Today’s my mom’s birthday, and every single thought, movement, breath, idea, pencil scratch and mouse click is dedicated to Lauren Draplin, formerly Lauren Steele, before she met that dad of mine.

Today’s for you, Mom. Love you.

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KING OF THE BREEDS: This one goes out to all the long dogs out there. Chris Lunney’s tribute to “the best small long dog ever.” The best dogs. Hard to argue this one. Poise, grace and supreme intelligence.

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NO ONE TELLS ME NOTHING; Wait, George from Union does. He sent in this little link about a record sleeve that transforms into a record player. Wow. You know what I smell on this link? I smell “Old news, Draplin. Get with it.” We do our best. Thanks, Kleckner.

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THIS ONE IS INCREDIBLE: “Unearthing the lost advertising of the sealed-off London Underground.”

And to think what a subway looks like these days? Advertising “thought up” be smarter people than you. Slick. Predictable. Blah x 666, Things don’t have to suck, graphically. Things can be beautiful. Things can be optimistic. Things don’t have to pander to the lowest common visual denominator. (Best link of the week, Orville! Way to go, man. Thanks.)

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A HAT TIP TO THE AMERICAN FARMER: An entry called “Their Flaming Spirit” on the Field Notes web portal.

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JUST FUCKIN’ SIGN ME UP RIGHT NOW: All We Have Is Now. Another Flaming Lips book! An up-and-coming band from Oklahoma City. Check them out.

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THIS IS WHAT MY MOM LIKES, SO THIS IS WHAT WE ARE LISTENING TO TODAY:

01. Leonard Cohen - Songs of Leonard Cohen
02. Jackson Browne - Saturate Before Using
03. Allison Krauss and Union Street Station - New Favorite
04. John Lennon - Imagine
05. Neil Young - Harvest Moon