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Depression on Television

I currently find myself sitting on my sofa with nothing more than thoughts of depression but it's not because I'm depressed. It's because every Ad space on t.v. has been taken over by Zoloft or whatever anti-depressant drug is out there.

You typically won't catch me watching television but I decided to see what I was missing. Apparently, I just got the memo that Americans are depressed. Anyway, life is too short so keep on trucking.

When I feel unproductive I just hit up the thrift store. You can find inspiration in obstacles while digging through old/new what have you.

Evolution 6 Trailer

A few hours ago, Miguel "Teck" Arteaga realeased this teaser. Enjoy!

Whitewash

One of Chicago's greatest.

POSE - Whitewash at Known Gallery, Los Angeles from LRG on Vimeo.

Vision And Communism

Last week I had the opportunity to go check out the SMART Museum's exhibition VISION AND COMMUNISM with my super rad student. Do yourself a favor and get out there. It runs through January 22nd with a film showing on November 2nd. Here are a few pictures I took of our outing.

Cool Applications For Cool Mom/Dad Points

Me Books - A cracking new storytelling app from Made in Me on Vimeo.

This is the coolest app ever, if you have an ipad that is. I seriously considered getting one after looking through this little how to video.

Putos Puercos!

So many people don't know what's going on and it's a shame. I hope more of these videos go viral so people can understand what is REALLY happening. I can point out so many things wrong with this whole picture but I'm sure you can too, or can you? Educate yourself, know your rights.

A Peaceful Protest?

"When peaceful revolution becomes impossible, violent revolution becomes inevitable." -- John F. Kennedy

Utah by Tahoe

GREVE MUL X OINK X SABOTAZ (GxOxS4)

"Ladies and Gentlemen!...Its Time!"

Crack The Surface Episode II Teaser Update

Crack The Surface - Episode II - Teaser Trailer from SilentUK on Vimeo.

Tooth Fairy Affair

Tooth Fairy Affair from Izabela Melamed on Vimeo.

Dabs X Mayla

great song and nice time lapse.

Banksy vs King Robbo

Untitled from SAN on Vimeo.

The Orange Virus

My little one really likes this video and so do I. Most of all, I like that there are no words and it's a pretty clear message to my little one as well as it is to you too? I hope.

Happy House

Siouxsie and the Banshees' Happy House has obviously something to do with The Weeknd in House Of Balloons.

Fela Kuti X De La Soul - Fela Soul

I found this and I have to say...instant download on these nicely entwined tracks.

Smore Mul X Fresh Paint

Brostitute With Tim Roth

Brostitute with Tim Roth from Tim Roth

Men and Women each have their own stereotypes. One thing I've realized along the years is that women can't hang like this. There are women who get together to go to clubs, get their nails done and other lame b.s. but from my experience never for Sports unless of course they're with their "man". It sucks. Anyway, this is pretty funny.

Ride Or Die Week 4

Don Cheadle Is Captain Planet

Don Cheadle is Captain Planet from Don Cheadle

Go Green!

Move

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

One of three videos. I really like this one.

Ride Or Die Week 3

Greve X Woes

It must've been a good day in Chicago. It's always fun to see something from these two fellas.

Sac x Ether Commercial (Skate All Cities)

SACxETHER from Cannon on Vimeo.

Apparently we missed it too, but thanks for keeping us updated. go here for more on the artist.

Style Wars 2 (Trailer)

Is this real? or is it just another Banksy hoax?

Ride Or Die Week 2

This week I saw some great cars riding around but the best one is that sky blue machine, I'm not to big on rims though but hey still looks great.

Graffiti x Hot Dogs

Thursday's are officially reserved for some Oldie's. Make sure to check out the post that inspired the idea.




Lulu's Hot Dogs on the northeast end wall that faces Taylor Street was painted in 2003. It's not too old of a production but it definitely has an old school feel. Lulu's has been opened for decades and they have great hot dogs. The grease is just right, to help clean the paint off your fingers.

