Totally Gonna Blog About This

How Do You Define Beauty?

Karri Wells — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:18:08 +0000

When I first heard about Jessica Simpson’s new reality show on VH1, The Price of Beauty, I rolled my eyes, and thought, “here we go again.” A camera crew following another drop dead gorgeous celebrity while she gets plucked and groomed into perfection while she tells us how hard it is to look good. That was before I actually saw a clip of what the show was REALLY about.

During the show, Ms. Simpson and her two besties, hairdresser Ken, and bud CaCee travel the globe to show us how various cultures around the world define beauty. It’s like a national geographic documentary, but with a darling goofy blonde girl and her two side kicks as commentators.

I think it’s VERY important to show people that there are many different ways to recognize beauty. For instance, in the clip they show Ugandan brides-to-be who are exiled into a hut to “plump up” before their big day, because in their culture, big is beautiful. In some countries women go to great lengths to lighten their skin, while in our country women get spray tans to achieve a bronzed appearance. I find it fascinating to get all of the different perspectives, because it really makes me think about how I personally define beauty.

So how do I define beauty? For me, it’s about who you are, and what your actions say about you. Are you kind? Are you good to people? Are you loyal? When someone possesses these qualities they are beautiful to me. People are kind of like cake. You can decorate a cake and make it look grand and beautiful, but it doesn’t mean that underneath all of that frosting the cake is going to taste good.

So what about you, how do you define beauty?

Mumford & Sons Cover Vampire Weekend’s ‘Cousins’

Karri Wells — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:32:29 +0000

Found this over on The Music Slut – Mumford & Sons cover of Vampire Weekend’s ‘Cousins’

Hear the original

Cousins – Vampire Weekend

Definitely a different take on the song – what do you think? Love it? Hate it?

Ben Houk, A Really Good ‘Bad Comedian’

Karri Wells — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:08:09 +0000

I’ve seen Ben perform a few times, and ladies and gentleman, he is a funny dude. One of my favorite jokes from his ‘bad comedian’ routine – “Do you guys think Spiderman has a website?”

Get more at Ben Houk’s MySpace page

Piano Version of Sleepyhead

Karri Wells — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:30:39 +0000

Here’s a piano version of my favorite Passion Pit song, Sleepyhead.

Sleephead – Piano Version MP3

January ‘10 Playlist

Karri Wells — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:35:38 +0000

January ‘10

How We Got Here – A History Of Inbound Marketing

Karri Wells — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:38:08 +0000

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine a world before Google or the iPhone. Take a look at how we got here.

(image via HubSpot)

For Orchestra Puts It’s Spin on MGMT’s ‘Kids’

Karri Wells — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:53:33 +0000

Little known fact: I was a flautist for four whole years. In 8th grade I was informed that in order to continue hittin’ the high C on my wind instrument, I would be required to join the marching band. There was something about wearing orthopedic shoes and really ugly hat with a chin strap that immediately turned me off. Not to mention that, I would be forced to perform during halftime at football games; a time which my adolescent hormones had reserved for flirting with boys. Therefore, I made the decision to leave the band.

If at any point during the process of quitting someone told me that one day I’d be able to cover really sweet pop songs in an orchestra, maybe I would have stuck with it.

Check out For Orchestra performing their arrangement of MGMT’s ‘Kids’. Seriously, this is pretty awesome. If you like this video, visit the For Orchestra website where they have a bunch of other songs you will probably like.

Stereotyping People By Their Favorite Indie Bands

Karri Wells — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:05:27 +0000

This list from Flavorwire had me rolling on the ground. As someone who has seen more bands on this list that I’d like to admit I can attest to the accuracy of these stereotypes. People get pigeon-holed for a reason.

The XX
Blog enthusiasts who thought wearing a keffiyeha was awesome.

Passion Pit
Bros vaguely interested in listening to music and very interested in having sex with their girlfriend.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Girls who bought checkered sneakers in the 8th grade.

Fleet Foxes
Hopelessly patchy beard growers.

