There has also been a new update to my bloglife. I will be contributing to bbqchickenrobot, so from here on in all new music or reviews of shows will be on bbq, while older music or random bands not as bbq friendly will be going up on here. SWEET.
MUSIC

At a bar in portland I recently saw a skinhead (not a racist skinhead, obviously) spinning some awesome old rocksteady and reggae music. I have long been pretty anti-reggae (thanks to trustifarians and people selling handmade glass pipes at saturday markets) but this stuff is incredible. The music was popular among mods and skinheads in the 60's, and was heavily influenced by American soul and R&B, so it has that heartfelt clarity and punch of old soul records, but with a heavy steady beat. check it out! I can't link you to any specific artists, but I can give you a compilation album that has guided my education of this music here
DESIGN

I love the Dutch! I recently found these sites while surfing for inspiration during my lunch break at work. All of these designers have an incredible grasp on typography, but never forget that good design can be also be fun. All you serious types might not like it, but who cares, you're boring. here's a few of the designers I wish I was (were?).
lennartwolfert
hellowman
baster
Good luck getting any work done. It's like finding someone with hot friends on myspace, once you start looking through these I guarantee you'll waste a good couple of hours.
DUMB
Why you should always be nice to kids