Tied To Little Village

I remember back when telling strangers or friends that I was from Little Village brought a frown or some kind of horrible story that formed a relation to this particular neighborhood. Hipsters have transitioned the response as of late. Truth is, Little Village has an awesome history, if you hate history I'd advise you stop reading this post and hope for a less informative post to follow. My first home in the city was a tied-house. Of course, I was a newborn so I don't actually remember. I always enjoy learning though, about my personal history as well as Chicago history but this is not all about me so let me introduce or re-introduce you the the "Tied House". Little Village was once home to a few of the many tied-houses in Chicago. These are the easiest to access during my spare time (pics). A “tied house” was a type of saloon that originated in England, but became well known in pre prohibition America. They are currently illegal with all the post-prohibition regulations. Actually tied-houses were one of many factors leading to national prohibition in 1919. This was all due to the way they functioned. If you owned a saloon/public house of this kind you were required to purchase your product from a specific brewery. See the problem with that? of course. Like reliving the old "taxation without representation" days, with the only difference being, having a "elected" government. Coincidentally I love Boardwalk Empire. (No need to thank me for the free advertisement HBO) These pics are the two tied-houses I found in the area where I grew up but amongst my extensive research I found another on Whipple and 25th St and one down Western Ave but here is a map of the rest of them, some of the better maintained too. Enjoy.

X Marks The Spot

Old map of when Chicago Rapid Transit owned the lines, wish the CTA hadn't destroyed many of the routes. Chicago Transit Authority took over in 1947. Another found treasure.

Ride Or Die

Would you have thought it was abandoned? I wish cars had as much character as this one and that cadillac was pretty mint I might add.

Moments At Made Chapter 2 x Erykah Badu

MOMENTS at MADE I CHAPTER TWO with Erykah Badu, Jaybo & Miki´s String Quintet - The Film from MADE Blog on Vimeo.

Reading Rainbow

Sometimes I don't know where I get most of my useless information. Somewhere stored in my memory bank there lies so much of it and it peeks out at the most unexpected times. Here's one of the shows I grew up watching and loved so much. I wonder if this where all the useless facts came from. I was amongst the very few kids in the neighborhood who enjoyed working on science projects and drawing nonsense during free time aka after dinner and homework. This show brings back so many childhood memories and also makes me feel extra old now.

93'till Infinity

A few shots I captured this past Spring. I think it's safe to assume that it was painted in 1993. Seeing as how the last two building projects in Cabrini were torn down this Spring/Early Summer, it also maybe the last Anti-Violence Graffiti mural still standing in the area.

Rest In Peace Case 2

Ironic Name For Post

I yanked this picture here. In how many ways is this true? Sometimes the real "problem" is the actual officer. Just recently I had my friend tell me how they got their license taken for telling an officer to "go harass the group of guys smoking weed, and leave the "elote lady" alone". My friend was on his bike. He's now forced to attend court on his birthday. This is just one of the many relevant stories that came to my mind when I saw this picture.

Never Disappointing

I'm always in a mood for some eye candy. There's more where this came from HERE.

A3C 2011

Brian Knott speaks A3C



A3C is the largest Hip Hop festival in the southeast. I do miss Scribble Jam though.
Its October 6,7,8th get your tickets here

Place Your Orders!

Photos courtesy of @oinkartltd on twitter


As I had anticipated the new paint Fresh Paint is in the @oinkartltd warehouse two days earlier than expected. Place your orders, because although it seems like there is enough in stock I'm sure it will sell promptly at this price!

Norman Rockwell In Stockbridge

Chicago's Underground

From the north side (Roger's Park) to the loop to the south west side of Chicago "Hidden Chicago" uncovers some under Chicago historical finds and interesting facts about the city. This is one out of eight of the episodes you can find here. There are a few more that are just as interesting or informative if nothing else. Enjoy.

Vivian Maier Street Photographer

This is an amazing story...



"Vivian Maier was born in New York in 1926 and lived in both France and New York growing up. By her mid twenties she was living permanently in the U.S. She lived with one family as a nanny in Highland Park for sixteen years. The children she cared for have been quoted as saying she was like Mary Poppins to them; eccentric, delightful, taking them on great adventures."

Tiger In A Jar

beet cake from tiger in a jar on Vimeo.

Awesome husband and wife team making cool clips. This one is called "Beet Cake" Most of their other videos remind me of Gumby; the 233-episode series of American television which spanned over a 35-year period.

Oink Art Changes The Game

a few hours ago Oink Art Ltd. tweeted a picture of this brand new "Fresh Paint". Oink Art has been rocking the game hard with great deals and even online coupons for spray paint, tips (caps), markers, oink ink etc. Fresh Paint. Online retail cost: $2.95 USD each (talk about affordability) 12 colors are currently available. Matte finish. Color coded plug + color sticker on can . For more information visit their website or follow @oinkartltd on twitter. I will follow up with the Oink Art folks and keep my awesome viewers updated via my blog and also on my twitter @chicagloe

Chicago's First Street Bicycle Parking

A ribbon ceremony followed by a social gathering at Francesca’s Forno took place today to unveil the first ever on-street bicycle parking in Wicker Park (bike Parking address approx: 1591 N. Milwaukee Ave.) The social event at Francesca's was hosted by WPB and the Active Transportation Alliance. The bike parking project was put together by WPB, Special Service Area (SSA) #33/WPB, first Ward Alderman Joe Moreno, and CDOT Bicycle Parking Program Manager Christopher Gagnon.

