And it’s pretty frickin’ awesome. Here’s a vid of the new Jay-Z track Death of Autotune… (I think it might be a special Hot97 version.)

So, I moved to Newark.  It’s weird.  I actually seriously dig it here.  I loved and will always love Brooklyn, but Newark is like what I imagine Brooklyn used to be like.  Everything here seems so undiscovered and ignored and just waiting for a bunch of crazy kids to move in and repurpose it in some kind of DIY revolution.  My house is like that.

So I was excited to see this article linked and discussed everywhere this week.  Apparently Newark is turning around.  That would almost be too bad.  Newark’s got so much grit to it but it’s open and …clean in a way Brooklyn isn’t.  I’m 10 minutes from the Holland and 10 minutes from a Target and Wal-Mart in Union.  If Whitey McHipster came over from Brooklyn and priced my ass out I’d be so upset.  All the good ethnic places would be replaced with Tempo Prestos.  And I’d have to listen to douchey  conversations on the Path train.

Hipsters, stay back!

• Smoking- In addition to my beloved Djarums, I am also digging these weird Springwater cigs. Smoking is so underrated.

• Trader Joe’s- It’s like someone hosed the place down in awesome and win. Tarte d’Alsace and some two buck Chuck makes you almost feel not-poor for like, fifteen whole minutes. Truffles for under $3. Real instant mash. Natural beauty supplies. If only they added house brand valium and vicodin and staffed it with teenage brits, I’d never leave.

• Queer as Folk reruns on Logo- anyone who hates on touchy touchy boylove needs to watch Brian and Justin dancing at the prom. I can’t think of anything more romantic in the history of romance ever.

• My imaginary boyfriend- is he real? Even I’m not sure anymore but I’ve still never seen anyone cuter. If I’m remembering right.

Leading me to…

• Hitachi Magic Wand- It’s just so powerful, I might have to tell my roommates I use it for old car accident injuries. Every time Boondock Saints is on, my back just starts acting up. Especially during the outtakes.

• Jesus Christ it’s a lion, get in the car! Please, God, let the internets stop producing memes so I can get some sleep.

• Leisurewear- It’s gotten to the point where my one career goal is to be able to wear sexy sweats and sleek sneakers. Career garb is so awful in so many ways, it always feels dirty.

• Jay-Z’s American Gangster- I think this album is gonna give The Black Album a serious run for its money in the long-term. Yeah, I said it. Fucking genius, this is.

• On Demand Programming- why can’t the fuckwits who are responsible for cable make one that fucking works already? I’m paying $3 a month, and I want to watch Hookers at the Point for the sixteenth time. Damn you, iO.

• My car- Newark is so fucking weird- I can leave my easy-to-park-in space and be in the Holland Tunnel in ten minutes. You can’t even get from Tillary Street to the Manhattan Bridge in that amount of time, who knew? Anyway, driving stick in Jersey traffic is scary, but now I have a Beetle again.

• Scrabulous- Eamon playing “VAGINA” for twelve points, shocking only that it came two whole plays into the game.

• Burger King pranking customers- you mean other than serving them Burger King food?

• My toddler versus my prized possessions- this pint-sized terrorist has a knack for destroying electronics and media in seconds, while you’re just trying to form the “nuh” in “no.” Then she manages to turn on the waterworks and make you feel guilty.

• Jack White- sexy, cheeky, mysterious, and tall. Considering all that and the hair, I’d marry him like, right this second.

Oh, my God, this is the best BK shout out ever- hello, Brooklyn…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw-QdrcIa3U]

Jay-Z shows love to Dublin.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SEqIzPXo6k]

Slashers in the HP fandom, I’ve heard, have always vocally hoped someone, anyone in the HP books would be confirmed as gay.  We they got their wish this week when JKR confirmed what no one seemed to suspect.  Dumbledore was totally gay for Grindelwald!  Ha, ha.  So cool.  And fandom imploded.  And imploded again.  It even made Wikipedia.

I think now it’s safe for JKR to tell us what we already know- Harry and Draco were secretly in love with each other all those years and it’s bittersweet when they see each other with their kids and beards wives.  Harry/Draco OTP!

I have a problem with my gear multiplying.  As I move from place to place during the day, I am followed in a pigpen like fashion by a rotating amount of Djarum packs, lighters, red lipsticks, Lego Star Wars figurines, my phone, random notebooks, and you get the picture.  On any given day I can return home with way more items than I left with.  I love these compact and cute reusable totes that you can just stick in the bottom of your bag, in case.  I would worry, though, about not only carrying one more thing, but using it cause it’s there.  Still, it’s better to be prepared…*

*ridiculous facial expression optional.

One of the best things about living in New York is the constant inspiration on the street and subway. The pants I’m wearing right now were acquired after asking a very eager to share woman at Broadway-Lafayette where she got them. I may not have taken them off since. New York City dwellers are subject to temperature extremes (60 degrees outside, 160 on the subway platform where you’re stuck for half-an-hour), environmental exposure, long walks to and fro, and other look killers you just don’t have to deal with when you drive to and from work in your own climate controlled space.

A few weeks ago I spied a woman in her late thirties who looked like the perfect combination of together and polished and professional and stylish and casual. She was wearing a neat little suit derivative that really embodied all this. An approximation:

• Dark jeans
• A short-sleeved blazer
• A subtly-screened, tissue weight tee
• Stylish sneakers- though I’d choose riding boots
• Extra credit: practical tote and pretty pendant

A few months ago I was stuck in a cab on Smith Street for what seemed like hours. Finally when the cab sped up I caught a glimpse of this adorable, unique tee-shirt but why wasn’t I paying more attention?!? it’s not like I can screech at the cab driver to stop so I can go peer in the window and maybe go in and buy one. That would be crazy. Steve’s always on Smith Street so I asked him to look. Every day. For all eternity. He finally remembered but got the name wrong so he had to go back. That actually happened. But now I know and it was totally worth waiting for. I really, really love popsicles but I’ve always had a weakness for distlefinks. I think I talk about distlefinks more than anyone on the internet. Skates are cool, too.

Oh, dear. Vice Vixen needs a job! This was unexpected and while it couldn’t come at a worse time, when is it a good time to look for a job? Still, we all know I get my by any means on whenever there’s a drought, and I’ve already dusted off my resume and made some good connections. So…

Young professional;

Excellent writing skills;

Whip smart;

Able to solve problems creatively;

thoughtful and articulate;

works well on a team;

great phone skills;

takes direction well;

helpful;

sunny disposition;

hands on;

works well under pressure;

culturally diverse;

excellent customer service skills;

and professional appearance.

Available for interview immediately. Hiring?