This song is One of These Days by Michelle Branch. It’s not a great song, it might not even be a good song. I’ll never know because it means so much more to me than the derivative pop that it probably is. For me it’s wrapped up in a story, in a moment of meaning that I’ll never forget and from which this song cannot be extricated.

One of my favorite things about Christmas is the increased quality and frequency of ads in the end of the year. I don’t always mind how much more frequent the message is hammered home if the ads doing so are of a higher quality. GAP has just released a slew of new commercials that fit right into this description. Combining various celebrities you might not know that well/have thought of in awhile and updated versions of classic Christmas songs these ads are right in my wheelhouse. I’m a sucker for Christmas music.

You would think that in 2010 popular TV and movies are not sexist. In many ways that’s true. There are strong female protagonists and female actors are very respected. Then you hear about something like the Bechdel Test and you start to wonder.

Named after Alison Bechdel, a lesbian cartoonist from the 80s, the Bechdel test asks three questions about a movie or TV show:

The minute any food shows up in the kitchen at work, a fascinating anthropological event transpires.
First comes the discovery: Someone walks by and sees the plate, which has appeared as if by magic. The alert is instant, epic, and never detailed. “FOOD IN THE KITCHEN” is broadcast with the aplomb of an archeologist who just discovered a T-rex skull.
But sometimes alliances form. If its you that discovers the food, who do you tell? Is there …

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how much I dislike phone calls. I don’t mind a quick call here or there (though I prefer a text message,) but any long call that involves important decision making or conversation I dread. I wasn’t sure if it was just me, or even why I felt that way. It seems like I’m not alone as D. Keith Robinson recently discussed a similar dislike and got a resounding …

This music was created using only sounds from Windows XP and Windows 98. It’s a lot better than you’d think. I’ve listened to it a few times.
via Larissa Meek

DJ Stout has redesigned the magazine Dairy Today that is launching this month. In addition to a bold new logotype, the magazine will feature a stylized “portrait” of a dairy cow on the cover of each issue in an effort to differentiate it from its competitors.
I think these new covers are beautiful. Maybe it’s because I grew up around them, but I’ve always found cows to have a pastoral beauty. If you’ve ever spent time …

Mariah Carey – All I Want for Christmas Is You
Olivia Olson – All I Want for Christmas Is You
from Love Actually