Inspired by McSweeney’s Recommends.
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Myurbanrevolution.com Recommends:
Alanis Morrissette of the ’90s
I never forgot it, confusing as it was / No fun with no guilt feelings
Alanis of the ’90s is still the biggest badass, especially for others who were raised in Catholicism. Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie was her supposed sophomore flop, but give it another listen. It has staying power. And if you loved Jagged Little Pill, check out the acoustic version she recorded for its 10-year anniversary. If only Alanis could go angry again.
“The Crane Wife 3″ by the Decemberists
Culinary tours
Glass cereal bowls
It just tastes better that way.
Gmail
I know, I know, my relationship with Dan (a Gmail engineer) makes me partial on this one, but I have proudly owned a Gmail account since September 2004, about six months after it was introduced and long before I ever met Dan. It’s long past time to ditch the anonymous email identity you acquired in the early days of the internet (e.g., ImASlave4U@aol.com) for a more respectable one. Ever since 2005 or so, it started becoming embarrassing to use a play name in combination with a sub-par webmail service.
Now that Gmail has been around for so long, I had assumed that the competition would have emulated it enough that the stigma of using AOL, Earthlink, or Hotmail (gasp!) should have diminished, but my recent research (February 2010) surprised me. For one, the ads were egregious. Why else is Gmail better? 1. Conversation view in which all messages in the same thread take up a single line in your inbox with the most recent responses first. 2. Archiving keeps your inbox clean without using folders because search is so fast that they are irrelevant (though labels are available).
Google Reader
Let the internet come to you.
Half bottles of wine
A full bottle is a big commitment — both to drinking in general and to a specific wine (red or white, dinner or dessert).
I Love You, Man
A bromance that even chicks will dig. When I saw it in the theaters I laughed out loud so hard that I felt kind of high.
Indoor plants
They will transform your space. Flora Grubb Gardens is a great resource.
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Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution
I was only vaguely familiar with Jamie Oliver as the naked chef until I stumbled upon this too short 6-episode series on Hulu. The show may not be entirely fact based, but Jamie’s mission is admirable nonetheless. Who said all reality TV is trash?
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Louis’ at the Sutro Baths
One of the cheapest breakfasts in town with the best view in the city.
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Roommates
They keep life interesting and help pay for larger shared living space.
Savannah
Check into a hotel for about four days and start reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil without reading a plot synopsis. Stroll the 21 squares lined by oaks draped in Spanish moss, visit Bonaventure Cemetery, and dine on delicious Southern fare. Approximately halfway through the book, watch the film. Then visit Mercer House where all the action took place.
“You Make My Dreams Come True” dance scene with Joseph Gordon-Levitt from 500 Days of Summer
Pure joy.
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