“I hope you have a book like this, a book that makes you feel sane when other forces conspire to loosen your bearings, a book that values what you value, a book that makes you laugh and nod and gives you comfort. If you think that books don’t have the power to confer validation upon their readers, then I’m afraid we’ve had very different experiences. Because although of course validation comes from a dozen other places in my life, books have their own way of reaching those hard to scratch places right in the middle of my soul (sometimes when I don’t even know that there’s a place in need of a scratch) in a way few other things can. They are intensely personal in this way, these books, and one that speaks to me with power and clarity might sound tinny and distant to you. This exclusivity is one of the reasons they’re so powerful: it sometimes feels as though they were written with us in mind.” — When a Book Gets Everything Right (via bookriot)
(via litreactor)
finally got to see the great @mr_aryz mural in the daytime! (at The Tenderloin)
From White Russians to Old Fashioneds: cocktails in literature and film.
. (at san francisco)
love (at General Store)
MILLIONS OF TEEN CICADAS THEY EVEN COME IN BROODS.
I would be happy to have Cicada visitors (albeit briefly) at our beach house.
“
But here is the most important part of all:
—Slow the fuck down.
This might seem counter-intuitive to living a life out of ardor, but it’s not. The glorious moments in life— the ones that you will remember, that you will write about—will pass you by if you don’t cling on to them with ferocity. Recognizing these moments and drinking them in is the best way to grab life by the throat. When life overwhelms you—because it will overwhelm you—let it overwhelm you and then take some deep breaths. When life breaks your heart—because it will break your heart—let yourself cry.
When life angers you—because it will anger you—allow yourself to feel that burn, allow your heart to pound, allow your whole body to shake, and know that the pain will soon go away. Because it will go away. The woman at work, the one who just annoyed you by doing her job and telling you what to do—well, she is like you, and she is also in pain, because she is human. Talk to her. Your father loves you, no matter what you do, so call him. Your friend is your friend, your lover is your lover, because of your flaws, not despite them, so love them, and, more importantly, let them love you. Go down to the beach and watch the sunset. Go dance, and sing, even though and especially because you suck at it. If you meet someone new and they interest you, get them to be your friend. Do something nice for someone just because you can, even if it eats into your “you” time. If you read something you like, send the writer an e-mail and tell them you like it. Go play with your dog. Lose track of time while reading a book. Do things like sit on your patio for hours with only a pack of cigarettes and your headphones, because music is one of the best ways to feel things while sitting still. And for god’s sake, don’t second guess yourself and wonder if you sound like an inspirational poster—because we all need an inspirational poster every now and then. You need to slow the fuck down and take a good look at life and the world you’re living in, because if you drive on the freeway at night and look at the lights in the right way, they will seem like stars.
” — Letters from a Young Whatever #6: Living a Life with Ardor | The Outlet: the Blog of Electric Literature
cutest kids ever @renahunt @jesserblah (at Rickshaw Stop)
Get your head out of your ass, Met Gala. Here’s some punk fashion from East LA, 1977. #LosAngeles #Punk #NowSashayAway
(via mikkipedia)
so San Francisco (at olive alley)
first rose of the year! (at Hillgate Manor)
I donated this original Greg Noll board to LACMA, so the South Bay’s contribution to surfboard design would be represented at last year’s Pacific Standard Time (PST) festivities in Los Angeles. Now a long way from it’s original birthplace in Manhattan Beach, the board is part of the traveling PST exhibit, now in Kyoto, headed to Australia….represent.
that’s very cool, Matt.
ring the bells that can still ring
RIP Carlos Villa #carlosvilla (at olive alley)
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