It's nice to see that a community has put priority to serve it's cyclist. Not that bike parking will avoid collision but having been hit by a car while biking on the south side before (I'll never do that again) just gets me angry at the fact that there are little to no bike lanes. But to keep me from getting angry at the thought that I got hit by an on-duty under cover officer who refused to admit wrong doing I will revert back to my witty post. bahahahaha

All jokes aside, if your find yourself needing a bike or a tune up make sure to visit Joe at his bike shop Quick Release Bike Shop which is located at 1527 N Ashland Ave.

Starshaped Press

One of my favorite Studios to visit in Chicago. A cute silent film.
http://starshaped.com/

Introducing Color by Shawn Calvert

USING COLOR (Intro to GD: Wk 5a)

View more presentations from Shawn Calvert

Skater's Dream House

etnies PAS House for Public Domaine La Gaite Lyrique from etnies on Vimeo.

I thought this was totally awesome had I been a skater. I totally would want to eat shit and skate in the same dome I slept in but not in the same room of course. Props to designer Gil Le Bon Delapointe for such an innovative design. After a while I can see it getting annoying to live here though.

"27" By M.I.A. (The 27 Club)

27 by _M_I_A_

In reference of the 27 club M.I.A. released this track "27" after Amy Winehouse's death.

Mark Wagner Currency Collages

This is one of my favorite Collage artists. These are just a few of the works but you can check out the rest of his work here

World's Largest Graffiti Tag On Sand

I'm not talking about the one's you do with your finger and gets vague with the wave current. I'm talking about this rich dude who is president of the oil-rich United Arab Emirates, Hamad Bin Hamdan Al Ahyan. He owns the island in which he has had a half a mile high and two miles long of an inscription of his name. The world's largest self-referential graffiti tag.
The letters were crafted by a crew who worked for weeks to create them. The letters are dug so deep that they form waterways and can be seen from space.

TAKI 183 x The History of American Graffiti (Book Signing)

July 21
7 - 10 pm

The Hole
312 Bowery
New York, NY 10012

212-466-1100
theholenyc.com

"Forty years ago, an article in the July 21, 1971 issue of the New York Times titled: TAKI183 Spawns Penpals – ignited the graffiti movement in New York."

If you find yourself in NYC I reccomend that you stop and check it out for yourself. TAKI 183 signed prints will be for sale. Bring me one!

Special Guests from Writers' Corner 188:
SNAKE 1, SJK 171, MIKE 171, ROCKY 184

Who Came To Serve? 2011

The Elite 16 2011 - WindyCityBboys.com from TeCk-nological Productions on Vimeo.

If you find yourself doing nothing but watching Saturday cartoons this Saturday morning get up and head to the North or South side of Chicago whichever direction you're flocking from if you're in town this weekend. The last time I attended this event was in 2002?...so long that I can't remember. Anyway, don't miss it. It's gone through an excellent organizing crew dedicated to make sure you see the best of the best!

Saturday July 16th, 2011
Logan Square Auditorium
2539 N Kedzie Ave in Chicagloe

Crack The Surface The First Episode

Crack The Surface - Episode I from SilentUK on Vimeo.

This is the first in a series of short documentaries dedicated to the culture of urban exploring. To have a beautiful shot of an unfamiliar place would be my excuse and the adrenaline rush of course. The superficial sucks in my world. I'm in love with the dedication these guys put in. I took the time to find some of the referenced news stories. Check them out here and here

J.C. Leyendecker The Patriotic Painter

His advertisement and magazine work reflect the patriotism of J.C. Leyendecker, at least during the time in between the Wars. He's one of my favorite artists. He's one that Norman Rockwell looked up to.May the Fourth be with you fellow Americans and let freedom ring in every country!!

Public Sculpture Sound

Another video of Narcelio Grud who is definitely thinking outside the box.

Homemade Spray Paint

via HURTYOUBAD

Jimmy Butler X Chicago Bulls

Jimmy Butler in his own words

Andy Katz sits down with the Chicago Bull before the NBA draft

Its pretty awesome that the Bulls picked up Jimmy Butler. hopefully he can become a nice addition to the Chicago team. If the pending lockout gives us a season next year.

Jimmy Butler was homeless as a teen. Now he is living his dream with a new family.

By Chad Ford

ESPN.com

"I don't like the look of you. You gotta go."

