Today's Bananas Reflection Quote

There is no such thing as strangers. Only friends we have not yet met. 

Today's Bananas Cool Thing: Lego Heart

I idolize Kanye West, I really do. Say what you want about his unbelievable self-confidence and cockiness, in my book, he's more than allowed to be so. He single-handedly resurrected the hip hop genre to a whole new level. He dares to push fashion limits and go beyond the stereotypical hip hop attire. He spits some pretty sick rhymes that I love to occassionally quote on my msn messenger profile name. Whenever he is featured on another artist's song, I will download and listen to it even if I depise the main singer. If ever Kanye West goes bankrupt and has to rap over a Miley Cirus song featured on Hannah Montana: The Sequel to make ends meet, I will like it. It is understated when I say that I truly find Kanye West *uber* cool. Besides his massive producing and rapping (let's not talk about the whole auto-tune era of his, it's just a phase..he will go back to rapping) talent, I think he's one of the most well-dressed man in the Entertainment industry. He take risks when he dresses down, or when he dresses up; in other words, he's not boring. And I like the fact that he's a hip hop artist that doesn't have to wear baggy jeans that go all the way to the knees, wear unicolor extra-large t-shirts, or even better, doesn't go shirtless all the time (anyone remember 50 cent? ..right). When Marc Jacobs offers you to design a special limited collection of Louis Vuitton sneakers, you *know* you did something right. Bottom line, he's a very inspiring fashion icon, in my honest opinion, which leads to the main point of this post. Not too long ago, I saw a picture (the one above) of Kanye West during Paris Fashion Week. He wore a pretty casual outfit, but what intrigued me was the heart-shaped brooch he wore on his jeans jacket. Turns out, this heart-shaped brooch is actually a heart pin constructed in Lego. Not that I'm easily impressed, but I was quite fascinated about it. 

The Lego heart brooch in question is designed by a duo named Dee and Ricky who was offered by Marc Jacobs to style his models for his spring runway show with their collection of Lego-made belts. And from this little fashion gig, the duo's line of Lego accessories officially made big waves among the the young Hollywood, and of course Kanye West. But I must warn you, these heart-shaped Lego do not come cheap, oh no. If you visit Dee and Ricky's official website where they sell their Lego heart brooches, a small one can cost you a whopping 75 US *dolla* (add the little fob chinese NYC Canal Street-style accent)! And a larger heart is tagged at an inflationary price of US$100. Last time I checked, it's already $100 too much for Legos. *But*, insane and borderline daylight robbery-pricing aside, the Lego brooches are very charming, and you can see that the quality and the neatness of it is commandable on the side of the designers. So I know that no one in their right mind, well, no one with a modest income, in their right mind will order one of these trendy accessories; hence why I did a little bit of research which can offer you the same opportunity to own a Lego heart brooch like Kanye West at a normal person price. Why? Because I want share the love with my peeps. 

First Method: Make it yourself!

You know the good old saying: Why have someone do, something you can do yourself? In other words, you can make your own heart Lego pin for a mere estimated cost of $2.06 via Lego.com. All you need to do is order the necessary lego blocks needed through the website, and buy a pin and some crazy glue to attach the pin to the heart, and voila!

You will need to order:

Two: Bricks 2x2

Two: Brick 1x2

Four: Roof tile 2x2/45 degrees 

Two: Brick 2x4

Six: Roof title 2x2/45 deg. Inv.

Don't fuss, if you don't know what to do with the Lego blocks once you received them, it is pretty clear on how each block goes on top of another. Play around with it just so that the Lego blocks form into a heart. Glue your pin to the back of the heart-shaped Lego and there you have it! Make as many as you want and use as many colors as you desire! A cool and thoughtful gift if you don't necessarily want to wear it yourself.

Second Method: Buy ('cause I suck in arts&crafts)

I'm not referring to the Dee and Ricky original ones, but rather replicas of them. Not everyone is born into creativity, or even know how to use Lego blocks, so let us not judge ourselves on that fact. The next best alternative is to buy one at a very discounted price compared to Dee and Ricky's. Take into consideration that they provide the Lego blocks and the time and effort into building it. On ebay, there's a store called Creation Depot and they sell a bunch of homemade stuffs including the heart-shaped Lego pins. They are charging $16.95 for a small one and $24.95 for a big one. It's not completely out of this world in terms of the pricing, so if you have some extra cash and you don't want to dirty your hands, they are a legit seller to go to. I am sure you can find a better deal elsewhere on the internet or ebay, but I'm suggesting Creation Depot just because it seems more reliable. 

