NOW by Phenomenon

Important Agenda

NOW by PHENOMENON — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:55:05 +0000

Check out this viral video of comedian / messiah? Russell Brand showing MSNBC news anchors how to do their job. To Brand fans, it's just Russell doing his usual thing — surgically articulating mad realities, but for some reason, this one is all over the internet today. "Look beyond the superficial. That's the problem with current affairs. You forget about what is important." Enjoy.

Growth Spurt

NOW by PHENOMENON — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:05:38 +0000

Music City has something to prove: It's not just about country music anymore. Sure the Grand Ole Opry still stands in great tradition, but recent years have found more diverse musicians moving into this Southern stronghold (a la Jack White). And as the city expands rapidly in population and in employment opportunities, citizens are now expanding their artistic horizons. The Joint Project (that is joint as in collaboration and not drugs) is a beautiful attempt to include and grow the visual arts in Nashville.

Show and Tell

NOW by PHENOMENON — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:10:59 +0000

Edward Snowden dropped a bomb.

Computer whiz? High school dropout? Hero? Traitor? Ironically, we know very little about the man who told us that the government knows everything about us.

This is not meant to be a post with a political lean. It's meant to be a post about information: who has what and why.

Back to the Basics

NOW by PHENOMENON — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:38:49 +0000

At the Electronic Entertainment Expo, companies turn out with their cutting edge games, but classic system Nintendo showed off not first-person shooters or 3D, but a new version of Mario - classic fun for everyone.

Go Nuts for Cronuts

NOW by PHENOMENON — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:45:00 +0000

Breaking News: a new carbohydrate to devour. The New York Times brings us this delectable story about The Cronut, a donut made with croissant dough.

Top of the (Online) TV

NOW by PHENOMENON — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 20:33:36 +0000

If you're anything like us, you're constantly being hassled by TV-obsessed friends to watch the latest show on Netflix. But sometimes it's hard to squeeze in numerous past seasons of The Wire & The Sopranos while trying to keep afloat of Breaking Bad & Arrested Development. A few months ago, everyone was talking about the Netflix original House of Cards (totally worth the watch). And now, that show is Top of the Lake: a mystery/thriller from Australian writer/director Jane Campion and starring our favorite Peggy Olson, Elisabeth Moss. Check it out if you get a moment.

G is For...

NOW by PHENOMENON — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 20:26:20 +0000

To celebrate the birthday of the late Maurice Sendak, children's author extraordinaire, Google created one of it's most extended homepage doodles today, in which a visitor may be distracted from their internet query for a moment as they go on a journey with Max and several characters through an animated world: a bit of whimsy to start a search...Google has been inserting itself even more into our mindbanks recently, lending its label to the big budget comedy The Internship (though apparently excusing itself from being used on Arrested Development.

Guys and Dolls

NOW by PHENOMENON — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:58:29 +0000

There are characters that we aspire to be. Maybe men want to be John McClane from Die Hard; maybe women want to be Penny Lane from Almost Famous. Maybe you put on a wifebeater or a fur coat, repeat a familiar phrase or two. Admiration leading to imitation. But some people take it a step (or three) farther. And some people aspire to be less human and more character. Some people want to be Barbie and Ken dolls. Literally.

Death of a Saleswoman

NOW by PHENOMENON — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 12:47:54 +0000

Grace Coddington, creative director of Vogue, once lamented that the prime spots on the cover of fashion magazines were, strangely, taken from models and given to movie stars. Now, as this article analyzes, those coveted covers are going to TV actors and reality personalities - who apparently bring in more curious readers and sell more issues. The mantel has been passed again. Who knows who it will go to next.

Drunk Robot

NOW by PHENOMENON — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 13:46:28 +0000

And you thought that video of a dog getting a beer from the fridge was cool...Now scientists at Cornell University have developed a robot who not only pours beer for you, but anticipates when you want it poured. And this isn't just about beer...It's about a robot who looks around the room and registers all the possible options to determine which action is best.