself up to being ridiculed, you will be ridiculed…

So, to it: This photo was obviously taken from a mental institute… and no, being mentally ill is not a good thing, in spite of what Hollywood pushes on us…

staff:

Name The Time Hack
Location Washington DC

The Time Hack is an experiment aimed at exploring whether our perception of time is influenced by our actions. Research suggests our perception of time is partially dependent on the amount of new experiences we have during a given day. Journalist Matt Danzico is testing this theory by taking part in a new and unusual experience every day this year. After each experience, he documents his impressions and estimates the amount of time it took, then links to a video and a photo of a stopwatch with the actual duration.

So far Matt has fought a boxer, gone to Trapeze School, jumped from a moving car, walked a mile with 20 balloons, watched paint dry, learned Swahili, and recited the alphabet in a public place.

Also check out…

No One Man Should Have All That Flour
Kanye West lyrics rewritten to be about food. That’s right.

Best Roof Talk Ever
Two guys riffing on internet culture from a rooftop in Brooklyn.

Infow
19-year-old artist with a distinctive style.

My Reaction: Let’s hear it for tacky vans (but let’s avoid them)… there should be a tacky van competition… and they should all have shag carpeting… staff: Name Mike Mitchell’s Tumblr of Amazing ThingsLocation Los AngelesFirst post August 2009 Freelance illustrator Mike Mitchell is perhaps best known for his “I’m with Coco” poster, but it’s his take on the universal “Viking riding a unicorn in space with lightning-emitting AK-47” concept that truly resonates with us. With a focus on pop culture and the utterly ridiculous, Mike posts his original works, the works of his friends and influences, and the things that make him laugh. He blew up the internet last week after receiving a thank-you note from comedian Zach Galifianakis for creating a splendid portrait. Mike lives in LA with his wife, Lauren, and various pets named Auggie, Belly, Emo, and Peeka. Also check out… Fun with Objective-C Cool and crazy things you can do with Objective-C and the Cocoa/Cocoa Touch frameworks. Titantron Online WRESTLING NEWS RWWWARR!! Operation Every Band - SXSW 2011 The challenge: to listen to and review every band that is playing the 2011 SXSW Conference.

My Reaction: Let’s hear it for tacky vans (but let’s avoid them)… there should be a tacky van competition… and they should all have shag carpeting…

staff:

Name Mike Mitchell’s Tumblr of Amazing Things
Location Los Angeles
First post August 2009

Freelance illustrator Mike Mitchell is perhaps best known for his “I’m with Coco” poster, but it’s his take on the universal “Viking riding a unicorn in space with lightning-emitting AK-47” concept that truly resonates with us. With a focus on pop culture and the utterly ridiculous, Mike posts his original works, the works of his friends and influences, and the things that make him laugh. He blew up the internet last week after receiving a thank-you note from comedian Zach Galifianakis for creating a splendid portrait. Mike lives in LA with his wife, Lauren, and various pets named Auggie, Belly, Emo, and Peeka.

Also check out…

Fun with Objective-C
Cool and crazy things you can do with Objective-C and the Cocoa/Cocoa Touch frameworks.

Titantron Online
WRESTLING NEWS RWWWARR!!

Operation Every Band - SXSW 2011
The challenge: to listen to and review every band that is playing the 2011 SXSW Conference.

My Reaction: Well, we know what the center of attraction of this photo is… staff: Name Awesome Every DayLocation Louisville, KYFirst post August 2007 As a child, Pam Newman recorded herself singing along with music videos on TV and pretended to give interviews to the press. Today, she’s a Karaoke addict, blogger for Afropunk.com, and solo musician. Rewind a few years: The local Karaoke scene led to her very first band. Her second group, The Revenge of Ricky Williams, enjoyed radio play, a loyal following, and launched her inspiration to be a professional musician. “The world needs to have the rock star reimplemented, and we’re severely lacking in awesome female rockstars,” she says. We think she’ll be the next. Also check out… Little Big Details An inspirational collection of brilliant UI details. LOST Answers A scientist answers every question you ever had about the LOST series finale. World-Shaker Michael works in e-learning and blogs about social media for students and educators.