On that note, I'm in no position to dictate what's cool and what's not, but I definitely find these new little thing to be exceptionally cool. The hearts can either be in full or broken for those pessimist ones. So, go ahead, either check out Lego.com to buy some blocks to make them yourself, or go to Creative Depot where you can buy already-made ones, or even over at Dee and Ricky if you find "replicas" to be offensive to your nature. Actually, I do recommend to go look at the original work of Dee and Ricky and see the cool things they can do. (I really like the multicolored Lego heart pin one). 

peace and love, y'all!

Today's Bananas Photo: You Can Buy School, But You Can't Buy Class

I love a good interweb photo of celebrities in their least favorable light; TMZ is the perfect source for them. Now, I've stumbled upon this photo of a well-recognized Hollywood actor that has been circulating on blogs and celebrity gossip websites alike. You might recognize him in action flicks like Spider-Man 1, 2 and 3, as well as Pineapple Express or perhaps, in more serious drama like Milk. Yes, we're talking about James Franco. And yes, we're talking about James Franco enjoying a nap while pursuing his quest for higher education at the prestigious Ivy League school Columbia Univeristy in New York. 

I mean, sure, you can't blame the lad for taking a nap during a lecture, I know I can't since I'm the empitomy of sleeping in class. We've all done it. Besides, with such an acclaimed and Golden Globe-nominated performance as the stoner Saul in Pineapple Express, I'm sure he will have no trouble "acting" his way through for an A in that class. 

Ahh..the life of the rich and famous.

Cheers.

Today's Bananas Video: Signs

Sometimes, emotions do not need to be spoken out loud. This 12-minute short-film does exactly that. An emotional rollercoaster expressed only in silence and signs. Enjoy.

Today's Bananas Eatery/Bar/Lounge: L'Assommoir

A good night out in the town for me would usually consist of good food, good drinks, good music, good ambiance and most importly, good friends. You wouldn't see me at a nightclub though, well, not anymore anyways. In theory, I am pretty over with the clubs. I don't dislike it per se, nor do I not enjoy a good time at say, Light Ultra Club on Crescent street, once in a while for a special occasion such as for friends' birthdays and whatnot. But after a few of my late teen years club hopping here and there, I can safely say that it does not strike an interest in me anymore. It's definitely not something I would do every weekend, like some. On the other hand, I've somewhat developped a new taste in more hipster hotspots out of the downtown area. You know, places where 15 year old kids dressed in, pardon my french, skanky hooker outfits or Ed Hardy-wearing gino guys are almost inexistant inside. I'm not discriminating or anything, mind you, but I prefer hanging out where I don't have to roll my eyes every five seconds throughout the night. Okay, I'll be frank, they repulse me; there, whatever, let's move on.

So this past Christmas, my workplace threw a holiday party at a cool restaurant/bar/lounge located in the Mile End of Montreal, more specifically on Bernard, called L'Assommoir. And I instantly loved it there. If you commute by Metro, it's a bit of a hassle, but like New York, that's what gives Montreal a certain charm where you don't need a car to actually be outside (unlike in California). It's only 10 minutes walk from the metro Rosemont, and during a nice summer night, there is absolutely no reason for you not to take a walk. If you are an avid opponent of the idea of walking, take a cab, it will costs you less than 8$, you can even split it up in 3 or 4! L'Assommoir is a little place, and I emphasize little because it's anything but big, that serves food, drinks and martinis of all kind. For what it lacks in space, it makes it up with its very impressive bar. And I mean it literally, because the bar is quite innovative. It will not make you want to stay sober. If you are cutting down on alcohol, you will soon find yourself pulling a Lindsay Lohan. Not to be missed are their specialty martinis. I heard they are well-known with their melon martini, so I had one that night. It's strong, but a great drink nonetheless. You are not restricted to alcohol-heavy martinis neither, their selection menu of alcoholic mix beverages can definitely compete with the thickness of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels. Okay..a bit of an overstatement, but you get the drift. Overall, you will not be deceived by their offerings. The food there isn't anything of very remarkable, I must confess. But with the bar being their main strength, I assume their cuisine isn't a big concern to them since most people will not eat during the "club" nights. But the food is definitely not something that you can complain much, it's still very edible. It's just not at par with other more modest restaurants. The decor and ambiance, on the other hand is enough to make you want to visit the place. It's very cozy, hipster'ish, and the lighting is just perfect. I don't actually know how L'Assommoir look like during lunch and diner time, but during the night, it turns into a modern hip lounge. The term, "dancing on tables" is taken literally there. There isn't a dancefloor per se, but there is a long wide table where people just hop on it and shake what their mama gave 'em to the sound of DJ'esque music. But that's probably because they had one too many melon martinis. In summary, they would make Paris Hilton proud. And as of the crowd, you would spot more young professionals and downtown individuals mingling there. Most people are well-dressed, not fancy or anything, but just well-dressed. They don't look forced or tacky like at the clubs.

