Not too long ago (actually, up until about 20 minutes ago) I would have sworn to you on my LIFE, that I would never, never write about scrapbooking. It’s not that I have much against it, it’s just that right now, as applied to my current lifestyle, scrapbooking represents a few things that are very unsavory (like sororities, marriage, babies, maybe a few extra pounds…). But the other side of this situation is: I have a huge thing for monsters. Actually, I have a huge thing for pretty much anything with sharp teeth. And, as a writer, I’m allowed to enjoy paper, because it represents 50% of the reason writing exists at all (the other 50% belonging to pen and ink, respectively. And no, it shouldn’t be a 3-way split; paper also beats rock — for reasons unknown — and is therefore deserving of the larger fraction).

Anyways, let’s do this ripping-off-bandaid style: BAM POP! makes paper — and yes, it is primarily for scrapbooking. But volume 3 is peppered with monsters. So A+B, instead of equaling C, actually has a cancellation effect and basically leaves us with AWESOME. I wish they were bloody monsters- that would be even neato-er, but hey. I’m not greek, not married, not knocked up, and I like their scrapbooking stuff. I think that means…they win.

Seeing as though it’s Friday, mid-afternoon and gorgeous outside (at least it is here in NYC), I’m going to go ahead and assume that you’re just like me and being productive by counting down the minutes to 6:00pm. You should, then, take your eyes off the clock and waste some time watching The Puppet Agency, a perfectly hilarious internet show about an ad agency that holds true to a real-life corporate gig — except for the obvious fact that the characters are puppets. The beginning opens with a high-energy rock theme song and random clips including the puppets drinking, smoking or making out on the job. Now maybe I am wrong or just oddly perverted, but are puppets simulating sex acts ever not funny? There are currently three episodes up on the site with nine slated, plus a bonus "Lost Episodes" clip. Featuring six characters, they fit in everyone from the Client to the Junior Executive to the Token Bald Guy. There is also a Creative Director who refuses to budge on any ideas and boasts his own brilliance in Episode 3 that I could swear was based on one of my former co-workers. They are currently accepting stories so head on over and share your cubicle complaints and calamities.

Or, you know. Just write in and bitch about how much you hate working on sunny Friday afternoons.

Building a website (and I’m talking a serious website, not some one-pager for posting lame vacation pictures and blog about how much milk one can drink before puking) can — and theoretically, should — take a long, long time, hence why it’s called “building” a website, because it’s kind of like building a house. And when you’re trying to build a nice house, like one with custom cabinets and secret passageways and maybe an exact replica made to scale for the family pit bull in the backyard, it takes even longer. At least until some asshole comes along and builds said house in four weeks, thereby messing up our entire, established, well-maintained-until-YOU fantasy.

Translate this situation to the web, and what you get is a sick, sickly good promo site for X-Games 13 (August 2-5; Los Angeles, CA). Much like other huge sites for huge operations, originalworksofsport.com features all kinds of flash magic and click tricks, but much unlike other sites of this scale, the whole thing was smashed together in four weeks. By a little, irreverent design firm by the name of WEFAIL*.

And perhaps it’s fitting that an incredible site for an extreme-sports showdown — where speed is sort of the main idea — was built in such a timely manner, but out of respect for the other thousands of upstanding web designers trying to make a living could you please take it down a notch? Maybe relax a little? Try going to sleep at night? Because some of these people have families and side-jobs as superheroes, and, well, you’re just not helping.

But…uh. Nice work.

*aside to Jordan Stone and Martin Hughes: Your name is bullshit. Change it, immediately.

Hi guys.

Here’s the deal: We’re on a mission to give you more of what you want. Things are evolving, as always, here at joshspear.com, and we’d love to hear your feedback. Your input is essential to helping us make sure we wind up with something useful, and not just, like, a third boob which at the beginning may seem like lots of fun, but really ends up being totally weird.

So today — if you don’t mind sparing a minute or two — tell us what we’re doing that you like. Or hate. Or wish we had, but don’t. Tell us anything you want, because we are going to hang on every word (because if not for you, we are not, etc, etc). Unless, of course, they are stupid suggestions wherein we’ll politely ignore them in public and laugh about them in private. Kidding!

Happy weekend.

I immediately realized my mistake yesterday as I settled in a cab heading downtown after leaving the IILWY office to meet Josh for dinner. I’d left behind both my iPod and brand new (and rather pricey) headphones behind, which generally means I will not, under any circumstances, get on the subway to come back to Brooklyn. After confirming that I had, in fact, left them there (also reconfirming that sometimes, I’m a total idiot) and deciding turning around was not an option, I mentally budgeted out cab fare back to Park Slope because in that sense, I am a total snob.

My self-annoyance was briefly replaced with amusement this morning when I saw Anna Tascha Larrson’s earphone lariats. Available in both gold and silver, they reminded me of the old adage, “you’d forget your head if it wasn’t screwed on.” Because that, I would. The best part is they’re androgynous enough — in a totally awesome way — to be worn by both guys and girls. (I’m totally digging her “I’m With Stupid —>” necklace as well. So hot.)

via Fashionista

After two years of planning, Steven Holl’s vision for the Herning Center of the Arts is finally in motion. Breaking ground last month, the finished project will eventually house the Herning Art Museum, the MidWest ensemble and the Socle du Monde. The result will be one very eco-friendly, beautifully designed building — concrete- and mesh- based, somewhat reminiscent of a fabric tent — measuring over 60,000 square feet, and will feature an auditorium, both permanent and temporary exhibits, a restaurant, office and rehearsal spaces. Curved roofs will allow indirect natural light to illuminate artwork during the day, and both gray water recycling and geothermal HVAC heating systems will be implemented as well as reflecting pools and a green roof topping the structure’s parking lot. Just like the folks at Inhabitat, I’m a huge fan of Holl (some friends of mine got married at the Chapel of St. Ignatius in Seattle a few years back) and I’m really excited to follow the progress and completion of this latest super-innovative project.