Those were the last words Jimmy Butler says he remembers his mother saying to him before, according to his recollection, she kicked him to the curb.

He was 13 years old. There was no family to run to. No place to call home. No money in his pocket.

Most kids his age are concerned with school, sports, girls. Butler was just trying to survive. Alone.

Butler pauses as he speaks to me from a hotel room in Cleveland. He sounds unsure about doing this interview. For years, he's kept the story out of the headlines. Several times he tells me he's not sure it's the right time to talk.

He's focusing on NBA draft workouts. He just flew in from New Jersey, where he worked out June 8. Two days later, he tried out with the Cavs. His coach at Marquette, Buzz Williams, always told him to take everything one day at a time.

"That's literally what I live by," Butler said. "One day at a time. The NBA is a goal of mine. But I'm not there yet. I can't lose my focus."

Butler has 13 days until the draft, when he's likely to hear his name called somewhere between the late first round and early second round.

His workouts, by virtually all accounts, have been stellar. He won the MVP award at the Portsmouth Invitational. He impressed scouts with a strong performance at the Chicago pre-draft combine. He's drawn praise from virtually every NBA scout and GM who has worked him out.

But it's been the interview process that has created the most buzz. Representatives from team after team told me he was one of the most impressive young men they've ever met.

"His story," one GM said. "is one of the most remarkable I've seen in all my years of basketball. There were so many times in his life where he was set up to fail. Every time, he overcame just enormous odds. When you talk to him -- and he's hesitant to talk about his life -- you just have this feeling that this kid has greatness in him."

Butler is fine with that interpretation. But there's another one that he fears.

"Please, I know you're going to write something. I'm just asking you, don't write it in a way that makes people feel sorry for me," he said. "I hate that. There's nothing to feel sorry about. I love what happened to me. It made me who I am. I'm grateful for the challenges I've faced. Please, don't make them feel sorry for me."

Pity hasn't gotten Butler anywhere in life. Courage has.

Butler finds a family

After leaving his Tomball, Texas, home at 13, Butler did his best to keep his head above water. With his father out of his life since he was an infant, he stayed with friends as long as he could. Usually within a few weeks, he was moving on to a new place -- anywhere to lay his head down at night.

Basketball became his life, and Butler showed a lot of promise. The summer before his senior year in high school, he was attracting attention as a potential star in Tomball -- but not from the usual suspects. Division I coaches had yet to make contact, but a ninth-grader named Jordan Leslie was scouting him.

[+] Enlarge

Courtesy Michelle LambertSoon after Jordan Leslie (left) challenged him to an impromptu 3-point contest, Jimmy Butler became a part of his family.

Leslie was from Tomball, too, and was following Butler closely. At the end of a summer league game he approached Butler and challenged him to a 3-point-shooting contest. Butler was taken aback by the brashness of the kid. He agreed to the contest. Leslie was an athlete too, an up-and-coming hoops and football star.

After the game, the two became fast friends. Leslie began inviting Butler to his house to play video games and to stay the night. Butler's life would never be the same.

Leslie's mother, Michelle Lambert, paused at first. She had four kids of her own from her first husband, who had died. Her new husband had brought three children of his own with him. Money was tight. The word around Tomball was that Jimmy was trouble. Her new husband finally told the kids that Jimmy could stay, but only for one or two nights at a time. But each night when Butler would come to stay, a different kid would say, "Tonight's my night to have Jimmy stay." After a few months, the Lamberts gave in, and Michelle told him he could stay for good.

Butler needed a family, and Lambert was offering hers.

But not before she set some ground rules. For the first time in his life he'd have a curfew. He had to attend class and improve his academic performance. He'd have chores around the house. Most importantly, Michelle told him, he had to be a role model.

"I told him my kids looked up to him," Lambert said. "He had to stay out of trouble. Work hard in school. He had to set an example. And you know what? Jimmy did it. Anything I asked him to do, he did it without asking questions."

"They accepted me into their family," Butler said. "And it wasn't because of basketball. She was just very loving. She just did stuff like that. I couldn't believe it."

With some family support for the first time, Butler became a star for the Tomball High School Cougars. As a team captain his senior season, he averaged 19.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game and was named to the all-district first team.

But it wasn't enough to draw the attention from colleges he had hoped. Scouting services didn't rank him. He didn't play AAU ball, which hurt his chances of being seen. He had an outside shot at playing at Mississippi State, but didn't get a scholarship offer. With nowhere to go again, Butler took the only route he could and enrolled at nearby Tyler Junior College.

Once again, with his back to the wall, Butler not only survived; he thrived. In his first conference game for Tyler, he scored 34 points.