If you haven't been to that place yet, you might find my descriptive of the place to be a bit pretentious, but to be honest, you won't understand until you've been there. My experience was pretty enjoyable and I'm even planning on having my 20th birthday hosted at L'Assommoir as well. But then again, it may not be for everyone, in my honest opinion. Maybe it's just a phase for me like the clubs were to me a few short years back. But as of right now, I much prefer a good night at a good place having good drinks, just sharing conversations with people I enjoy being with than having to squeeze in with sweaty people at the clubs for a couple of hours. Yeah...for sure.

L'Assommoir is located at 112 Bernard West (corner of St-Urban), Montreal. It's open at 11am on weekdays and 4pm on weekends. It stays open 'till 3am. Check out their website for further details and inquiries.

Have fun and be safe!

Today's Bananas TV Quote: Diane Von Furstenberg

"The most important relationship you can have is the one with yourself, because no matter what happens, you will always be with yourself." 

Today's Bananas WhatToDo: Summer Shows

Today was a very lovely early spring day, here in Montreal, and although I had to spend it at work, I was still enjoying the sunshine and the light breeze coming through our windows and open doors. It puts a smile on my face because it means that we will soon be blessed with everyone(most people)'s favorite season of the year, summer! Oh, summer. The abundance of things that we can do and enjoy limitlessly in the sun. It's just a great feeling. Summer is also actually my favorite time to go to a show because you don't have the hassle of carrying around your coat or jacket, and you benefit of all of the conveniencies that summer offers you. You gather up your best buddies, head to the coolest ticket in town, enjoy some great music or any other kind of show, have a beer or two, and just simply rock out. You've just created a fun and exciting night that will turn into cherished memories that can be shared among you and your friends. What is there not to like about summer shows? Nada.

With that being said, I've done some bit of research here and there, and a made list of summer shows that you can attend in the upcoming months. I only collected information on shows that would trigger my own personal interest, but I made a bit effort to also add a few other ones that would be out of my comfortable zone, but that would be enjoyed by others. In the purpose of making the list more cohesive, I've listed the shows in order of appearance this summer.

Katy Perry

When? March 31st 2009

Where? Metropolis

How much? $15.94

Say what you want about Katy Perry, love her or hate her, she has put out some summer hit pop songs that have been stuck in your head for days. She's coming to Metropolis accompanied by The Daylights as the opening act. I'm not so sure whether the tickets have been sold out, but in my honest opinion, I don't think it had. So for the interested, check out the website or call Metropolis for further details. If you are eager or anticipating to see Katy finally kissing a girl on stage, this may be your final chance!

The Fray

When? April 13th 2009

Where? Metropolis

How much? $28.79

You may have remembered that one song from The Fray, you know.. How to save a life? Well, to refreshen your memories, it was a pretty big song, for good reasons. It was a modestly good song. I'm not a very big enthusiast of their band, but their latest album has been loaded to my ipod, and I can honestly say that they are an okay band with some okay songs, but worth mentioning if you enjoy their style of music in songs such as How to save a life, Cable Car (Over my head), or You found me.

