The Fountainhead vs. Atlas Shrugged

  vs. 

Random House released two lists of their 100 best novels; one from their board of directors and one compiled from reader feedback.  Numbers 1 & 2, respectively, on the reader list are Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead, both by Ayn Rand.  I was surprised when I saw the order, because I think that The Fountainhead trumps Atlas Shrugged any day of the week.  When I read it I couldn't put it down, fell in love with Roark, vowed never to be a second-hander, and claimed it to be the best book I have ever come across.  When I read Atlas Shrugged I enjoyed it, but I felt like I was reading the same story with different characters and the 50 page monologues weren't nearly as spell-binding the second time around.  However, as I mentioned, I read The Fountainhead FIRST, and the more I talk to people and read about Rand preferences it seems that almost everyone prefers the first book they read.  So, which one is actually BETTER?

Let's break it down:  The Fountainhead was written first, so many say that Atlas takes the initial ideas, such as objectivism - the pursuit of one's own happiness and rational self-interest, but more fully develops the characters and thoughts.  So, is it a better novel? More critically acclaimed? Or does the grittier idea flow of The Fountainhead reflect a purer philosophy?  Sometimes over-thinking a matter can make the idea more polished, but it loses some of its originality.  I think that this is the case with Atlas Shrugged, and some people may agree.  However, probably a million more would tell me I'm nuts.  

So which is it??

I'd love to hear feedback on this post - and please mention which book you read first!!!

Obvious Child

Gillian Robespierre's romantic comedy, Obvious Child, features a break-up, a few too many Jack and Cokes, a subway condom, an underwear-clad drum session, and, ultimately, an abortion date. It reminds me of a bizarro-world Juno, where instead of falling in love in 11th grade with a bun in the oven, the sparks fly at Planned Parenthood (which I am convinced is, after watching 16 and Pregnant for the first time recently, WAY more realistic).

The writing had me cracking up and Jenny Slate, SNL's newest cast member, is incredibly endearing as the lead role - never has a cuter girl uttered the words, "Your pee smells like Cheetos."  The short film is 20 minutes long and perfectly embodies the name of this blog - who wouldn't rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints?


Obvious Child from Gillian Robespierre on Vimeo.

P.S. You might recognize the leggy blond in the bar or the bewigged, balloon-carrying girl on Valentine's Day as none other than Chicago's own, Kelly Frances Ramsey.

Yo Gabba Gabba

Every red-blooded American has watched their fair share of Saturday morning cartoons over a delicious bowl of Lucky Charms.  Ah, the good ol' days.

Well, I've got good news, folks.  The good ol' days are back!!! Yo Gabba Gabba is the raddest kids' show since Thundercats and the best part is that it's not just for kids.  The have amazing guests like Jack Black, Andy Samberg, Amy Sedaris, Mates of State, Of Montreal, MGMT, Chromeo, and Datarock who either perform a music video or do a trademarked "dancey dance."  Here are a couple of my favorites:





Here are a couple other gems that couldn't be embedded:
Of Montreal - Brush Brush Brush 
Mates of State - No One Likes to be Left Out
Andy Samberg's Dancey Dance

Cheers to Mark Buehrle!

What better way to celebrate a White Sox opening day victory and one of the most amazing plays in baseball history than by uncorking a bottle of Buehrlot?  A wine which is, as any true Chicagoan would agree, far superior to CaberLee in more ways than one.

Bruce the Funny Dog

Sometimes you need a smile.  Our canine friend can make you smile.

www.comedycentral.com

Mashup Mix Master Trackademicks

Take Ram Jam's Black Betty, add some Rock DJ from Robbie Williams, and toss in The Jump Off compliments of Lil Kim and you will have yourself my perfect theme song.  It hasn't been created YET, but give it time - ah, the beauty of mashups.

Here's the freshly dropped 3rd album from Trackademicks:

Just Finished: Lydia Davis

I read a LOT.  I was even voted Super Reader in 3rd grade (I cried because I was hoping for Best Dressed).  I often get requests for good recommendations, so I'm going to start writing little blurbs about books after I finish them.  Here's the most recent:

The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis by Lydia Davis

Davis compiles heaps of short stories in this 700 page behemoth - but the best thing about a book of short stories is how easily you can skip around.  My favorite section was "Break it Down;" her stories written in 1986.  Davis has an uncanny way of describing exactly how she feels in certain situations without mentioning actual emotions.  Love, lust, shame, hatred, and embarrassment are all subtly relayed through the character's thoughts and actions and the reader is left to freely interpret them.  Although very different from the rest of her short stories, this is one of my favorite passages:

Head, Heart
Heart weeps.
Head tries to help heart.
Head tells heart how it is, again:
You will lose the ones you love.  They will all go.  But even the earth will go, someday.
Heart feels better, then.
But the words of head do not remain long in the ears of heart.
Heart is so new to this.
I want them back, says heart.
Head is all heart has.
Help, head. Help heart.