"After that I had a few 30-, 40-point games," he said. "It gave me the confidence that I can play at a high level."

As a freshman, Butler was Tyler's leading scorer and was an honorable mention juco All-American. College coaches around the country began to notice. By April of 2008, Butler had offers from Marquette, Kentucky, Clemson, Mississippi State and Iowa State.

Once again, Lambert became a guiding force in Butler's life.

"He had a lot of offers, but I was impressed by Marquette for academic reasons," she said. "That's a great academic school. I told him he should go there because basketball may not work out long-term. He needed a good education and a degree to fall back on. "

Soaring to new heights

[+] Enlarge

Rick Osentoski/US PresswireButler could always score. But the versatility he showed at Marquette drew scouts' attention.

Butler listened and became Williams' first recruit for Marquette. But things didn't start as well as Butler may have hoped. He was used to being the man, but in Milwaukee, he had to sit and watch from the bench as a sophomore. At times, he was frustrated. He'd call Lambert and tell her he wanted to come home.

"Buzz was tough," she said. "He had never had a man tell him no. I did all the time. But often his coaches just enabled him. It was another chance for him to mature."

Said Williams: "I've never been harder on a player than I've been on Jimmy. I was ruthless on him because he didn't know how good he could be. He'd been told his whole life he wasn't good enough. What I was seeing was a guy who could impact our team in so many ways. "

Butler averaged just 5.6 points in 19.6 minutes a game for the Golden Eagles, coming off the bench behind two future NBA players, Wes Matthews and Lazar Hayward. Again, a difficult situation became a positive experience.

"I was tutored by the best," Butler said. "Those guys taught me so much about how to play and how to be a man. I knew that to be successful, I had to be more than a scorer. I had to become a leader. It's not about scoring. It's about doing what my team needs me to do. I wanna be that glue guy, I want to be a guy my team and my coach can count on. That's what I want to be."

By his senior season, Butler had shed the "scorer" label and drew attention from NBA scouts because of his versatility. He could still score -- Butler averaged 15.7 points in 2010-11 -- but he could also rebound, handle the ball and defend multiple positions. He played without ego. He was a winner.

"I saw him at a game versus Providence. He did everything," one NBA scout said. "He guarded Marshon Brooks. He was special. So many guys come into the NBA with role-player talent and think they're a star. I knew this kid could come in and fit, right away, on a good team. That's the appeal."

Scouts were coming to watch him play all year, but Butler was totally unaware. He said he had no idea he was projected as an NBA player until after the college season had ended.

"I was just so focused on our team, on us winning," Butler said. "It's not that it wasn't a dream. Like I said, I was just trying to live one day at a time."

Maggie Casey/Marquette AthleticsOn Marquette's senior night, Butler was surrounded by his new family and coach Buzz Williams.

The highlight of Butler's college career came on senior night when Lambert walked him out on the court.

"That night was a complete blur," Lambert said. "I cried the entire time. He had accomplished so much. I was both happy and proud. Everyone doubted him. His coach and principal in high school said he'd never amount to anything. And there he is, with the crowd cheering.

"But I was also sad and scared. Your baby is gone and now he faces the horrible world. Jimmy always talks about what we did for him. I'm not sure he understands what he did for us. He changed our life, too. We are better people for having him in our family."

Said Butler: "We are all attached at the hip. I give her the credit for helping me become who I am. I love her. You would think that she gave me birth. I talk to her every morning. She's very loving. That's my family. That's Michelle Lambert. She is my mom."

'I know I can overcome anything'

So don't feel sorry for Jimmy Butler. He's about to make a career out of the sport he loves. He has a loving family that's given him a place to belong. And any doubt that he had in himself is now long gone. He believes.

"It's taught me that anything is possible," Butler said. "My whole life, people have doubted me. My mom did. People told me in high school I'm too short and not fast enough to play basketball. They didn't know my story. Because if they did, they'd know that anything is possible. Who would've thought that a small-town kid would become a halfway decent player in college and now has a chance to be drafted in the NBA? That's my chip. That's what motivates me. I know I can overcome anything if I just take everything one day [at a] time."

"I hope someone gives him a chance," Lambert said, trying to fight back tears. "No one gave him a chance. I guess we did, and look what happened. He finally had someone to make [proud of him]. If an NBA team gives him a chance, he'll do the world for them. That's what he did for me."

On June 23, Butler will return to the Lambert home in Tomball to watch the NBA draft with his family. There will be no fanfare. No entourage. No fancy suits. Just his mother and seven brothers and sisters. Sharing a meal. Holding hands. Believing.