Adele

When? April 28th 2009

Where? Metropolis

How much? 28.79

Adele, I find, is one very very refreshing new artist. She's only 19 and has already won two grammys, one for Best New Artist and the other for Best Female Vocal Performance, and rightly so. Her song Chasing Pavement has become one of my favorite ballad and her album is full of very soothing material. To be honest, I started listening to Adele with a closed mind, and I thought she was another overrated prententious "indie" artist. But even with that kind of mindset, I couldn't escape her charm and her unbelievably soothing vocals. She's an artist not to be missed. Don't expect a full-on show, but some very good live music from a genuine artist. Music from the heart (can someone say, cheeze? lol).

Fallout Boy

When? May 6th 2009

Where? Cepsum - Université de Montreal

How much? $79 - $110

Now, I'm kind of hesitant in even listing Fallout Boy because I've lost total interest in them ever since Pete Wentz gone all retarded and stuff. I've been to one of their shows in support of their previous album afew years back, and to be honest, I didn't enjoy it that much except for a few songs that I liked. It is kind of sad because I really liked the opening act A LOT more than the actual Fallout Boy performances. However, my reason for posting this event is that Fallout Boy will give you the opportunity to get into mosh pits and just go completely insane on the floor. If you're of the aggresive type and want to push some people around for no reasons without being talked back, this is the show for you. Of course, the smell of sweaty teenagers and weed definitely set the mood, and you will feel like you're part of the cool kids ;)

No Doubt

Where? Bell Center

When? June 17th 2009

How much?

I love No Doubt, I really do. I think they're a fantastic band and they can make music that blend into different genre. They can go from rock to pop to raggae, they are very innovative. Their break up a few years ago was kind of sad, but it gave rise to a good solo career for Gwen Stefani (although The Sweet Escape era was less than mediocre, at best). But since band comebacks have become a new trend, No Doubt is coming back in full swing with their reunion tour. I may not be part of the audience, and I'm not so clear on what the material will be like, but I can only safely assume that you will rock out to some oldies, #1 hits, and some new stuff, I'm sure. If you're a fan, you may want to check out before they break up...again!

Russell Peters

Where? Bell Center

When? July 24th

How much? $51.50 to $99

Now, this is a not-to-miss show. I am commanding you to bring you and your friends to this show. You don't even understand. Nothing you will be doing on july 24th would be better than the Russel Peters show, and it's not even an overstatement. It's a fact. Russel Peters is touring with his 20th Anniversary comedy show across North America. He's stopping by to Montreal during the Just For Laughs Festival and will be presenting to a wide audience at the enormous Bell Center. His show will be a collection of the best material he did over the period of 1989 to 2009. Expect a lot of old stuff (but good stuff) and some new material as well! Are you excited yet? Well, don't worry, my excitement will be enough to make up for yours. Fork that hard-earned cash in a downfall economy over to the Bell Center box office on march 19th for your chance to not miss a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Other notable shows -

Ray Lamontagne

When? April 14th 2009
Where? Metropolis

How much? $35.44

The Tragically Hip

When? May 1st & May 2nd

Where? Metropolis

How much? $52. 27

Dave Matthews Band

When? June 10 2009

Where? Parc Jean-Drapeau

How much? around $99 +

Some of these shows are selling like hot cakes, so you may want to snatch some tickets as soon as you can. Call or checkout the websites for any other inquiries concerning the shows! Summer is bursting with musical goodness, so make the sound of this summer one to remember!

Today's Bananas Fashion: (Mens)Spring Wear

I have a lot of interets. I mean, sure, they change every now and then; whenever I'm suddenly in a transition to a new stage in my life. But some of my interests, no matter which environment I'm in, remain the same. I will probably never lose these interests, even with time. One of these interets I'm referring to is fashion. I confess, I am one of those guys that will say yes when asked to go shopping. Maybe it's hereditary. I have a very self-conscious family who pride a lot in the exterior look. My mother loves the Louis Vuitton Monogram handbags, my dad takes longer to get dress than my mother, and my middle sister? Shall we not even go there. Suprisingly, only my bigger sister is the least vain out all of us. And as for me, let's just say I would not complain to have a bigger closet.