Kind of a downer, but touching AND grammatically correct.

Bodega Girls

Check out this awesome Boston-based, rock, motown, disco, toe-tapping, finger-snapping, shoulder-shrugging, shimmy-shaking, driving around in a cadillac, sequin-wearing, smokey-eyed badass band that I love. (download at your leisure, friends)

Yerba Mate: Drink of Champions

One of the best things I learned about in Argentina (besides Gardel and Maradona, of course) was Yerba Mate.

It's a delicious tea/coffee alternative that is traditionally drunk through a metal straw from a gourd filled with loose leaves, but I prefer my tea in a bag - so much easier.

Some of it's perks:
- contains a natural caffeine, similar to green tea
- tons of antioxidants
- metabolism booster, appetite suppressant
- fights bad breath! (who knew!?)

You can find it in health food stores and fancy-schmancy grocery stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's.  I highly recommend trying it out - it may even improve your tango!

Drink Mate.  You can look just like him!

Garfield Minus Garfield

These Garfield comics without Garfield are about 657 times funnier than the originals.  No one ever notices poor Jon Arbuckle.

         

       

       

Garfield Minus Garfield

F%$@ a dime. I'm a silva dolla. Holla.

Trina . . . Missy . . . Lil Kim . . . just a few of my idols.  I even had a pretty mean answering machine rap when I got my very own phone line for my 13th birthday. ( . . . so since you called let your name be known . . .  when you here that beeping tone. Word.)

The early 2000's killed it with amazing female rap talent. It's hard to compete with songs like B R Right, Work It, and The Jump Off, but these girls come daaaang close.

My favorite, Spank Rock's right hand woman:



Chicago's finest:



New girl on the block (only 17 years old!):



These new girls bust it out . . . and they can tide your over until Misdemeanor puts out a new album.

Only the wax, ma'am.

I recently "candled" my ears, which means I stuck a long, hollow candle through a paper plate then put it in my ear and let it burn down to about 2 inches. I've always prided myself in ear cleanliness, so I was surprised to see that the candle was FULL of orange gunk when I was finished.

Upon further research I learned that the orange gunk doesn't actually come from the ear, but from the candle itself. My ears have about the same amount of clarity after this experiment (only so-so . . . too many ska concerts in high school).

What do you think about candling? The next best thing since Wet Willies or another weird hippie-dippie sham, like global warming?

Travel Love

Sometime I miss traveling so much my heart hurts . . . and then I watch this and it hurts more . . .



Inspired by Kels :)

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis

Check out the rest of his interviews: Between Two Ferns

Tina Fey, You're My Hero.

She has long been wowing us with her wit:

A Harvard Medical School study has determined that rectal thermometers are still the best way to tell a baby's temperature. Plus, it really teaches the baby who's boss. 

Now check out her hot bod!

Tina Fey's Esquire spread

Zac Posen for Target

I know I was just talking about the Gaultier designer series, but Target already has another major name ready for the picking (or, more aptly, the pushing and hair pulling) in select stores this spring.

Manhattan native, Zac Posen, who besides being absolutely gorgeous, has been making iconic clothing since stepping into the fashion world in 2000.  He already debuted a hugely successful line for Target Australia in 2008 and his USA line will be in stores April 25, 2010.

This line is said to be inspired by recent controversy involving lesbian teens not being allowed to attend prom together.  Well, his Snap Tape Dress (Look 6) will definitely be coming out of the closet and onto ME once it hits stores!

Click here for the Zac Posen for Target Lookbook

Free Music from RCRD LBL

***WARNING!***

This is the coolest website I've found in a really long time and it could cause hours of downloading pleasure.

RCRD LBL posts free music downloads from emerging and established artists.  I found some amazing remixes from Miike Snow, The xx, Florence + The Machine, Lady Chann, and Passion Pit.

The Rabbit Hole

Chicago's most recent nod to the speak easy, The Rabbit Hole is an underground supper club where you either have to know one of the primary owners or be sponsored by one to gain admittance.  Needless to say . . . I want to go SO badly.

It's one long table set up for a communal dinner in a dimly lit room full of delectable goodies. The owners refer to themselves as The Cheshire Chef and The Queen of Tarts and the whole thing sounds like something straight out of a Tim Burton movie.

The Rabbit Hole  

Does anyone happen to have a reservation?  I'd loooove to join you . . .

Phoenix's Lisztomania

I love this video - and I want him to be my music teacher.

Ortolan - Time on a String

This 4-some of sisters just released their album, Time on a String, last week and I'm already in love with it. The album is so new and small that it doesn't even have free torrents out, so I had to BUY it on iTunes, like some sort of sucker. Their music is self-described as "a musical bed time story" and I think I'll see if it's true while I'm dozing by the pool today.

Ortolan's MySpace Page

Favorite Song: Sticky Situation