My Reaction: Well, we know what the center of attraction of this photo is…

staff:

Name Awesome Every Day
Location Louisville, KY
First post August 2007

As a child, Pam Newman recorded herself singing along with music videos on TV and pretended to give interviews to the press. Today, she’s a Karaoke addict, blogger for Afropunk.com, and solo musician. Rewind a few years: The local Karaoke scene led to her very first band. Her second group, The Revenge of Ricky Williams, enjoyed radio play, a loyal following, and launched her inspiration to be a professional musician. “The world needs to have the rock star reimplemented, and we’re severely lacking in awesome female rockstars,” she says. We think she’ll be the next.

Also check out…

Little Big Details
An inspirational collection of brilliant UI details.

LOST Answers
A scientist answers every question you ever had about the LOST series finale.

World-Shaker
Michael works in e-learning and blogs about social media for students and educators.

My Reaction: CLEAN! CLEAN! CLEAN! Everything (and everybody) is SO CLEAN! Let’s here it for CLEAN! Man, is everything so clean! You know, this reminds me of an observation I had, “We spend lifetimes creating illusions, then we chastise our children for getting lost in them.” but CLEAN! Even if it is an illusion representing innumerable illusory things, I like it! I want to be CLEAN, too! How can I be clean… I must research it… staff: Today’s All Team There’s still room! Not Pictured: Richmond office on the TV. Also: We’re buying up art for our walls like whoa. So if you’re a Tumblr artist/photographer and have any original art/prints you’d like to contribute, please email this guy.

My Reaction: CLEAN! CLEAN! CLEAN! Everything (and everybody) is SO CLEAN! Let’s here it for CLEAN! Man, is everything so clean!

You know, this reminds me of an observation I had, “We spend lifetimes creating illusions, then we chastise our children for getting lost in them.”

but CLEAN! Even if it is an illusion representing innumerable illusory things, I like it! I want to be CLEAN, too! How can I be clean… I must research it…

staff:

Today’s All Team

There’s still room!

Not Pictured: Richmond office on the TV.

Also: We’re buying up art for our walls like whoa. So if you’re a Tumblr artist/photographer and have any original art/prints you’d like to contribute, please email this guy.

My Reaction: At least we can see the brains ‘behind’ this ‘it’s all about me’ endeavor… staff: Name Paul OctaviousLocation ChicagoFirst post June 2010 Designer and photographer Paul Octavious is passionate about creating things for himself and the internet. He taught himself how to use a digital SLR while in school for graphic design, and today does work for clients like Nike and The Wall Street Journal. For his Number Stacks project, Paul photographs books stacked by color into numbers and sometimes cheeseburgers. He enjoys making experimental videos and taking photos of blizzards. Paul credits the feedback he’s received from putting his work on the internet for all to see for much of his success. He only has two arms. Also check out… An Illustrated Guide Short reviews of notable picture books. Beautiful design! Jesus Year Project 33 is the new 30. A year of self-discovery, adventure, and palindromes. The Frenemy A network for fashionable, confident, slightly alcoholic girls. Photo by Steph Gorlanick.

My Reaction: At least we can see the brains ‘behind’ this ‘it’s all about me’ endeavor…

staff:

Name Paul Octavious
Location Chicago
First post June 2010

Designer and photographer Paul Octavious is passionate about creating things for himself and the internet. He taught himself how to use a digital SLR while in school for graphic design, and today does work for clients like Nike and The Wall Street Journal. For his Number Stacks project, Paul photographs books stacked by color into numbers and sometimes cheeseburgers. He enjoys making experimental videos and taking photos of blizzards. Paul credits the feedback he’s received from putting his work on the internet for all to see for much of his success. He only has two arms.

Also check out…

An Illustrated Guide
Short reviews of notable picture books. Beautiful design!

Jesus Year Project
33 is the new 30. A year of self-discovery, adventure, and palindromes.

The Frenemy
A network for fashionable, confident, slightly alcoholic girls.

Photo by Steph Gorlanick.