Mike Arauz Mike Arauz is a strategist at Undercurrent, and lives in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Mike's interested in media, marketing, technology, photography, film, food, and politics. This site is a place for you to discover the things that Mike thinks are interesting enough to pass on. Email: him[at]mikearauz[dot]com
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Blog: Stream of Thoughts

Michael Cera - Outtake from Knocked Up

I'm not sure where these clips are coming from, but here's another very funny outtake from Knocked Up. Michael Cera, of Arrested Development and the upcoming Apatow film Superbad, gets into a yelling match with director Judd Apatow while shooting a scene with Katherine Heigl. The funny thing is, Cera isn't in Knocked Up, the whole thing is staged.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007    |       |    Permalink

Frontline: Spying on the Home Front

This episode came out a few weeks ago, but I just got around to watching it. This is an excellent and thorough report on how our government is abusing its power to spy on innocent Americans. Note former Justice Department official, John Yoo. He's one of the few people on the conservative side who actually says what he means, and it's pretty scary. For instance, the President's Article 2 powers as Commander in Chief supercede FISA, and the 4th Amendment doesn't apply during the "War on Terror." You can watch the entire episode online.

Monday, May 28, 2007    |       |    Permalink

Deleted Scene from Knocked Up

A very funny scene in which some good questions about Brokeback Mountain get asked [link].

Sunday, May 27, 2007    |       |    Permalink

Mr. Show - The Audition

My favorite Mr. Show sketch: The Audition.

Saturday, May 26, 2007    |       |    Permalink

lolpresidents

If you liked lolcats, you're going to love lolpresidents.

Friday, May 25, 2007    |       |    Permalink

Flight of the Conchords

Ok, I've gotta post this before it's old news. Check out this new comedy show on HBO, Flight of the Conchords. It's about two folk musicians and friends from New Zealand who are finding their way in NYC's hipster music scene. The show features musical-like song breaks, and many familiar faces, like Kristen Schaal, from the NY comedy scene.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007    |       |    Permalink

Mass MoCA in dispute with artist

Mass MoCA is about to open an unfinished art installation by the Swiss artist Christoph Buchel. Evidently there has been a huge dispute because the artist kept on demanding that the museum acquire more and more large scale artifacts for the piece. The museum director says the final straw was a request for "the fuselage from a large jetliner, like a 767, that Mr. Büchel wanted to be burned and bomb-damaged and then hung from the ceiling."

Tuesday, May 22, 2007    |       |    Permalink

Why do young entrepreneurs have an advantage over older ones?

I came across this great little essay by Clay Shirky yesterday. He argues that youth really does give young entrepreneurs an edge. Not because they have more energy, or more passion, but because they have less experience.

Imagine a bag of black and white balls, with a slight majority of white. Drawing out a single ball would provide little information beyond “There is at least one white (or black) ball in this bag.”...By a thousand draws, you could put a rough percentage on that imbalance, and by ten thousand draws, you could say something like “53% white to 47% black” with some confidence.

But what would happen if the contents of the bag changed overnight? What if the bag suddenly started yielding balls of all colors and patterns — black and white but also green and blue, striped and spotted?

His analysis is much more in-depth than this, and is very insightful. Go read it. (h/t Kottke)

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Where is the Earth located in the Milky Way galaxy?

Find the answer to this question, and others like Where does the sky become space? and How big are the oceans of the world? Check out this beautifully designed interactive info graphic site about our planet. (h/t AnotherCompany)

Monday, May 21, 2007    |       |    Permalink

Jeff Buckley performs Hallelujah

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of Jeff Buckley's tragic death, The Guardian has some rare footage of a live studio recording of Buckley doing Leonard Cohen classic, "Hallelujah."

Thursday, May 17, 2007    |       |    Permalink

Orson Welles Drunk Outtake Video

You've probably seen or heard Orson Welles' drunk outtakes before, but this one might be new to you. It's a TV ad for California champagne. I just love how he starts each take with this bizarre sigh/yelp, something like "uuhaaughuuaaaaaahhhhhaaaaaa." Watch the video.

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Riveting Testimony from former Deputy Attorney General

Yesterday, James B. Comey, former Deputy Attorney General, testified before the Senate Judiciary committee about a very troubling incident involving Alberto Gonzales and former Chief of Staff Andy Card's attempt to circumvent the Justice Department in order to continue the Warrentless Wiretapping Program. At the President's personal request, Gonzales and Card went to the hospital bedside of Attorney General Ashcroft to get him - while in a delirious state - to give his approval of this unlawful program. Watch the entire video.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007    |       |    Permalink

New Guardian website

Some time in the past day or two The Guardian launched a new home page design. It's not a significant change, but overall it's much cleaner and easier to navigate.

Friday, May 11, 2007    |       |    Permalink

Oops, I just ate a $62 burger

A funny story about someone accidentally eating a $62 Japanese Kobe burger (h/t megnut).

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Shoot at a an Iraqi

What an incredible conceptual art project. A testament to my measure of all great art - simple and courageous. (h/t BoingBoing)

"Iraqi artist Wafaa Bilal has locked himself into a studio with live webcams for the month of May and is inviting you to shoot at him via your computer and the internet. Log on, aim and fire, and if you're good enough the round from the paintball gun will splatter him with faux blood." [link]

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The best of Web 2.0 in a (big) nutshell

The latest Web 2.0 awards from SEOmoz have been announced. This is a very comprehensive collection of all the best Web 2.0 sites; they cover photos, bookmarking, retail, and much more [link].

Thursday, May 10, 2007    |       |    Permalink

Dan Smith will teach you

This is amusing.

Dan Smith is notorious for his impressive flyer coverage throughout New York City...If you have seen the poster you know that Dan Smith teaches guitar, but does Dan Smith's infamy lie in his teaching skills? Clearly Dan Smith's true talents are that Dan Smith can flyer better than you.

[link]

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OMG - Jane Fonda on the Colbert Report

You've gotta see this. Jane Fonda sits on Colbert's lap and gives him a big kiss. I've never seen Colbert get this flustered before [link].

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Great ads for Bill Richardson (for President)

I love these new ads for former Gov. Bill Richardson [link]. The most qualified candidate that no one knows about. (It's nice to have so many great candidates to choose from this time around)

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Christopher Durang in Sign Language

Evidently, Christopher Durang's dated plays still have some life left in them. The NYTimes gives a thumbs up to a new production of Beyond Therapy by New York Deaf Theater [link].

Wednesday, May 09, 2007    |       |    Permalink

The Onion covers the new Feminism

According to a study released Monday, women—once empowered primarily via the assertion of reproductive rights or workplace equality with men—are now empowered by virtually everything the typical woman does. [link]

Monday, May 07, 2007    |       |    Permalink

Do you believe in evolution?

From the May 3rd, GOP Presidential Candidate debate:

MR. VANDEHEI: Senator McCain, this comes from a Politico.com reader and was among the top vote-getters in our early rounds. They want a yes or on. Do you believe in evolution?

SEN. MCCAIN: Yes.

MR. VANDEHEI: I’m curious, is there anybody on the stage that does not agree -- believe in evolution?

(Senator Brownback, Mr. Huckabee, Representative Tancredo raise their hands.)

Read the full transcript

Friday, May 04, 2007    |       |    Permalink

Need an excuse to leave?

This is hilarious. Popularity Dialer [link] will call your cell at a prearranged time to get you out of that annoying meeting/date/dinner-with-the-inlaws or whatever. Listen to the examples. (h/t Coudal)

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