Check out this hilarious video from viral site Everything is Terrible! We love it for two reasons: 1) reminding us why 90’s fashion shouldn’t come back; and 2) making us cringe from embarassment…over the internet.
-MK
Contact the author at mksmogger@gmail.com.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged blogs, everything is terrible, the 90's, the internets, viral videos
While Americans may be more culturally, technologically, and politically splintered than ever, there are a couple things almost every American agrees upon – terrorists are bad, Lady Gaga is strange, and traveling sucks. The first too are probably going to be with us for a while, so we should just get used to them. But traveling? There are steps you can take to make it much less painful. Here are some of our recommendations.
Take a trip. via Flickr
airportdining.net – Although airplane food has actually improved over the past few years, $5.00 for a box with crackers and some craisins is hardly a value. Instead, picking up food in the airport is always the way to go…but’s always a gamble. Do you take the mediocre options at the beginning of the terminal (Manchu Wok, Freshens, etc.) or do you risk it and hope there will be better options closer to your gate (CPK ASAP, Wolfgang Puck Express, etc.)? Well, you no longer have to guess. Airportdining.net maps out terminals for you, allowing you to plan out your dining before you even check in. Now, if they can just do something about having to go to the bathroom on the flight…
seatguru.com – There’s a lot of strategy to picking the best seat on a plane – maximizing leg room, ensuring proper distance to a TV, staying away from the engine, etc. Seatguru.com can help you pick the best seat from your available options by using a simple color-coded guide. However, even though you may get the best seat on the plane, you’ll still be at the whim of rogue threats that you can’t control. Crying babies and obese people are menaces that even technology hasn’t been able to stop.
bookingbuddy.com – Although it’s basically just a newer version of kayak.com, this site is a little easier to use. Search multiple airlines and hotels all at once to try to save money – even though you’ll probably still end up spending a bundle no matter what.
trekamerica.com – Remember going abroad? Well, your college days may be gone, but you can still travel like you once did. Trek America will help you put together a customizable travel package for you, based on your trip length, preferred destination, and budget. Who needs Ibiza when you have Vegas, anyway?
tripit.com – For those of us who haven’t “made it” yet – and don’t have an assistant to book their travel, this site will be your virtual subordinate for you. Simply set up an account, send your hotel, flight, and any other confirmation emails you’ve received, and TripIt will put together a full itinerary for you, including weather details, entertainment ideas, and suggestions for to make your travel simpler.
worldsbestbars.com – Once you have all the details set, it’s time to let loose. This one should be pretty self-explanatory.
-MK
Contact the author at mksmogger@gmail.com.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged airlines, airportdining.net, airports, America, bars, bookingbuddy.com, drinking, flying, lax, plans, seatguru.com, the internets, travel, trekamerica.com, tripit.com, world, worldsbestbars.com
For a long time, many of my friends and family have complained about my addiction to my Blackberry. Yes, I know it’s bad…but with email, texting, bbming, and more forms of e-communication being created each day, it’s unlikely that I’ll be able to quit it any time soon. Facebook, however, is getting dangerously close to being cut off.
1984? Try 2010. via Flickr
When I joined Facebook, the site was a small online community for wannabe-elitists from a handful of “good schools.” Since I enjoy feeling like I have friends, I’m glad its become open to everyone, but recently it’s taken a serious turn for the worse. Each day seems to bring a new frightening report about the growing lack of privacy on the site (and overwhelming sense that Facebook cares more about its profit line than what it shares about you).
With all of this news, I think it’s time to end our 6-year relationship. It’s not you, it’s me. Actually, it’s neither of us. It’s the email I got from a girl moving into my apartment complex that said the first thing that popped up on Google when she searched for the apartment was my Facebook profile. Yeah- privacy my ass.
In a related note, Mark Zuckerburg’s recent tirade makes me feel great that people are trusting him with their phone numbers, addresses, birth dates, and other personal information. He seems like a really great guy!
