Okay, you caught me. I’m addicted to AMC’s original series Mad Men (hint: if you need to catch up on episodes slash the entire series slash you tried to netflix it but so did everyone else, this might help.)

Most of the show takes place at an early 1960s ad agency.

Do you wish you were part of the show? Or is that just me? I know I wish, at the very least, that I could drink that much alcohol at work. Also, it would be nice to be alive when Marilyn Monroe was considered the epitome of hotness (great for those of us who want to continue eating).

Here’s a list of the Mad Men-related products shown at the top of the page:

1. They didn’t really have computers back then, if you can believe it. Olivetti Manual Typewriter $140 at Urban Outfitters
2. In Mad Men they drink at work, out of work, and at home. That’s why I love this article from PaperMag analyzing what each character drinks and what that says about their personality. Apparently, Peggy drinks a befitting Brandy Alexander (Cognac, dark crème de cacao, and heavy cream).
3. Women in the early 1960s were curvy, wearing clothes that accented, rather than hid, their most voluptuous features. I love this Norma Jean Winter Dress from Mod Cloth ($150). It looks more like a Peggy outfit with a Joan curve.
4. These really popular illustrations of scenes from Mad Men have made their way across the blogs. You can buy prints or use them as free desktop wallpaper. My favorite part is that the illustrator provides show-commentary with every new flickr post. (Ex. commentary from the picture above: “Commemorating the scene and outfit that ended Paul’s status as my favorite character.”) NOTE: Stickers & Donuts later did an interview with Dyna Moe, who creates these illustrations!
5. Gosh, those rotary phones must have broken some fingers back in the day! Luckily Linens & Things knew that Generation Whatever-I-Am is a little more used to “push button technology” (er, do they really need the word “technology”?). Crosley Kettle Desk Phone, $60
6. If you are going to be pretty like 1960s Joan you need thick black eyes and red lips. Imagine 1960s makeup technology? Was mascara even waterproof back then?! Could it lift and separate?! Wait, is that a slogan for bras? I’ve confused myself.
7. Since the Mad Men (and women) work at an ad agency (get it, mAD men), I thought I’d include this ad from maidenform (on the show it’s a Sterling Cooper account!). In fact, AdClassix.com, though it does have a questionable-looking web-site, includes tons and tons of ads (many of which you can purchase) from the 1920s-1970s.

Want to see more? I’ve got a picture of all the characters (I wrote on it with my notes). Also, a general trailer if you haven’t seen the show. (more…)

I don’t know how to make this sound not dorky, but I enjoyed watching this PSA-style DON’T VOTE video starring a billion famous people like Tobey Maguire, Ellen, Dustin Hoffman, Sarah Silverman, Leonardo DiCaprio, ETC ETC ETC.

In some states the deadline to register to vote is TOMORROW!

Anyway, in some states, the deadline to register to vote is tomorrow, so watch and register away! (Declareyourself.com, the site where you can register, also has a simple page that breaks down where each candidate stands on some key issues.)

Google maps will tell you where to vote & your registration deadline!

ALSO you can go this page on google maps to easily find out your deadline to register (just put in your address!). And, mid-October, they’ll also provide you with your voting location (that stuff used to be such a pain to find! I mean, back in the day… when I voted for the first time… in college… four years ago… by absentee ballot…). Anyway.

I am a huge movie-lover, with a particular affinity for Wes Anderson. His first movie Bottle Rocket, is based on a short black-and-white film he created with friends and not-yet-stars Owen and Luke Wilson.

Finally, after more than than ten years of patient waiting, Bottle Rocket is coming out in Criterion Collection.

One reason Wes Anderson Criterion Collection pieces are SO COOL is because they feature original artwork by cool people, like his brother Eric Anderson or illustrator Ian Dingman (the later, in this case). In fact, I discovered Bottle Rocket’s new edition because Dingman’s art was featured last week on Tiny Showcase (sorry, all sold out! though there are other prints available on his own web-site).

Besides the awesomely illustrated cover, this DVD will include other fabulous bonuses such as the original black and white short, eleven deleted scenes, a “making of” documentary, a booklet that hopefully includes more Ian Dingman artwork, and more!

It’ll be available on November 25, 2008 at various locations, including amazon ($36). If you haven’t seen the movie yet, I highly recommend at netflix-ing! If you’re skeptical, watch the trailer after the jump! (more…)

Today I offer you a tour of the walls of my office cubicle. A cubicle is always an interesting amalgamation of quotes, articles, and postcards — usually little reminders of what life really means, of things you might enjoy if you weren’t at work, or your own personal version of motivational posters or cynicism.

A beautiful letterpress graduation card from Hello Lucky. (Love the typography!)

A Frida Kahlo card featuring the image above, from the Frida Kahlo ArtBox.

An Edward Gorey postcard (”Donald imagined things.”)

A 2008 Frida Kahlo wall calendar.

A postcard featuring the 2006 National Poetry Month poster design. Love the poetry & graphic design combo!

The “you’re-loved self-esteemizer” availible for download as high quality pdf from Time Out New York. (Another example of great design, and very funny!)

(Part II will be posted here.) (more…)

I know I’m behind the curve on this one, considering The Diving Bell & the Butterfly was nominated for its four academy awards back in February (including two of my favorite categories: Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay). I am bringing it up now because, having just seen it, I cannot let this movie pass by without recommending it to you.

“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly transcends the uplifting movie-of-the-week story through Schnabel’s artful direction and deep empathy” (Mark Pfeiffer, Reel Times & Rotten Tomatoes).

(more…)

I have just discovered a typographic world on YouTube where artists animate typography to accompany popular film scenes. One of my favorites (thus far) is the one below, which uses a scene from Pulp Fiction. I’d say it’s a Rated R scene so if you aren’t up for some vulgar language, look as some of the other scenes (Fight Club, Who’s On First, & Thank You For Smoking) we have collected on our “Typography” playlist on the Stickers & Donuts channel. But I do think the piece below is particularly good example of how typography actually functions as an actor in this scene, acting and reacting to the lines in the film.

Isabella Rossellini stars in “Green Porno,” a series of short films providing “comical and insightful studies of the curious ways a variety of earth’s tiny critters make love” (sundancechannel.com), but don’t get your hopes up for actually getting turned on — insects are disgusting. (Just think about how close a snail’s anus is to its face when it’s crammed into the tiny shell, or how a praying mantis thanks her lover.) What’s great about these little films is their simplicity: basic backgrounds, halloween-ish costumes, simple props. The films were created specifically with such simplicity to optimize digital viewing

“Although a festival favorite, GREEN PORNO was conceived of for the ’small screen’ and intended to be viewed on mobile phones, the internet and other portable devices. GREEN PORNO represents an experiment in storytelling for digital platforms” (sundancechannel.com).

There are eight “episodes,” each featuring a different insect, and can all be viewed free online (more…)