REALLY: Back in Chicago, early this morning, a guy eats a bowl of cereal and readies his head for the oncoming workweek. He thinks about the world. He thinks about his job. He thinks about the great weekend he had. He thinks about other things too. Then he blanks out, chewing his spoonful, staring at the North wall of his flat. Some times goes by. Then Matthew Stiffler looks down and this is what he sees,and right there at that exact moment, he knows the day is going to be a good day. True story, people.

Bring on the week. Let’s get to work, you bastards.

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THE LUCKIEST PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE WORLD: J. Michelle Martin-Coyne of the Flaming Lips category. So good. Get in there and see what goes on behind the scenes at their live experience.

And go see them live. And take yer better half, and friends, and neighbors, and yer little brothers and sisters, and hell, yer parents for that matter. It’s a fun, fun show. It helps to be hammered too. There you go. Summer fun in a sea of tired live acts.

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So here’s why we love the Field Notes project. Last night, while watching Shallow Grave, I’m doing a little web surfing and find this kick-ass travel accessories site called, WeJetSet.com.”I love this kind of stuff, and am always looking for the next thingamajig to make my next flight or roadtrip that much better. So I find the site, and am scrolling down to check out the goods, and low and behold, Field Notes are there, and man, I just had to tell you how cool it was to see them there.

Completely surprised to see them there. Then flattered. Then proud.

These things are out there, and working, and it’s this kind of stuff that makes it all* really, really good in the grand scheme of things.

(*Life, work, projects, guts, ups, downs, victories, losses, smiles, tears.)

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THOUGHT THEY WERE GOOFY UNTIL I TRIED ONE ON A FLIGHT OVER THE OCEAN: An inflatable travel pillow.

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YEAH, WE WON’T BE MISSING THIS ONE: Typeface, the film. (We saw this one at the online edition of Coudal Partners’ daily transmission. From Chicago, Ill.)

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THEN THINGS TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORSE: I just can’t help myself. I have venom to distribute. I should just clam up and go about my business. I’m fighting the urge. Hmmm.

Ah, fuck it. Here goes.

SOMETHING WE WERE THINKING OVER THE WEEKEND: For the thousandth time, why the fuck is Mark Wahlberg on the big screen in front of me?

Craving entertainment and escape, Leigh and I hit a matinee over the weekend to see The Happening. I just keep going to these M. Night Shyamalan deals, with wide eyes, and, just the right amount of hope in me to roll the dice on the guy. With exception of that Lady In The Water wet nightmare awhile back, I’ve been a fan of it all. So we went for it again, and against my better judgement, put all my Wahlberg loathing to the side, and took one for the team.

I won’t say seeing the movie was a mistake, but, I will say this: Having goddamn Mark Wahlberg in the thing was. Painful, at best. I just can’t believe that guy gets the coverage and loot he gets. Awful. I want whatever percentage of the ticket price back that equaled, “Time spent having to listen or look at Mark Wahlberg” refunded to me. Otherwise, I enjoyed the flick. Interesting idea from M. Night, once again.

But man, Marky Mark? Never again, Mark. Just stop. Please.