I'm not some fashion expert working over at GQ Magazine or anything, so be warned that this post is based solely on my personal taste and opinion, although any other constructive commentary from you is neither banned. Spring is coming, and this means that summer would just be around the corner. But before we can whip out our coolest shorts and sandals, we must go through the season of warmer breeze and unfortunately, snow slush. I've listed a few good things that I love to wear during warmer days of spring, and places where you can get them as well. Obviously, being a guy, I can only suggest things that only guys could wear since my womenswear knowledge is very limited. But hey, if you're a girl and got guy friends, brothers, or boyfriends you'd like to dress up a bit, this can be a relevant starting point!

Pants. Jeans will always be a piece of garment that can be worn anytime of the year, but if you're looking to transition into things that are lighter in material, and a bit more refreshing, you may want to try slim-fitting chinos, light cotton pants, and suit pants (that are not mandatory to match with a suit vest). Make sure they fit you right, and the bottom should not have more than one break (no break at all, is even better). If not, a cool thing I like to do is to roll the hem of the bottom up a few times just so that it shows a bit of your ankles. It's cool, it's modern, and you can show off your freshest pair of sneakers, loafers, or a pair of Sperry Top-Siders.

Shoes. Speaking of shoes, spring indicates that the boots will get the boot! But because of the still-low temperature outside, sandals and flipflops may not yet be appropriate to wear. The easy alternatives would be sneakers. I love sneakers, I do. But I've come to a phase where I'm not quite into the Nike/Addidas high tops, or Converses anymore. I actually really like the cheap very low sneakers in the likes of Vans and such. But I'm referring to the non-brand one that you find at Urban Outffitters or H&M for $20. They come in many colors and they're just so easy to wear and super light. They're not the most durable (I already own 3 pairs, 2 of them the same color :S), so I suggest to not overuse them if you want to wear them a lot more. My new fascination is the Sperry Top-Siders. They're designed for sail-boating, but you know what, they look great with the pants I've mentioned previously. Wear them without socks, you'd be the coolest looking cat around! (The three-colored suede ones are a bit more pricey, but they're bloody awsome.)

Jackets. I own a lot of jackets/coats. I can safely say that I like to keep myself warm, so I have jackets to accomodate different temperatures. But spring is the time where jackets will be the best thing on your back because the weather is so unpredictable, you never know when it will get really chilly outside. I've been seeing a lot of people on the street with leather(real and fake) jackets, and they all look pretty dashing. Owning a leather jacket myself, I find them to be both stylish and warm enough for the coming season. Windbreakers is a good bet when it comes to spring jackets. They do what they do best; break the wind. There are a lot of windbreaker jackets that are made in garbage bag-looking material, and it's fine, just make sure you don't actually look like you're wearing a garbage bag. Perhaps, try choosing a color other than black to avoid the "trash" look. Finally, a short-length trenchcoat is the best-looking jacket to wear during spring, I personally find. I don't have one, but I will definitely go on the search of a nice one that will fit into my budget. You can wear it casually or over a suit (if you happen to be at a wedding, or some other formal event), it's very versatile. If you can get your hands on one, don't hesitate. If you have a good non-recession-affected bank account, head over to your nearest Burberry boutique, it's going to be a good investment that will not be depleted over time...unlike your stocks. ;)

¸

Stores. I'm not the biggest discoverer of stores, I shop at really normal mainstream stores. As long as I find what I need, I'm fine. H&M, Zara, Urban Outfitters, Simons are all good places in Montreal Downtown to get some nice, inexpensive clothing. For things a bit more out there, The Plateau Mont-Royal offers some great selection of vintage and local designer retailers, and De La Montagne street offers boutiques like Diesel and Holt Renfrew for those with black credit cards.

Now, in between the pants, the shoes and the jackets, you obviously have to wear a top, and any other accesories warranted to wear during spring. Light cotton t-shirts, round or V-neck, will do the trick, and cardigans are the new thing to wear; it's definitely not a "grandpa" look anymore. Don't forget, some cool shades and a spring scarf can heightened and complete your outfit. So here's the thing, I'm not saving the world, it's just clothes. But for guys who are still stuck in old plain Levis jeans and wornout graphic tees, maybe spring will be a good time to start swapping that stuff for some new duds. Don't be afraid to shop around. As a matter fact, do us all a favor and shop, we need the economy to get back on track!

