Carhartt X Vestax: Handy Trax

Some say that buying vinyl discs these days makes you a romantic. Others claim that music pressed on vinyl is a cultural asset worth preserving. Carhartt says: vinyl just sounds better.

For the Fall/Winter Collection 2009 Carhartt is cooperating exclusively with Japanese company Vestax to bring a limited edition of the Handy Trax USB turntable into the shops – a portable record player for all-round use.


This vinyl player is the perfect pulse generator for picnics that turn into cosy open-air parties. It is also the perfect listening device for every dyed-in-the-wool vinyl enthusiast during extensive excavation trips at fl ea markets and record shops.


A tough plastic casing and the capability to operate at angles of up to 90 degrees make the Handy Trax player fit for universal use. On top of this, a stereo line-out makes hooking it up to your hi-fi system at home easy and a mini line-in jack also allows you to connect external devices such as MP3 players.


If you prefer to listen to your music digitally but own a large analogue collection, you can easily transform your vinyl into binary code via the newly integrated USB port. A transformation that results in loss of sound quality, of course…


That’s why Carhartt recommends using your Vestax Handy Trax USB turntable for nothing else but vinyl.

Vestax Turntable Handy Trax USB Features:

• USB port
• Recording software “Audacity” included (for Mac and PC)
• Belt drive
• Battery operation (6 x AC12V) or mains operation (external power adaptor included).
• Inbuilt speaker (mono)
• Stereo line-out (mini jack) for connection to hi-fi systems (Aux in), DJ mixers, etc.
• Line-in (mini jack) for connection of external devices like MP3 or CD players
• Headphone line-out
• Three speed setting 33 1/3, 45, 78 rpm
• Pitch control and tone control dials
• Master level fader
• Works at angles of up to almost 90 degrees!
• Tough plastic casing with detachable cover
• Sound pick-up system included
(Souce: CarharttStreetwear.com)

Possible new header?

Winter Fashion 09/10

(Hat;New Era/Rebel8"Eight Pack" T-Shirt;Rebel8 & Tradition "Tiger woods, Just do it" Shoes; Ipath "Shearling")

Movie Monday

Objective: Showcase under rated, maybe unseen films. From international to local, short film to award winning music clips....

Enjoy.

Other Photos I took on the way to Sports Fest 09...

McCormick Sports Fest 2009 Day 1 (Click to Enlarge)

Chicago Sports Fest

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and the Mayor's Office of Special Events presents Chicago Sports Fest, so save the date, it's FREE and takes place December 27 & 28, 2009 at McCormick Place in Halls A & B (2301 S. Martin Luther King Drive), presented by the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, and McCormick Place.

Dates:

Dec 27, 2009 - Dec 28, 2009

Hours:
10 am - 4 pm

Please note: Tournament hours may be earlier/later depending on the sport.

For any last minute major changes to event including cancellation due to unsafe weather conditions, please call 3-1-1 for the most up-to-date information.

Location:
McCormick Place (Halls A & B)
2301 S. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60616

Admission:
FREE

Today, on this Christmas morning..

Today is Christmas Eve.

Last year - Christmas 2008 - was the worst Christmas many people have ever had. The poor economy, the record job losses and cutbacks, and the threat of losing our homes, made people less apt to spend money they didn't have on the elaborate Christmases of the past. However, many people believed that this year things would be better and life would return to normal.

That simply did not happen, and now millions of Americans must face the fact that Christmas as we once knew it is now a thing of a past. The continuing poor economy with all of its issues is forcing every one of us to look at the holiday season in a new light. Gifts which were once the focal point of this holiday are taking a back seat as we look for other less expensive and more meaningful ways to celebrate the holidays. For many of us, Christmas 2009 will be a new and novel experience.

For some, this will mean a returning to some of the old traditions and values that were a part of our childhood. From the recesses of our memories, we bring forth old traditions and activities that made the Christmases of our youths fun and exciting. Family activities will once again take center stage, as we focus on spending time with loved ones playing games, going sledding, and building simple snowmen. For others, it will mean returning to the churches of youth in search of the real meaning of Christmas joy and in search of comfort and reassurance in this difficult time. While still others, will find the true spirit of Christmas in helping those who are less fortunate and for who the holidays offer little joy.

Still others will find little enjoyment at all in the holiday season, as they will be consumed with worry about where their next meal will be coming from, or how they are going to manage to keep the lights on another month.

Advertisers will try and convince everyone that having the latest new toy or gadget is the only way to enjoy the holiday, while store owners and managers will complain that consumers are simply not buying again this year and will try and convince us that only by spending money we don't have, can we hope to jump start the economy.

Meanwhile, there will be more people than ever before standing in line at missions and soup kitchens hoping to get the first adequate meal they have had in days, feeling grateful for whatever little warmth and cheer comes their way.

Some people will become depressed, some will hold tight to what little they have, and some will find a measure of joy and true Christmas spirit.

