Ratatat Fever!!

Music is a very integral part of my life, if I could go to a concert everyday I would (I know I speak on behalf of nearly everyone), so you can imagine how lucky I feel to have been able to see Ratatat TWICE in a span of six months. I saw them for the first time at Paradise in Boston, and just yesterday at Terminal 5 in NYC. For those of you who are not familiar with the group, Ratatat is a NYC electronic music duo consisting of a guitarist and a synthesizer driver.

I personally have no words to describe them, I don't know what genre to classify them in and that's what makes them so unique. They're music stands out anywhere and even though there's a lot going on in their music, they're able to make a crowd go wild with just a strum of the guitar, or by playing a key on the keyboard. Watching them is a great experience, it's not always that you're able to get completely lost in music and just forget about everything else. I've attached a couple clips from the night.

Tease your Taste Buds with a lil Magic

Imagine a world where sour could taste sweet, where pure lemon juice can taste like sweet lemonade. Apparently, confusing your taste buds to make sour taste sweet is possible with the Miracle fruit plant. Found in West Africa, the miracle fruit plant produces berries (a.k.a. magic berry) that when eaten create an effect lasting for about 15 – 30 minutes where whatever you eat after has a different taste; mores specifically, sour or savory foods taste sweet. Veggie haters can actually enjoy that broccoli now!

This magic can also be found in tablet or a freeze-dried form, giving it a longer shelf life. I’m not 100% sold, there has to be a downside…. but I guess if they grow on trees they can’t be that bad? Ordering this magic berry online is the only means of purchasing it that I could come across and it costs a pretty penny at that!

…shame the berries don’t have the same effect on experiences other than food… like sour relationships… ;)

Shop till you drop - on Shopbop

To all the female fashionistas out there who don't already know... With all the online shopping options we are given today, I haven't been able to find a site that I'd visit more than once. A friend recently introduced me to Shopbop.com, which if any of you don't know of should definitely start visiting whenever that pay check comes in, or when your closet feels... dull and empty. Shopbop.com is an online boutique with over a hundred brands, carrying everything you would want for your wardrobe. In addition to their "How to Buy Denim Guide," I'd say Shopbop's usp, or unique selling proposition, is their Season Trend Preview guide. Take the time to look through the latest trends of the season and exactly how to pull them off. Did I mention there's free shipping? I try to limit my shopping to things I actually need and somehow end up needing the most ridiculous things, like a headband. Enjoy your online shopping spree; however, don't visit the site unless you either have the money to spend, or want to get depressed and hate your current wardrobe and style.

Movies Re-Enacted in 30 Seconds.... by Bunnies

Ever wanted to watch a movie but couldn't find the time? Check out Angry Alien Productions who have provided us with a library of movies re-enacted in 30 seconds to accomodate our fast paced lives. The actual shorts are not really that funny, but the idea of them is definitely amusing and not to mention, slightly creepy...

MGMT - Kids (Pet Shop Boys Synthpop Mix)

Flip Mino HD!

My new favorite gadget is the Flip Mino HD, a mini digital camcorder that can capture up to an hour of continuous footage in high definition. It has a built in USB to connect directly to your laptop and it comes with it's own flip video program to organize your videos and share them. It might have a small LCD screen, but with its touch- sensitive buttons and 4G of memory this product is definitely worth the purchase. If you order it from the website, www.theflip.com, you can be creative and even design your own one. If you think you've got extensive Mino designing capabilities you can sell your designs. I just got mine and love it, it's tiny, light and will def come in useful. Perfect for blackmail. Price: $229.99

Fyi: Pure Digital, the maker of the Flip, sold itself to Cisco for $590 million in stock, I think it's going to get pretty popular.

New York Arab-American Comedy Festival

I'm so excited to have been selected to be a participant of the New York Arab-American Comedy Festival this year! It's basically a festival to "showcase the talents of Arab-American actors, comics, playwrights and filmmakers" in NYC and I'm ecstatic to be a part of it! If you live in NYC you have no excuse not to be there :)

The show will be at the Comix Comedy Club on May 10th - May 14th!

Get in Shape with Tracy Anderson

So many of my friends have gotten personal trainers to get in shape, but end up with a body they don't like and less money in their bank account. I am convinced though that getting help from a professional is a smart thing to do, it's just finding the right trainer. What I catch myself doing is looking at a trainer's body and deciding if I would want to work with them or not... I mean they must be doing something right. Of course, every body works differently, but I can't help judging that way. That's why when I came across Tracy Anderson on Gwyneth Paltrow's site Goop (which is great) and the Today Show, I've really been considering investing in her DVDS... because I'm not going to pay $200 per session with her. She has her own methods that she's been researching for years and has an amazing body! Other fans include Madonna, and we can all say Madonna's got a pretty fab body, esp for her age.

Over & Over - Hot Chip (Disco Beard Re-Edit)

Bookworms can Travel Light, in Style

There have been quite a few reading devices made; however, the Kindle 2 just seems like a sleeker way to go. You can pretty much carry your library around in 10.2 ounces. You can download books anytime from the Kindle Store with it's 3G Wireless feature. Even though I prefer reading from a book, this does look like a good deal when I don't want to carry a 400 page book around...like Twilight... which I'd rather no one see me read... if I did have it..

All you early adopters can purchase it exclusively from Amazon.com for $359.

Happy April Fool's Day!

Hope you get to pull some fun jokes today :)

It's better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and leave no doubt. --Mark Twain

In Her Morning Elegance - Oren Lavie

It's been a while since I've seen a light and creative video like this...

Music and Art Appreciators

If you're looking for a new stylish set of speakers to use with your iPod and to add a classy touch to your home, check out the Phonophone II. This ceramic iPod "accessory" by Tristan Zimmerman uses no external power or batteries yet is said to give a "rich and resonant sound." So if you've got $500 dollars lying around, why not spend it on something that is vintage, modern and pure art.