what does this say about us?

sigg

the man with the plan

Maybe its because I see them all over campus, but the SIGG is now becoming a fashion statement. I remember when it was all about the Nalgene. Mine was bright yellow and came with me everywhere I went, spawning the dawn of mass water consumption in my life.  I even went through an iced coffee phase – used to fill my Nalgene in the morning with coffee and add ice. Yes I used to be more cracked out than I am now, can you IMAGINE? —This Nalgene lasted until my dad decided to recycle all the water bottles in my house, I went to look for it and it was gone. (Defeats it’s own purpose, doesn’t it?) Then we started hearing about the “Sigg”and how its plastic doesn’t permeate toxins into your body, they act like a thermos – but are not indestructible like a Nalgene. (The boys I went to high school with invented the “Nalgene Game”- where you set up trashcans in the high school hall ways and tried to bounce the nalgene off the floor and get it through the goal. There was a lot of violence involved as well- how could there not be?)  If memory serves me right I remember an interactive freshman year bulletin board illustrating these comparisons between the two water bottle choices. All I know is ever since I’ve been pronouncing it wrong. Every other person tells me that I am saying the opposite of what it is.

Now, I like my “SEEEEEEGGuHH” – it was free. My mom’s boss received one as a gift and she saved it from the garbage. Now over time the dishwasher has deluded its indecipherable orange designs and I’ve lost the plastic ring that is supposed to prevent it from leaking- so its always without its screw on cap: either full or empty, making me always aware of open beverages (I’m a master.)

We have come along way in our SIGG culture- but now you can go further than you ever expected to and design your own. With the cliche “make love not war” trippy hippie designs, and the “simply ECO logical” ones they sell in the bookstore. SIGGs are everywhere, particularly the bike shop in the commons has every different kind of reusable water bottle you little heart can dream up. But now you can be way too cool for school and make your own. But beware, you better REALLY like your tag line, because you’re stuck with it.

Recession-Friendly Sake

This past weekend I ventured to Collegetown to take part in the ritual known city-wide as “sake bombing.” I haven’t taken part in this sacred art since the pre-carding days of Miyakes we so fondly recall from freshman year.

Basically, what you do is pour a few ounces from a 22oz. Sapporo into a mug. You pour some sake into a shot glass, balance that on top of the mug, slam the table so it falls, and chug it down.

...as such

...as such

Back in the fall of 2006, when I was a relative lightweight, one order would get me drunk. But this past weekend, I got a buzz, if that. And I noticed that prices were much higher than I recall from a few years back. $9.95 for some beer and sake? Never again.
So I introduce to you, the American Bomb.

What you’ve got to do, when going sake bombing, is go prepared. This means a backpack filled with beers and liquor. What works for me, is a few tall boys of Natty Light, and a flask full o’ scotch.

Once you’ve done all your sake bombs and your table is a mess, you get American on their Japanese asses.

Fill yer mug with the Natty, put your scotch in the shot glass, and slam it down.

Bombs never tasted so good, or so American.

its time for MUSIC

There is some for serious decent music happening in the city of ITHACA this fall. You can pretty much find anything you like. The MEAT PUPPETS will be here on November 19th at Castaways. SUFJAN STEVENS is at Castways too!– September 23rd! On October 1st THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS will be at the State Theater! And the same weekend as Brew Fest– is the POSITIVE JAM with THE HOLD STEADY, the FELICE BROS. and DEER TICK– happening September 6th at Stewart Park. And don’t forget about MUSE FEST this weekend.

Live music, fun times, good vibes. get INTO IT.
Hopefully a lot more to come here for live music updates around town.
Also I heard that these guys know what they’re talking about.

If you haven’t bought tickets for the Built to Spill show at the State Theater, do so IMMEDIATELY. $15 for one of the best, albeit, most unappreciated bands of our generation. Coming to town October 8th.

And as we’ve just been made aware of, are The Mountain Goats. They’ll be playing ON CAMPUS at the Emerson Suites in September. Get on it.

put that needle to the groove

There is something about Ithaca that makes me feel welcome. Well I have been coming here for eight or so years (with an older sibling as an alumni) and even though its been that long, any amount of time can go by and it always feels like home. It is hard to feel like an outsider here. There will be someone stranger, larger, smaller, normal, crazier, older, younger, someone more uptight or loose— someone is always flying their freak flag. And I LOVE IT.

Being just three blocks from the commons- the walks over are so pleasant. Having too much time to think can go either way, but right now its definitely a good thing. A way to get your mind in order before classes start and before your every day commitments (for the first time in eight or so months!) lie ahead. Even though this long summer is coming to an end and we will all miss it VERY MUCH- I am definitely looking forward to getting my brain in gear and having some serious fun.

Until then I plan on spending all of my time and money milling around ANGRY MOM records. It’s in the basement of Autumn Leaves and they have a sexcellent selection of serious vinyl. Check it out- it’s never too late for a beautiful hobby like records in wax.

urban’t

The Urban Effect. That’s what I’m calling it – when someone is clad in all Urban Outfitters Apparel. It’s not that bad now, but it’s only the beginning of August. Come the first day of classes, you’re gonna see bitches wearing spray-on jeans, dudes in lame graphic tees, and way too many cardigans.

I’m not saying that I’m the first one to use the term, but with the new Ithaca store, it needs to be said. Wearing good-looking clothes doesn’t make you good looking. Don’t assume that spending outrageous amounts of money on hipster clothes will make you look cool, you look like an idiot and you’re $200 poorer for it. Pretty soon every chick around campus will be looking like this;

uo

except less creative. And more pathetic.

Take Friday night for example. Decent party, plenty of Busch and Marlboros. But then I saw some chick from my anthro class looking like an Urban model without any of the makeup or good looks. Just the clothes and her being too drunk to pull it off. Dress normally, bitch. Then the cops came.