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Robert Pattinson is too weird to be Batman

Pattinson’s weirdness is much more idiosyncratic. This is a man who once wanted to be Tupac and sunk considerable pandemic-era days into developing a portable, individual-serving-sized pasta snack. Based on looks alone he should spend the rest of his life at the center of the frame. But his beauty is a trap, drawing you close only to reveal something slightly off, perhaps just a bit juvenile. 

Apple Continues Its Slow March Toward the MacPad Future
The new iPad Air gets a desktop-grade chip. Meanwhile, it's 2022, and the Magic Mouse still charges from the bottom. Apple launched a new black Magic Mouse, but you still have to flip it over for charging. Why? 

Apple, please bring back your mesmerizing, clear computers

Back in 2000, Apple sold the world on sleek desktop computers that exposed their internal components for you to see. Now’s the perfect time to bring them back.

Nic Cage Plays Nic Cage In 'The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent,' The Nic Cage-iest Movie Yet
Nic Cage attempts to save himself from financial ruin by attending the birthday party of the world's biggest Nic Cage superfan in "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent," coming April 22.

VW’s futuristic electric bus is real and coming soon (finally)
VW will offer the ID. Buzz in a variety of two-tone and solid color paint schemes when the van launches in Europe, with a US launch scheduled for 2024.

Ben McKenzie, Actor Turned Crypto Naysayer
Who knew the world needed a celebrity crypto anti-influencer influencer and it would be Ryan from The O.C.?

Inventing Anna was BAD

That Anna Delvey story on Netflix, Inventing Anna, was really really bad. It feels like it could have been interesting if the right team had done it (think A24 or basically anyone besides the team that did it). But at the same time, it's all starting to feel a bit boring – scammer tricks a bunch of dorky rich guys into funding their fake startup or bad idea (Theranos, WeWork... it's getting played out). The writing didn't help and the editing/art direction felt very Gossip Girl, but somehow worse. Also, the actress who played the journalist was absolutely terrible and the main reason why we couldn't finish this cursed mini-series.

Texas

Leaving Mexico

Lots of travel in the last 2 weeks. Spent a week in a small fishing village in Mexico. Flew home for a night and then went to Dallas for the past 3-days.

A few random thoughts from Texas:

The Gaylord Hotel's Magic Eye Chuck Norris Carpet

Texas is truly insane. There is about a mile worth of this carpet in the Gaylord Hotel in Dallas. I have spent my entire stay at the hotel trying to mentally unpack how this happened. I have so many questions:

1. How did this carpet get made? Like, how did someone decide that they should create a carpet pattern that features a boot, a wagon wheel, a Texas state flag, a horseshoe, some rope, and flowers? What does it mean? Is there some sacred meaning behind this mysterious combination? 

2. How did this carpet get selected? You're designing a hotel and you have thousands and thousands of square feet to cover... and you select this. HOW? 

3. And just, why? It was very disorienting and I shit you not, it went on forever. Hallways upon hallways of this vertigo-inducing combination. It reminded me of one of those magic eye posters from the 1990s. If you happened to look down as you were walking, your eyes would go cross and Chuck Norris would appear. 

The Texas transportation system is cursed. In 100 years, we are going to look at the design of these highways and say WHAT IN THE ACTUAL F!@$ was going on in Texas? It reminded me of the kid growing up who was REALLY BAD at SimCity. Like dude, do you even know how to build a city? What is going on with all these roads?

Chacala, Mexico

OOTO

*LIVE LOOK AT ME UPDATING DON.EARTH FROM MEXICO 

Links: The Miracle of Big Thief

The Miracle of Big Thief (via Vulture)
Contemplating infinity, cross-country trips, and a towering double album with rock’s critical darlings.

Big Thief is arguably making the best music on the planet right now. Dating back to 2017, I don't think there is a band or artist that I've posted more about on this blog. They are really, really good and it seems like they are only getting better as they get more freedom:

"We’re a band that values exploration above product. I feel like we find the value in the work. Just building our internal muscles is more valuable to us than the end result. And I feel like that’s a really special thing because it allows for a lot of freedom. It just has to feel good to us. If no one else likes it, that’s fine. Like, we can’t control it beyond that. And if everyone likes it and we don’t feel it, then we’re going to keep going until we like it." 

What is Indie Sleaze?

Is the vibe... shifting? Suddenly, bands like The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Interpol are coming back into the cultural zeitgeist. In the last month, we've seen articles in NME, Dazed, VICE, the Guardian, The Cut, Harpers Bizarre, Vogue, Esquire, Stylist, and GQ all talking about the return of Indie Sleaze... but what is Indie Sleaze? And why are we suddenly trying to capture the vibe of the early 2000s...?

To me, it sort of feels like a bunch of us aging millennials are starting to feel irrelevant and disconnected from youth culture. The result... an engineered movement to create cultural significance by trying to recreate a feeling they we once had... listening to The Strokes, on their iPod, in their American Apparel zippy as they furiously type on their blog. Oh shit. 

.JPEGS