-MK
Contact the author at mksmogger@gmail.com.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged blackberry, facebook, google, iphone, mark zuckerburg, privacy, technology, the internets
The internet is a crazy place. In the late 1990’s, stumbling upon strange fan-created GeoCities or Lycos pages for the Beatles or original seasons of the Power Rangers was about as weird as it got. Since then, a lot more people have come online – and the Internet has come a long, strange way. If Perez Hilton revolutionized the blog as a means to build a community (for gossip), check out what the sites below have created communities for…
He's basically the "Lindsay" of Dealbreaker. via Flickr
Inhabitat – Being green has gone from being a political statement to an accepted, elitist way of life. To keep up on all the latest eco-friendly trends (What? How didn’t you know hemp is all the rage this season for baby blankets?), check out Inhabitat – the site for eco-fashion, earth friendly design, and green living in general.
Art Observed– While it may have shrunk during the Great Recession, the art community has managed to survive and paint another day. Art Observed records the latest in artistic trends, auction results, gallery events, and other art-centric news. If you think you’ve been a little too low-brow lately, AO will give you just the boost of culture you’ll need keep your hipster cred.
Above the Law – One of my friends who goes to the University of Chicago’s law school showed me this one. She was once a crazy party girl who would go out almost every day of the week. Today, she spends her days consumed by studying in the library. To understand how this transformation took place, check out this site for fans of the law – yes, people like this exist.
Dealbreaker – Just like Above the Law, Dealbreaker serves a very niche, elite, community – the Wall Street crowd. Day traders, bankers, financial analysts, whatever – they all love two things: money and themselves – and this site gossips about both in typical greedy excess.
Going Concern – Yes, law students are nerdy. And yes, financial experts are slimy. But accountants and CFOs? Well, they’re both. And they mange to heighten both nerdiness and greed to a new level in this blog – written by them and for them. This makes me seriously miss the days of low-tech GeoCities sites…
If someone can find blogs for plumbers, electricians, or waiters, I’d love to see them. Somehow, I think they’d be more interesting than listening to accountants, lawyers, and analysts. So much for being “high brow”…
-MK
Contact the author at mksmogger@gmail.com.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged above the law, accountants, analysts, art, art galleries, art observed, auctions, ben bernanke, blogs, cfos, dealbreaker, eco-friendly, finance, financial, going concern, green, hemp, high culture, ibankers, inhabitat, law, law school, lawyers, low culture, money, nerds, perez hilton, stocks, taxes, technology, the internets, wall street
Attention: all you struggling graphic designers and artists out there- your prayers have been answered. Tons of new customizable and do-it-yourself shopping sites are popping up all over the internet. One of the most exciting trends? Allowing users to post their artwork and giving them a small cut of the profit when others buy their designs.
Is that Charlie? via Threadless
Threadless – Probably our favorite of these sites is Threadless, which allows you to pick from thousands of unique designs (most drawing from pop culture sensations like Lost, Conan, The Dark Knight, etc.). You can also sign up for their t-shirt of the month club, submit designs and win prizes, and compete with others on the site in designing competitions.
Dreaming of a world with no fashion victims. via ThreadBanger
Threadbanger – You can’t technically buy things from Threadbanger, but they will teach you how to make anything you could ever want. Threadbanger is more of mini TV network, focusing on videos that tell viewers about do-it-yourself fashion. If you’re artistically inclined, this could be a great source of ideas. On the other hand, if you can’t thread a needle…this may not be the site for you.
Take a shot at looking at this site. via DesignByHumans
The one thing you should always keep in mind about do-it-yourself fashion? If someone tells you that you look bad, you have no one blame but yourself.
-MK
Contact the author at mksmogger@gmail.com.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged clothing, conan, design by humans, do it yourself, fashion, LOST, shirts, shopping, the dark knight, the internets, threadbanger, threadless
Like The New Yorker, NPR is one of those things that you tell people you like in order to impress them and make them think you’re smarter than you really are. While I do occasionally listen to NPR, it’s typically because I accidentally hit the wrong buttons when trying to flip between KIIS FM and AMP Radio. On top of that, I’m not going to lie to you…I only have it programmed in my car so that anyone else who rides in it will think I have more brain cells than the minimum needed to analyze the lyrics of “Ridin’ Solo” (no offense to Jason Derulo- it’s really catchy!). The main reason I have a hard time listening to NPR? It’s not the stories (which are fairly interesting), but the way they are delivered. Dull and montone – they are almost enough to put me to sleep…on a Thursday afternoon…on the 405.