Today's Bananas Blog: Stuff White People Like

So there's this blog that I found a while ago that I feel like I must share. It's not so much a blog anymore, because the blog posts turned into a book (that you can easily find at your nearest Urban Outfitters store). It's a collection of lengthy posts by an author named Christian Lander and he's a white guy describing the stuff white people like. Now if you find yourself to be a white person, you most probably would somehow and somewhat recognize yourself among the list of things the author says. If you're of the ethnic group, you will find a lot of these posts to apply to your white friends. Don't get me wrong, the list of things on the blog absolutely does not represent or dictate exactly what white people like, but rather an over-generalization of white stereotypes. But we all know stereptypes are just a derivative of the truth, really.

The author does not update his blog on a daily basis, or even often as a matter of fact. It is quite understandable seeing as each posts are very well thought out and are pretty clever that you could wait a little while to get some new stuff to read. So far, the author posted a total of 122 things white people like. These 122 posts are freely accessible by simply clicking on "full list of stuff white people like" and you get yourself a really good laugh out of reading these posts. None of these posts are racist in any way nor are they offensive. Well, I guess it's easy for me to say that since I'm not white, but a lot of white people have confessed to not find any of this offensive, and even rather enjoyable because it speaks somewhat of the truth. Regardless, it should be taken lightly and is even more funny if you have a sense of humour. The tone of these posts is basically set in a way that recommends the non-white people what to do or say when they're around white people. It's basically a satirical guide to how to behave when in company of white people.

I cannot possibly resume the 122 posts on the website, but to give you a little bit of what you may encounter on that blog, I'm going to link the few examples that I enjoy from the list (simply click on the link to read my favorite ones):

#17. Hating Their Parents

#11. Asian Girls
#62. Knowing What's Best for Poor People

And the list goes on with even more hilarious posts about sushi, divorce, having gay friends, Arts degrees, and bottles of water. It's a good place to go to when you have a bit of free time and just want to be entertained by these satirical posts/advices from the perspective of one white guy. As mentioned earlier, the book containing the collection of these posts is available at any bookstores or Urban Outfitters stores, but really, why pay when you can have it online for free. But for those who fancy a rather more tactile alternative, you can purchase your own physical copy for a more thorough read on amazon.ca.

Stuff White People Like! Go click!

Today's Bananas Underrated Band: Ok Go

I enjoy music thoroughly, whether it be mainstream or independent; if it's catchy, I will most certainly like it. My ipod, I must confess, is gearing more towards the mainstream with artists such as Kanye West, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Coldplay, The All-American Rejects, Jason Mraz, and the list goes on. Whatever's playing on the radio is most likely to end up on my ipod. With that being said, I also enjoy rather more subtle and less popular artists too, you know, the more indie type of music Seth Cohen would listen to (yes, Seth Cohen as in Seth Cohen in the now defunct teen drama The O.C., remember?). But I'm not some A&R guy from Epic Records or anything so I have neither the resources, capacity and the will to go on the search of bands "that don't even exist yet". I honestly have better things to do.

However, there is this band that I feel like has been lying very low which is sort of a shame because they make some very great music. They're not "indie" or "underground" per se, they might even be considered mainstream, but some very underrated mainstream music. They're called Ok Go and the band consists of 4 members: Damian Kulash, Tim Nordwind, Dan Konopka, and Andy Ross. Despite their unconventional last names, the band is American and comes from Chicago. To classify their music genre...I mean, I'm not the best person to categorize music since everything I listen to, I classify them as "pop", but I would say they might go under rock/pop/alternative if you need to find them at a record store. To simplify things, let's just say their music is the kind that would be on the soundtrack of (yet again) The O.C. (if were it still alive). The band members are very quirky, funny, witted individuals who not only create very catchy uptempo and midtempo music, but their fashion sense is also quite innovative. I'm a preppy fashion kind of person, and they fit exactly that style with their skinny pants, patterned dresshirts accentuated with overly stylized ties or bowties topped with some kind of flannel vest. Maybe that's why I find them cool, because I would see myself in that kind of getup too. They are overall, a very interesting band, personality and music-wise.