TV On The Radio
Politically-correct hipsters.

Grizzly Bear
People who think that world hunger could be assuaged with four part harmonies.

Micachu and the Shapes
Chicks with bad teeth.

Wavves
Dudes who think low production value is “authentic” and would go down on Todd P.

Steve Aoki
Alts who don’t “get” Hipster Runoff.

Joanna Newsom
People who have considered befriending a squirrel.

Devendra Banhart
People who have considered becoming a squirrel.

Animal Collective
Guys who make “Best of the Year” lists in January based predominantly on “feeling.”

The Antlers
Boys who enjoy crying more than their girlfriend.

Vivian Girls
Girls who purchase a guitar, buy flannel from the Salvation Army, wear glasses that they don’t actually need, and still can’t get the guy.

Vampire Weekend
Bros who try to make out with girls at concerts by relating to them via old Nickelodeon shows. “Remember Pete & Pete??”

Death Cab for Cutie
Girls who quote lyrics as their Facebook status.

Neon Indian
Gorilla Vs. Bear readers.

She & Him
People who hate Ben Gibbard.

Bon Iver
People with self-esteem issues and probably hate Ben Gibbard.

Washed Out
Those who comfortably accept chillwave as a genre.

Memory Tapes
Those who comfortably accept chillwave as a lifestyle.

The Shins
Premature alts who considered Garden State a life-altering viewing experience.

Radiohead
Everyone.

Tegan & Sara
Lesbians and guys who firmly believe that when there are two girls on stage together, there is a 63% chance of them making out.

St. Vincent
Feminists.

Drake
Indie rap fans who thought Tha Carter III was too mainstream.

Ra Ra Riot
Girls who got their boyfriends to watch Me and You and Everyone We Know.

Bat for Lashes
Girls who wear leggings outside of ’80s-themed parties.

Japandroids
Guys who only read Pitchfork for the ratings and haven’t showered in at least two days.

Kimya Dawson
Chicks who are described by their girlfriends as “sweet” and “really nice” when guys ask if their friend is hot.

Girls
Anyone who thinks The Catcher in Rye is the greatest book of all time.

Kid Cudi
Blipsters who still wear neon shoes and smoke pot.

The Flaming Lips
Self-actualized bros who grow pot.

Antony and the Johnsons
Guys who still cry every time they watch Bambi.

Matt and Kim
Closeted Blink-182 enthusiasts.

Here We Go Magic
Guys who are ‘over’ Grizzly Bear.

Phoenix
People who don’t listen to enough music.

Sufjan Stevens
People who believe in two things: Jesus and Juno.

M.I.A.
Girls who don’t understand politics.

Regina Spektor
Girls who don’t understand boys.

Justice
Bros who, at one point in their lives, have tried to grow a mustache.

Arcade Fire
Frequent transcendental experience havers.

Deerhunter
Avid doodlers.

Wilco
Guys who go to concerts to relax.

YACHT
Someone who, if presented with the opportunity to join a cult, would most definitely join that cult.

Ratatat
Boys who think Ocarina of Time is the greatest game ever made.

Patrick Wolf
Gay guys.

CSS
Girls who throw up at every party.

Woods
Indie dudes who wear beanies and you can see the front of their hair pulled back beneath it.

Spoon
Bros who drink shitty beer without ironic intentions.

Dirty Projectors
People who like way too many toppings on their pizza.

Man Gets Carried Across New York City

Karri Wells — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:47:41 +0000

In an effort to prove the “friendly-ness” of New Yorkers Mark Malkoff asks strangers to literally carry him across the city. So the next time someone tells you New Yorkers aren’t nice, show them this video.

Thank you to my bud Asher who found this

Infographics Can Actually Be Cool

Karri Wells — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:20:06 +0000

I was never very good at math, and when it came to graphing things on x and y axes I was hopeless. However, I’m LOVING the Song Chart Meme set on Flickr – thank you boyshapedbox! I don’t know you, but I like your style. Here are a few of my favorites. Finally graphs that I can actually read.

(via profundis)