So, when I first watched this video put together by NPR’s team, I was shocked. Sure, the dancing is off, and the movement is horribly, horribly uncomfortable and awkward – but it made me want to tune in and give the station a second chance. Maybe they should start playing GaGa in between stories about the secret ways to order a Big Mac and the undoubtedly-crazy history of Yoga.
-MK
Contact the author at mksmogger@gmail.com.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged amp radio, comedy, Jason Derulo, KIIS FM, Lady Gaga, npr, radio, telephone, the internets, viral videos, youtube
Inevitably, the first question most tourists ask once they arrive in Los Angeles is the way-overly-cliche “Where do I see celebrities?” Like other questions about the weather, the traffic, or the accuracy of Clueless, it’s just one of those things you have to put up with living in the City of Angels. I know, it’s a tough life. So, what’s the best answer to that age-old question about spotting a star out in the streets of LA? Well, just like spotting lions in Africa, it’s all about the hunt – and staking out your unsuspecting targets.
Buyer beware. via Flickr
She knew they'd be there. via Flickr
Try the Reality Star route – many can be found in their normal surroundings if you take time to seek them out. Tom Colicchio from Top Chef? Try Craft. Susan Feniger from Top Chef Masters? Try Street. Stacie “The Bartender” from The Hills? The Dime. If you want to get super crazy, set up a check-in with dermatologist Dr. Will Kirby (winner of Big Brother 2) or arrange a session at Tru Yoga in Santa Monica with Aras Baskauskas (winner of Survivor: Panama).
The only thing that can keep me away from Cafe Vida. via Zimbio
-MK
Contact the author at mksmogger@gmail.com.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged agents, attention whoring, big brother, CAA, celebrities, century city, clueless, coffee bean, craft, CUT, dermatology, doctors, eating disorders, heidi montag, hollywood, icm, kim kardashian, los angeles, Movies, mr. chow, nature, paris hilton, reality tv, santa monica, sight-seeing, spencer pratt, stacie, stars, street, survivor, susan feniger, the dime, the hills, the internets, the ivy, tom colicchio, top chef, tourists, traffic, TV, Twitter, will kirby, Wolfgang Puck, yoga
You’ve probably seen this video, but if you haven’t it’s worth checking out. Whether you love or hate Lady GaGa – this Justin Bieber-lookalike’s performance of “Paparazzi” is incredible. You’ll be able to see it again live tomorrow on The Ellen DeGeneres Show where he’ll be performing it for the host (and Lady GaGa fan).
-MK
Contact the author at mksmogger@gmail.com.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged ellen degeneres, justin bieber, Lady Gaga, music, music videos, paparazzi, the internets, viral videos, youtube
Although it is barely used anymore, one of my favorite terms of the early internet was the “information superhighway.” Since that phrase was invented, the internet has become much more like an information-overload traffic jam. However, it can still be the best way to find something if you know what you’re looking for. And if not? Then you can find some of the best highway pit stops you’ve ever seen. Check out these sites if you have some spare time…but just remember not to get lost.
When awkward families met Walmart. via Awkward Family Photos
awkwardfamilyphotos.com – Every family has them, so don’t pretend your’s doesn’t. This blog has made a habit of collecting the most uncomfortable, unflattering, and unfortunate photos of different families (and people by themselves) around. I even think in several of these, you can even see the very early signs of future personality disorders. You might even consider the site educational!
peopleofwalmart.com – However you stand on the issue, it’s undeniable that Walmart has had a major impact on American culture in the past few decades. And if you think it’s been for the better, this site will correct you.
lamebook.com – We brought you Failbook awhile ago, but this site may arguably be even funnier. Check it out for all the typical awkward posts you see on Facebook, just magnified, and not related to your group of friends in any way.
-MK
Contact the author at mksmogger@gmail.com.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged bored, boredom, embarassing, facebook, the internets, walmart, websites
Sure, it’s easy to check out the latest celebrity styles in magazines like US Weekly or People and try to replicate your idol’s look…but what about when you see someone on the street and feel too uncomfortable to ask them about their sense of style? Well, fashion website Style Like U may be able to help.