One thing, however, is sure; all of us will be affected by the economy in some way or another this Christmas. For everyone who gives up hope, someone else will find a small hope to cling to. For everyone who takes advantage of someone this Christmas, there will be someone else willing to give something back. For every person who feels there is no goodness left in this world, others will find the goodness in others and themselves.

The bad economy of Christmas 2009 will bring out our weaknesses and strengthens, our sorrows and joys, and will in one way or another create a Christmas to remember in the hearts and minds of us all.
(Source: Martie Lownsberry)

Doom & Mos Def @ Congress Theater

DOOM is coming. Formerly MF DOOM, born in London, raised in Long Island, DOOM (Daniel Dumile) has been one of the most unique and imaginative sounds in hip hop since he was ZevLoveX in KMD. After band tragedy and getting dropped from Elektra label due to controversial art direction, Zev went underground swearing revenge against the industry that crossed him. As the legend grew, a mysterious masked figure arose surfacing as MF DOOM and went on to release critically acclaimed Operation: Doomsday, Take me to Your Leader album as King Geedorah, and Vaudeville Villain under yet another alias, Viktor Vaughn. MF DOOM’s Mmm..Food (Rhymesayers Ent.) launched him into hip hop notoriety which led to full album collaborations with other groundbreaking artists such as Dangerdoom with Danger Mouse and Madvillain with Madlib. Ever evolving, there’s no telling what madness DOOM will bring, recently releasing Born Like This earlier in 2009.

An unlikely accomplice in villainy, MOS DEF has been sighted meeting and performing with DOOM around the world! From the musical hotbed of Brooklyn, Mos first came to prominence as half the hip hop group Black Star with Talib Kweli in the mid-nineties. His first solo album Black on Both Sides was an instant classic with hits like “Little Miss Fat Booty.” His recent album, The Ecstatic, was praised by critics and fans, welcoming him back to the forefront of hip hop from his time away in major films.

FOR CHICAGO ONLY, MIKE RELM joins the crew with his one-of-a-kind live show that blends video, audio, turntablism and crowd-interaction. His innovative performances earned him a spot touring with the performance-art group Blue Man Group.

Chicago’s own Qwel and Maker, BBU, The Comeups, Rude 1, Trew, Demchuk and RTC have signed on for support, even as they continue to deny any knowledge of DOOM’s whereabouts.

We’ll even have live LAZER GRAFFITI demonstration in the lobby by Kid Static!

This event is brought to you by Cold Grums, React Presents, Congress Theatre and Silver Wrapper.(Source:Clubtix.com)

Meeting of Styles 2009

Meeting of styles Chicago 2009 from R.Raven on Vimeo.

Justice Album Release

Those titans of Parisian electro, Justice, have been busy boys since releasing their world-smashing debut album back in 2007. Since then, the pair of Xavier de Rosnay and Gaspard Auge has trekked across the globe with a slew of sold-out tours, released a rather polarizing live CD/DVD, pimped out Coca-Cola, won a Grammy and turned in remixes for U2 and Lenny Kravitz, the latter of which we’d rather not talk about.

But amongst that whirlwind of tours and hype, Justice has somehow managed to bunker down in the studio and plot out their next record. The news comes with the announcement that the release of the Ed Banger superstars’ sophomore LP is part of a plan to reboot the once-great US label, Elektra, which has picked up Justice – as well as our favourite British fire-starter Little Boots and Gnarls Barkley rapper Cee-Lo – for US territories.(Source:inthemix.com)

Album is expected to release early 2010!

MGMT's "Congratulations" to be released early 2010

MGMT has been recently working on their new album, Congratulations, expected to be released in January 2010. The band, including Matthew Asti, James Richardson and Will Berman from the live band, spent the summer of 2009 in Malibu recording the album with Pete Kember aka Sonic Boom, ex-Spacemen 3 and Spectrum, serving as producer/guru. MGMT debuted three new songs titled "Congratulations", "It's Working", and "Song for Dan Tracey" at recent shows. In a Rolling Stone interview a fourth song titled "Flash Delirium" was revealed to be on the upcoming album but has yet to be played live. (Source: Wikipidia)

Actress Brittany Murphy Dead, At age 32

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- An autopsy on the body of actress Brittany Murphy was conducted Monday, the Los Angeles County coroner's office said.

    Authorities have said the 32-year-old appeared to have died Sunday of natural causes, and there was no sign of foul play or trauma."Naturally occurring diseases could be found in any person that could lead to death," said Capt. John Kades of the coroner's office.
    The office is looking into Murphy's medical history. A final report could take up to eight weeks. The cause of death will not be released until the toxicology report is concluded, said the coroner's office. That process can take weeks.
    Police also are conducting an investigation, which includes robbery and homicide detectives looking at what was in her home, said Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Norma Eisenman. Murphy was pronounced dead at 10:04 a.m. PT (1:04 p.m. ET) Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles