This week it's battle of the H listers. (That's homos for all ya'll who aren't so quick.)

I was just looking at a post about Siriano, who I can't believe is real. Kinda like I can't believe Perez is real. I know our country thrives on mediocrity and loves the court jester gays, but why can't we have hot, cool ones? Oh wait, we do have them, but the cool ones are in the closet, which is another story.

So my stomach is churning a little as I type this, but this week's Celebrity Deth Match is poodle loving bitchy queen Perez Hilton versus fierce-saying bitchy queen and Project Runway winner Christian Siriano.

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Last month it was Keiichi Nitta's first solo exhibit at Go Gallery in Milan. Now it's his first sold US exhibition at Constant Gallery in LA. The show opens 09.06 and runs through 09.20.08.

"The Constant Gallery is pleased to present I Think Japanese People Should Be More Open, the first U.S. solo exhibition by Japanese photographer Keiichi Nitta.

"Nitta is widely known as the right-hand man to renowned photographer Terry Richardson. Based in New York City in the six years he spent with Richardson, Nitta absorbed all that his international exploration engulfed him with: transcultural notions of beauty, fetishism of fashion and sexuality, and ultimately his inherent ability to grip moments in time to capture images that are unmistakably Keiichi."

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It's been a while since I've been into watches. Now I can't stop thinking about them.

My latest obsession: the Timex 80. It's sleek, sporty, and hip.

"This iconic digital style has all of the basic functions including time, date, stopwatch feature, alarm and of course, the indigo backlight. The face is plastic with a crystal screen, silver metal buttons and is water resistant. The strap is rubber with a silver metal buckle fastening and Timex branding subtly embossed on the arm."

"The Timex 80 comes complete with 80's style neon plastic, slide top box and foam cushioning. The two year guarantee covers against manufacturing defects and does not cover the battery or damage to external components like the crystal or the case."

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Anyone who knows me knows I'm not a big fan of streetwear. While I like ARC (Alife Rivington Club) because I'm really into sneakers, most of the clothing and accesories they do aren't really my thing. Every once in a while, though, along comes an exception to that rule.

Case in point: ALIFE's collaboration with Italian sunglass maker RETROSUPERFUTURE.

ALIFE collaborated with Italian sunglass manufacturer RETROSUPERFUTURE to create a custom frame with matching custom lenses. Every pair of SUPER sunglasses is hand-made in Italy and features Carl Zeiss lenses.

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H&M's done it again. This time taking iconic Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo of Commes Des Garcons fame to bed for its latest high-end/low-end collaboration.

What you can expect?? Says W Magazine: "Mostly black and with Japanese tomboy airs, the H&M collection includes a range of tailored jackets, many deconstructed, along with cropped pants, baggy shorts and a variety of skirts in stretch wool. On the perkier side are polkadot knits in jersey or merino wool, colorful shirts—some with dots—and a showpiece coatdress decorated here and there with dense Victorian ruffles. There are also accessories and a unisex perfume with notes of cedar and patchouli."

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Leave it to Margiela to come out with a super hot key chain, key ring, and key money clip.

First up, the super cool ring made from a house key cast in brass and dipped in white rubber. So sick! I want one now. Get it at oki-ni.

Next up, the super chic brown leather key fob with four separate silver metal key rings each with a leather head cover. Three of the head covers are embossed with gold lettering- Home, Parking, and Office. The fourth of course is for your mistress' apartment. Again at oki-ni.

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Golf. Just typing that made me sleepy. I just don't get it.

Enter the PUMA Open: the kind of golf event Johnny Knoxville (and I) would approve of.

"Sometimes, those events come along that are truly worth experiencing firsthand -- and the PUMA Open falls into that category, for sure. A unique multi-city golf tournament series that makes golf about so much more than its stodgy old stereotypes, the PUMA Open is a great introduction to the sport for novices and, for more seasoned players, a refreshing change of pace. Throw in nontraditional holes like Lucky 7 and On the Clock, plus post-round Vegas-style gaming, and, well, who wouldn't have a good time?"

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Spanish fashion magazine METAL has landed in New York.

"METAL kicked off at the Dactyl Foundation in SOHO offering a sneak peak at the upcoming issues with a multiple exhibition by the celebrated French photographer, Cristophe Kutner. Sexy Goths in Gothic, 1950's punks in Rockers and the toast of Parisian nightlife in Party Monster---styled by Romina Herrera Malatesta in New York and Julian Monge in Paris, were the perfect backdrop for this long overdue introduction to the METAL crew in New York."

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Honestly, trying to pick your top 10 favorite Radiohead songs ain't easy, but I'm making a stab at it because I don't have time to make a Top 50 list right now.

The easiest one for me is #1. Hands down Idioteque. There are better, but this one's mine.

* I just had to up it to 15 instead of 10. It was too hard.

15. House Of Cards
14. Just
13. Electioneering
12. Backdrifts
11. 2 + 2 = 5

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There's a must-see show opening at MoMA called Looking At Music. It opens 08.18.08 and runs through 01.05.09.

"Looking at Music explores the dynamic cross-fertilizations among music, video, installation, and what was known as mixed media art in the decade after 1965. Rapid changes in technology can be traced in early music videos by The Beatles, David Bowie, Captain Beefheart, The Residents, and Devo, all drawn from the Museum's collection. They are characterized by the same raw innocence that can be found in the small-press publications and artists' books that emerged as an important forum for writers, artists, and radical thinkers investigating the novel art forms of the day."

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Dan Deacon! This guy is the shizzzz. Checkout the piece I did on him last month for more info, links to videos, songs, and his MySpace.

» Name + Job Title
dan deacon, musician

» What's your favorite part of your job?
doing interviews like this.

» What's your least favorite part of your job?
flying

» Where are you now and what are you doing?
i'm outside of DC having food poising, watching south park.

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My friends @ Exposure hooked me up with a hot pair of premium denim from indie menswear line Mottainai. I have one (1) pair of slim, straight, grey 100% cotton jean with raw wash. ($312 retail value)

The line is launching their Fall/Winter 08 collection this week at Bergdorf Goodman, Jeffrey, and American Rag Cie (LA).

"Focusing on meticulous detail, structure and workmanship without wasting anything in production, the collection consists of high-end organic denim, tailored trousers, 100% Mongolian cashmere sweaters, British made outerwear, hand tailored cotton blazers, fine Italian shirting and embroidered organic T-Shirts."

Click here for your chance to win.

You've gotta checkout Darker My Love.

A friend burned me a pre-release copy of their sophomore album 2 last month and I've not given it serious attention until this week. Now I'm addicted.

"Darker My Love is an indie psychedelic rock band based in Los Angeles. The band consists of 5 members. Tim Presley, a former member of the band The Nerve Agents and also a visual artist responsible for much of the band's imagery, contributes vocals and guitar. Andy Granelli, formerly a member of both The Nerve Agents and The Distillers, plays drums. The group's style is often compared to bands such as Can and My Bloody Valentine.

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Now I'd hate to do anything to promote a Christian rock band, but this is too much.

Christian rockers Third Day have broken the 8th Commandment: Thou Shall Not Steal. Checkout the cover of their EP Revelation. Does it look like anything you've seen before?

How about the cover of Radiohead's Hail To The Thief? Anyone, anyone?

I guess when it comes to making money, which I'm sure they're giving all back to the church, that whole theft thing doesn't really apply. But we already knew that!

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1. Kenneth Anger @ P.S.1. 10.19.08 - 01.26.09. One of the most influential American avant-garde filmmakers, Kenneth Anger (b. 1927, Santa Monica, CA) has been making motion pictures since 1947.

2. Vampire Weekend has a new video out for their mega hit Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa. It doesn't really go with the lyrics (except the Cape Cod part), but who's paying attention. I love this song. Check it out!

3. Film Forum. RICHARD SERRA: Thinking On Your Feet. Wednesday, 08.20 – Tuesday, 09.02.08. "Richard Serra's Monumental Steel Sculptures are among the defining works of art of our time.

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Coen Brothers' fans rejoice!!

MoMA's ongoing film series -- Collaborations in the Collection -- spotlights Joel and Ethan Coen with screenings of their films beginning 08.16.08.

"Going beyond writing and directing, the Coen brothers also share producing and editing responsibilities—although they frequently go uncredited or use pseudonyms. Paul Newman said of the Coens, 'They give each other permission to go off on their own or express different ideas. But somehow in the end they're always in agreement.' Itinerants of place, time, and genre, the Coens defy neat categories or summaries. However, their films' credit lists reveal the common thread: collaborating with the same actors and crew allows the Coens to embark on each new collective challenge with efficiency."

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Fans of Montreal indie rockers Islands (ex Unicorns members) take note!

The band will play an outdoor show at New York Magazine's Backyard BBQ to be held on 08.23.08 at the Solar One Green Energy, Arts & Education Center located at the East river waterfront and 23rd Street.

"We've challenged a top chef to feed your tummy at our first-ever Backyard BBQ event. We've given him the ingredients and space to prepare a feast for hundreds. Is he up to the challenge? You better believe it. Tell your friends, grab a blanket and come on out to this one-of-a-kind party. Look for a full-set performance by Islands, and enjoy FREE BEER all day."

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Download these songs! You have to hear Cheree by Suicide. It's sick.

10. Advice For Young Mothers (The Veils)
9... Pale Sun (Darker My Love)
8... I'm Good I'm Gone (Lykke Li)
7... Two Steps, Twice (Foals)
6... Toothpaste Kisses (The Macabbees)
5... Psychotic Girl (The Black Keys)

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This week, seeing that the issue has finally gone to bed – and now it's my turn – I thought I might shed a little light on how it feels to run your own magazine on the final deadline.

Here are a few symptoms: Dizziness, headaches, a million and one words flying around your head in unbroken sentences. Your mind kind of split into three, what I should have done, what I should be doing now and what I should be doing soon – mental reminders going off all the time.

You'll be brushing your teeth and your N*E*R*D intro will come into your head. You're cooking dinner, half your UNStudio story comes into your head, and you need to check it. It never stops, it's exciting, but you end up running on some major energy reserves.

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The latest edition of DADDY -- published by Peres Projects -- is out.

Javier Peres is pleased to announce the limited release of GREEK DADDY, a tribute to all things Greek, past, present and future. GREEK DADDY includes in-depth coverage of 2007's Peres Projects, Athens, the mysterious events surrounding 07-07-07, and more...

GREEK DADDY is available for purchase now from Printed Matter, Inc. (New York), Peres Projects, or from the site. Your favorite regular DADDY vendor may also carry this special off-calendar issue, subject to local customs and content restrictions.

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If you haven't seen Downtown 81 yet and you have a fetish for New York in the 80's, do yourself a favor and rent it now.

"This film, directed by Edo Bertoglio, written by Glenn O'Brien and produced by O'Brien and Maripol, is a rare real-life snapshot of ultra-hip subculture of post-punk era Manhattan. Starring renowned artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and featuring such early Village hipsters as James Chance, Amos Poe, Walter Steding, and Tav Falco, the film is a bizarre elliptical urban fairytale." Read the full Wiki entry here.

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1. All Points West: Liberty State Park rocks. Some logistical issues, but nothing too crazy. Radiohead live = sick, sick, and more sick.

2. Finally watched Michel Gondry's Be Kind Rewind. Wish I'd rewound it and never saw it. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

3. ERMP's (East River Music Project) next show is @ 2 pm on Saturday 08.16.08. Curated by CounterstreamRadio.org and New Amsterdam Records.Check it out.

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I love fluffy (aka cumulus) clouds and the New York sky is filled with them this summer. Today as I was walking up Avenue B, I remembered The Orb song Little Fluffy clouds that I used to listen to over and over when I lived in SF.

"Little Fluffy Clouds is a single released by the ambient house group The Orb. It was originally released in 1990 on the record label Big Life and peaked at #87 on the UK Singles Chart. Little Fluffy Clouds is centered around clips from an interview with Rickie Lee Jones in which she recalls picturesque images of her childhood."

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I love me some fashions, but designer Band-Aids? Definitely! Worn as purely fashion accessory? Maybe not, but who am I to judge. I just love the idea of it.

Says the NY Times: "When Nicholas James Brown prepares to go out for cocktails at the Tribeca Grand or to a clambake in the Hamptons, he sticks on a few boldly patterned Band-Aids by the Brazilian fashion designer Alexandre Herchcovitch.

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I haven't been back to McCarren Pool since the Bloc Party / Secret Machines show 2 summers ago. After a killer time last night, I want to hangout there every night till they close it down for the season.

Lara got tickets for us to go see her favorite band -- The Black Keys -- at the pool last night. It couldn't have been better. Despite all of the press, McCarren Pool is still the best venue in the city in terms of crowd and physical space.

And let's talk about The Black Keys for a minute. These guys fucking rock. They're hands down one of the best rock n roll bands I've ever seen live, and it's only 2 guys!!

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My friends at hip new Italian sneaker company D.A.T.E. have graciously given me two (2) pairs of hightop sneakers from their hot-off-the-presses Fall/Winter 2009 collection to give to my most faithful readers.

One (1) pair of men's Sport High in white + blue leather and one (1) pair of women's Tender High in black velvet. (Approximately $180/pair retail) See photos below.

Even if you can afford these gems, they're tough to get ahold of right now in the US as they're just breaking into the market, which makes them even more precious. I'm a HUGE sneakers fan and I've not seen sneakers this hot in a long time.

Click here for your chance to win.

If you haven't heard Battles yet, check them out now.

"Battles is an American math rock band. The group's line-up is composed of well-known musicians, including ex-Helmet drummer John Stanier, ex-Don Caballero guitarist Ian Williams, ex-Lynx guitarist Dave Konopka, and Tyondai Braxton (son of avant-garde jazz musician Anthony Braxton), who also plays guitar and keyboard and creates live voice samples."

Read the full Wikipedia entry, stop by their MySpace to test drive some songs.

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ASS (Asia Song Society) has a HUGE group show -- I WANT A LITTLE SUGAR IN MY BOWL -- opening this Saturday 08.09.08, but unless you've received an invite, I can't tell you the address or the time, because you're not invited.

I can tell you, though, that the MisShapes, who've been very much under the radar lately, will be spinning, so it's sure to be a raucous opening.

The show is curated by Anat Ebgi, Terence Koh, and Jenny Schlenzka, and was inspired by the Nina Simone song of the same name. Check it out here and sing along.

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It's a fact: I'm a total cynic.

I just watched Nick Knight's latest "film" Untitled and nearly fell asleep before the 2+ minutes were up. Looks like the "everybody jump on this to get more PR" green movement has a new competitor: racism in fashion. First, it was Vogue Italia's Black Issue, which I think is genius, and now Mr. Knight takes it on in his short film starring the one and only poster child for anger management Naomi Campbell wearing $5,000 Rodarte dresses holding machine guns.

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Time to take a trip to LIC for That Was Then...This Is Now on through 09.24.08 at P.S.1.

"P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center presents That Was Then... This Is Now, an exhibition featuring spectacular pieces including Leo Villareal's new LED Flag installed in the P.S.1 elevator; Apolitico, an expansive outdoor flag installation by Wilfredo Prieto; Cannone Semovente, a monumental sculpture by the late Italian artist Pino Pascali; and Lawrence Weiner's Milk and Honey, which evokes a sensuous and ephemeral dream.

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There's a hip new taco spot in NoLita called Pinché Taqueria @ 227 Mott Street. It's owned by Jeffrey Chartier, a partner in Soho Films.

The food is amazing and the price fits every budget. My favorite: the fish tacos. I'm not a big fan of fish and once had a fish taco in LA that made me not want to ever have one again...until now.

Made from lightly battered mahimahi, I could eat 5 of these tasty tacos in a sitting, which I'd do in front on one of their benches, watching the sexy crowd pass by.

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DDC Lab is slated to open a second New York store this September.

I remember DDC as one of the very first shops to open on Orchard Street back in the day. They then moved to the Meat Packing and opened shop in LA.

"DDC Lab is opening a new store in Greenwich Village, but don’t try to search for it on Google—you won’t find it. The new 2,500-square-foot store, a brainchild of designers Roberto Crivello and Savania Davies-Keiller, who founded the DDC USA label in 1992 and then DDC Lab in 1998, has no name, no sign and no indication it’s a store. All it has is an address: 5 Mercer Street, perpendicular to Howard Street."

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My friends at Star Electric 88 (SEEE) are carrying an exclusive new series of tees and posters by French illustrator Datrumpf.

David Trumpf aka Datrumpf was born in France and worked in a jail for a few years before coming to New York in the 90's to begin his career as a designer and illustrator. To date his work has been exhibited at Atlanta's Design Museum (MODA) and Colette. His current collection of of t-shirts and posters entitled X-Rated Romps showcases a selection of illustrations based on newspaper photographs.

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The Summer Video Program Finale is on @ Peres Projects in Berlin featuring a piece by New York art collective Assume Vivid Astro Focus entitled asymmetrical voluminous ass fuckers.

"Originally screened during PS1 project Concrete Waves at Art Basel Miami Beach, this video is a collection of home made videos found on youtube of people dancing. Some dance alone in their rooms, other in competitions or clubs. Vogue, tektonic, jump, booty, krumping, popping and locking. The video will be mixed with Quartzo Power (2008), by Assume Vivid Astro Focus collaborators Rodrigo Garcia Dutra and Kleber Matheus."

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In case you've missed it, there's a recently-opened authentic Thai restaurant that's getting a lot of foodie buzz these days: Rhong-Tiam (541 LaGuardia Place)

The NY Times calls it "one of the best Thai places in Manhattan. This crown is not terribly hard-won, but Rhong-Tiam competes with the best of Queens, and it’s always exciting to find a place where chefs grind their own curry pastes and, Mr. Yang said, spend a lot of time extracting the milk of fresh coconuts." Read their full review here.

I remember reading the review back in May, but being in a ramen, Mexican, diner food phase, I noted it, but didn't go so far as to check it out.

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Things I've learnt this week: It's all a matter of time...

"Happy Birthday, you ass clowns... Now, stop your stressing, start your funning. Or something."

Yes, it was my birthday earlier this week (and funnily enough, Sally's too). The message you have just read was sent with affection from one of my dearest friends in LA. He's a writer by profession and this certainly isn't his finest moment. Although, it did cause me to roll around the floor with laughter and back-lash him with some comical abuse and yes, less stress would be incredible.

We all know age becomes a factor on and around your birthday. No matter how old you're going to be that new digit can change your perspective, at least for a moment. It can and almost always does end up making you have a bit of a re-think, 'I need to stop doing that and start doing this.'

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