A FINAL REMINDER FOR 2022: The Semi-Rad Shop will close for the holidays at midnight MST Friday, December 9th (TONIGHT!), so if you’ve procrastinated shopping until right now, here’s a link to some of this year’s most popular gifts. (Or you can just scroll down to the bottom of this post)
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Brendan Davis made this great short film about journalist Michael Sandrock, who’s been running almost every day since 1973, and recording his dreams for a long, long time in order to make sense of life (video)
This presentation of quotes from Brendan’s interviews with Sandrock + illustrations by Ping Zhu is also cool
I have listened to quite a few episodes of 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s, but I feel like this one has way more depth and feeling to it, maybe because Rob Harvila has such a long-running and earnest relationship with Pearl Jam. Or maybe because I was obsessed with the song “Yellow Ledbetter” for a while in high school. Either way, this episode is one of my favorites now.
My friend Jeff Thrope made a new album and I am not going to try to act like I am a music writer describe it, but I have a feeling you might enjoy streaming it today
I have had book signings where only a handful of people showed up and it’s pretty demoralizing. I always told myself that if one day the crowd was six people or less, I’d just take everyone out for burritos instead of doing the whole presentation. Chelsea Banning had two people attend her recent book signing, and when she tweeted about how it felt, she got a lot of responses from other authors who had found themselves in the same place, including Neil Gaiman and Stephen King.
I love Brian Tyree Henry as Paper Boi in Atlanta, and also everything else I’ve seen him in, so am I going to click on the headline “Brian Tyree Henry is your favorite actor’s favorite actor”? Yes I am.
An interactive map of all the places around the world that Anthony Bourdain visited while filming his shows (I checked to make sure Sizzler was on it) (via Kottke.org)
“Marv and Harry get absolutely demolished by Kevin McCallister at the end of Home Alone. i broke down the injuries.” (video)
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THE SEMI-RAD SHOP CLOSES AT MIDNIGHT MST TONIGHT (DECEMBER 9th)
SOME OF THE MOST POPULAR GIFTS OF 2022:
Practice Maximum Enthusiasm Trucker Cap
For: People who want to make the world a better place by wearing a hat that invites everyone to enjoy more enthusiasm in their lives
This Sucks But I’m Doing My Best Mug
For: People who are, in the words of Prince, gathered here today to get through this thing called “life”
The Mountains Are Calling — T-shirts
For: Honestly, I don’t know who this shirt is for, but it’s been one of the best-selling t-shirts I make since 2017, and I am not quite sure why
This F—ing Sucks But I’m Doing My Best Mug
For: People who are, in the words of Prince, gathered here today to get through this thing called “life,” but also would like a little salty language on their drinking vessel
15-Second Recipes “cookbook”
For: People who barely have time to eat, let alone cook an ENTIRE PIECE OF TOAST!
The 2023 Semi-Rad Dog Calendar
For: People who like dogs, jokes about dogs, and/or knowing what day it is
The 2023 Grand Canyon Groovers Calendar
For: People who think photos of toilets in beautiful places are funny
SOLD OUT— Have Fun Out There Or Not — Signed Book
For: People who run, and when they’re not running, like to read about running
Woo, Work Vs Skiing Mug
For: People who ski, and not necessarily hate their jobs, but prefer going skiing to going to work
The 2023 Semi-Rad Procrastination Calendar
For: People who were going to order this last week but didn’t
The 2023 Semi-Rad Coffee Calendar
For: People who love coffee and would like a reminder of that hanging on their wall throughout 2023
I Hate Running And You Can Too — signed book
For: People who are runners, or would like to be, and somehow still haven’t read this book that my mom says “is more about life than about running, really”
Hope, According to My Dog Mug
For: People who love dogs for their relentless optimism
