Project Runway V: Thank you!

Since 'Clothing as Text' in a notion of interest to me, it makes good sense that I would pay some attention to Bravo TV's Project Runway. This show is one of the best things contemporary TV has to offer.
It's got all the necessary elements for good TV: dramatic yet talented artists, aesthetically intriguing projects, ah, and Tim Gunn.
The new season starts today and one of the contestants is the owner of Black Market, a new boutique in Columbus, OH I enjoy quite a bit.
It is a nice treat to see the owner of the boutique compete in this show. Her name is Kelli Martin and she is truly talented. Kelli won tonight's challenge by creating a truly textual piece.
Brava, Kelli and a hat tip to Bravo TV for affording some redemption to the concept of reality TV.
graph per bravotv

Quote of the Day from the Colbert Report

This piece of beauty comes from my favorite entertainer Stephen Colbert:

"In a way I like this because I understand everything on the cover."

Songs Have Gotten More Verbose

Hat tip to MR.

Average word count of top-ten songs during the 1960s: 176

Average last year: 436

That is from Harper's Index, August issue. Economy of speech, anyone?

Death Cab for Cutie: 'Drive Well'

I often make references to the music of Death Cab for Cutie and Postal Service. I don't just happen to like their music. I find them uniquely relevant as well.
Hence, I welcomed the opportunity to see Justin Mitchell's Death Cab for Cutie tour documentary Drive Well, Sleep Carefully: On the Road With Death Cab for Cutie. Mitchell followed the band around during their summer 2004 U.S. tour.
The band members provide wonderful commentary regarding their music and their travel experience while touring. Many contemporary pop culture references are made throughout the documentary that, in my opinion, most indie rock fans will find informative and humorous at the same time.
Three things sold the film to me. First, a commentary on their oh-so-gripping song "Tiny Vessesl," second, the impact that the film Mulholland Drive, another favorite of mine, had on band, and third, how comfortably these artists share their vulnerabilities.
So, I recommend this film fully.

Here is a list of the Live Performances in the film:

"The Sound of Settling" - The Crystal Ballroom, Portland
"The New Year" - The Showbox, Seattle
"We Laugh Indoors" - The Marquee Theatre, Tempe
"Styrofoam Plates" - Trees, Dallas
"Title and Registration" - Howlin' Wolf, New Orleans
"Company Calls" - WorkPlay Theater, Birmingham
"Tiny Vessels" - Stubb's, Austin
"Transatlanticism" - Trees, Dallas
"Expo '86" - The Crystal Ballroom, Portland
"We Looked Like Giants" - The Fillmore, San Francisco
"Why You'd Want to Live Here" - The Wiltern, Los Angeles
"Prove My Hypotheses" - The Showbox, Seattle
"Bend To Squares" - The Showbox, Seattle
graph per undertheradar
hat tip to Plexfilm