They have already released two full-length albums titled Ok Go and Oh No, which gathered little public attention but were a success among critics. From what I heard, they are recording their third album, which I am quite excited about. Their music can match any kind of mood you're currently in, and it just put a smile on your face no matter what. With songs like A million ways, You're so damn hot, Here it goes again, and 1000 miles per hour, you will find yourself grooving to their unique sound in no time!

For a little taste of what you would be getting yourself into if you were to explore Ok Go, check out this pretty bananas music video of their song Here it goes again (which by the way, won them a Grammy for ''Best Short-Form Music Video''):

Annndd, in addition, I'm throwing in the download links to their first two albums, Ok Go and Oh No, respectively. Click and download away! :

1. Ok Go - Ok Go

2. Ok Go - Oh No

Enjoy.

Pro-bono Promotioning Duties:
Official Website: http://www.okgo.net/
Myspace Music: http://www.myspace.com/okgo/

Today's Bananas Book: The Zombie Survival Guide

So I have this thing about zombies. Everyone in my entourage are well aware that I have both a fear and obsession of zombies. Yes, I am talking zombies from the movies like 28 days later, Dawn of the Dead and such. I truly (I'm not crazy) believe that zombies *will* exist at some point. They are just the result of a science experiment waiting to go wrong. So last winter, with that in mind, I've been doing alot of very trivial research on the matter and stumble upon a website that promote this New York Times best seller book called The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. With the hope of wanting to survive a future possible zombie outbreak, I googled the book and found that it was available at Chapters. So as soon I could, I headed to Chapters to get myself a copy.

Now before you lecture me about the uselessness of the book itself since zombies *do not* exist, I must tell you that it is a very nonetheless entertaining book to read. (I only want to share with you on my blog whatever that is fun and entertaining). The book itself is about 270 pages long and features images and step-by-step guide to survive an epedimic of living deads; it literally keeps your attention going and next thing you know, you finished the book in a span of a few hours. The book covers many things, most notably the weapons to use, where to shelter, the vehicles most efficient during an outbreak and has a collection of ''real life events'' that occured involving ''zombies'' (now, I highly suggest you to take this information with a grain of salt).

To summarize the book, here are the top 10 lessons for surviving a zombie attack according to the author:

1. Organize before they rise!

2. They feel no fear, why should you?

3. Use your head: cut off theirs.
4. Blades don't need reloading.

5. Ideal protection = tight clothes, short hair.

6. Get up the staircase, then destroy it.

7. Get out of the car, get onto the bike.

8. Keep moving, keep low, keep quiet, keep alert!

9. No place is safe, only safer.

10. The zombie may be gone, but the threat lives on.

So don't be carefree and foolish with your most precious asset - life. So go get a copy and you will also know how to survive. If you don't, you can always follow me! (I do not, however, guarantee you that I won't abandon you and run away at some critical moment...)

To buy a copy, you can check it out at your nearest Chapters Indigo store or on their online store website.

p.s. I got this book in the ''humour'' section, so believe what you want ;)

Today's Bananas Website: Fmylife.

I've been promoting this website for a while among my circles of friends because it has become my new internet addiction beside from Facebook. It's called fuckmylife (http://www.fmylife.com/) and it's basically, and I quote, "recollection of everyday anecdotes likely to happen to anyone" in their most embarassing and 'fuck my life'ish ways. I cannot stress enough how hilarious this little internet find is.

I first got into it at the request of one of my McGill buddy Johanne while in an International Business class. As soon as I've logged onto fmylife, I did not listen to another thing the professor was lecturing about...something about international monetary system...I don't know. All I knew was fmylife has changed the way I see my most fucked up moments; they were not *that* fucked up after all. Ever since, the website has become one of the first destinations on the web I go to during my daily blog-reading routine.

Some of my friends argue about their authencity because some of these situations are so incredibly outlandish that it can't possibly happen. Although my doubt radar has occasionally felt like some these posts were man-made, I still believe they are *mostly* true. The really good ones are so well thought out and clever that such thinking would take so much time with the purpose to just to post 2 sentences on the web like that. But nevertheless, its entertaining value stays the same.
On that note, if you have not yet clicked on the link, I highly recommend, if not command you to do it asap. It's a not-to-miss website.

Fmylife: http://www.fmylife.com/ ; go!