Celia's closet. via Flickr
While they won’t be able to track down that person you saw walking down Santa Monica Blvd, they will be able to provide you with some online examples to hopefully trigger some inspiration.
Not American Apparel. via StyleLikeU
Check the site out, along with their tips on how to look like the “models” aka everyday people they feature. Just keep in mind that looking good isn’t easy…so the hits are few and far between.
-MK
Contact the author at mksmogger@gmail.com.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged clothing, fashion, style, style like u, the internets, trends
But it is. For some reason, random accidents happening to people who least expect them make for amazing Youtube videos. This one’s no different. In a somewhat related personal note – I bought an Espresso maker last weekend, but am now a little scared of it. So, if you’re in the market for a home coffee maker, you know where to reach me.
-MK
Contact the author at mksmogger@gmail.com.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged accidents, coffee, espresso, funny, mistakes, the internets, videos, viral videos, youtube
Axis of Awesome – a comedy band from Australia – prove that all pop songs take just 4 chords. And they’re right. Watch the ridiculously amusing YouTube video below:
Thanks to Chris for this gem!
-MM
Contact the author at mmthesmogger@gmail.com.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 4 chord songs video, axis of awesome, funny haha, the internets, youtube
Every once in a while we stumble upon other blogs devoted to the LA area that we have to give some credit to, and we’ve found one that we think deserves that claim. Although it’s just getting started, Pineapple.LA is a collection of video shorts highlighting different places in and around Los Angeles for weekend outings, nature hikes, and random visits.
Currently, the site has items on the Bronson Caves, the Self-Realization Center in Pacific Palisades, Dockweiler State Beach, Griffith Observatory, and more. For those who prefer their Smogger with a little video enhancement, it’s a good supplement to our site. Not I said supplement…not replacement…
-MK
Contact the author at mksmogger@gmail.com.
Google is famous for it’s logo changes to commemorate holidays, special events… and sometimes just random crap they decide to go with. Like today, for example. I see a lovely ballet graphic replacing the name of the search engine, so I hover over the image to discover that it is – drum roll, please – Tchaikovsky’s 170th birthday. Good to know, Google.
Over the years, Google’s gotten pretty original with its logos, especially around the world. Here are some of the more unique logo changes and the history behind them… that may or may not be relevant to your life in any way.
-MM
Contact the author at mmthesmogger@gmail.com.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged astroboy, fall of the berlin wall, funny haha, gallery, google, google logos, pictures, slovakia, tetris, the internets, turkish oil wrestling
Cavallari's cover. via TheLipstickDiaries
Online clothing store ASOS was officially launched in the year 2000, but I only discovered the site until late last year. While many have proclaimed the past decade as one of “zero” or nothingness, I can safely say that this one discovery at the eleventh-hour of 2009, made that decade as a whole worthwhile for me. While it began as a clothing store, ASOS has transformed over the years, and now produces its own clothing, publishes its own magazine, and has become a lifestyle brand in its own right.
Bilson's back...in magazines, at least. via IvoryGlam
But, be careful with ASOS. On a recent night, a casual visit resulted in a massive emptying of my wallet, the loss of hours of productivity, and a strange (but temporary) yearning to be British. The reasons why this site is so amazing are many – an insane amount of variety, shockingly low prices, fashion-forward choices, and probably the most easily navigable shopping site I’ve ever seen. What other internet portal lets you search by size, style, color, brand, and price range all at once? And then once you’ve found something, let’s you have almost every detail you could ask about the product. Best of all? For us Americans, you can conveniently switch the site from pricing in pounds to American dollars. Genius! Unless you don’t really want to know how much you’re spending…which I often find I don’t…
Gaga goes wild for Asos. via Flickr
I’d love to keep ASOS my little secret, but it’s only a matter of time until it’s everywhere. When it’s this easy to use, this in-style, and this rapidly on the rise, how could it ever stay a secret forever?
-MK
Contact the author at mksmogger@gmail.com.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged ASOS, britain, Britomania, clothing, deals, discounts, fashion, kristin cavallari, Lady Gaga, magazines, Rachel Bilson, sales, shopping, the internets, trendwatch
Smogger 