Observe Ghosts

Ghostland Observatory is my new favorite flavor of the week. Their music is fun, energetic, and very robotic. It's Daft Punk meets Beastie Boys and best of all, they're from Austin, TX. Why, they're the best thing to come out of Austin since, well, nevermind... Ausitn is always producing great things. Anyway, give them a listen. Sad Sad City on Paparazzi Lightning and The Band Marches On on Robotique Majestique are two great songs to start with.

Added Bonus: Lead singer Aaron Behrens sports pigtails, awesome.

From the slums to the Red Carpet

I love this movie, its music, and its cast (esp. the little kids, they're so cute). Check out their red carpet debut and read more about how the entire cast was able to come to the Oscars.

Bubbles at a Higher Altitude

I am currently in Boulder, Colorado, just 30 minutes outside of the mile high city of Denver. I'm taking a little vacay from school, visiting friends, and checking out Crispin, Porter, & Bogusky while I'm here. It's absolutely beautiful today: sunny and warm. Earlier I walked along Pearl St. in the main "downtown" area and found the cutest card shop called Bliss. After spending way too much time there, I headed down the street to a coffee shop called The Cup. So here I am writing on my blog instead of doing school work. But seriously, who is going to travel halfway across the country to get away from school only to sit in a similar coffee shop and do work. Instead, I'm people watching, taking in the local culture, and drinking an amazing Chai Latte. Andy took the bus to work this morning. Yes, CPB has a bus called the Disruptive Thinker Transport that picks up its employees at several locations throughout the town. This thing looks like an old prison bus, but regardless of its exterior, it comes equipped with WiFi and jazz music. This is making me all the more interested in this agency. Actually, I will be leaving in a minute to go visit, not exactly sure what to expect.

Disruptive Thinker Transport

People's Trend Watch

According to People Style Watch magazine, there are many new trends for 2009. Some of which I could have seen coming, while others I was pleasantly surprised by. However, the most surprising thing I came across while reading this magazine was that there are people who do this for a living. Various companies (think: magazines, blogs, and yes, even ad agencies) hire people as "trendspotters" and "trendwatchers." I had always assumed that creative shops and periodicals researched current trends but I had no idea there was an actual position for this. Of course, there was no major in my college curriculum called "trendspotting" and this sure doesn't sound like a noble profession. But, to tell you the truth, it actually sounds more like my dream profession. I've always been one to hop on trends and start some of my own. In high school, I was named "Best Dressed Girl" for my senior superlatives and consider it one of my greatest accomplishments to date. Even today, I try new styles and wear clothes that others wouldn't dare, simply to stand out. It's part of my nature to be different and creative and what better way to do so than to start a trend or jump on an up-and-coming trend before the mainstream population. I seek out lesser known bands that are hiding under the radar of the music scene. I search for local art galleries and lesser known artists in my area. I ask my friends what they're into to get insight. I read blogs, books about pop culture, and yes, even gossip magazines to get inspired. The trend list for 2009 includes some pretty interesting things. Vinyl records are coming back, 3G navigation maps are the new GPS system, and goodbye pomegranate, yumberry is the new "it" fruit of the year. Trends like these may seem trivial to some, but in the advertising industry, they're everything. So I will continue to seek out trends and come up with new and innovative ideas to add to my portfolio. Oh, and Ann Mack (Director of Trendspotting at JWT) if you are reading this, I want your job!

Beluga Whales are the new Nemo.

My top 5 favs from the Georgia Aquarium:
5. The Titanic Exhibit
4. Piranhas
3. Moon Jellies
2. Sea Otters
1. Beluga Whales
*Please note that had the penguin exhibit been open, it would definitely have made the top 5, maybe even the top 2.

www.georgiaaquarium.org

Driving schools not affected by the recession.

The other day I was driving home through the Highlands and saw this. I don't recall my driver's ed test being this glamorous. Seriously? Plus, those that drive under 20 mph for a length of time do not deserve to be driving a BMW.

LastFM

LastFM.com - Give it a listen. It's a great way to find new music, even better than Pandora.