I just wanted to give props to my good ol' friend Clark, one half of the Mura Mura Clothing team. Clark's a perennial student, philosopher, baller, and t-shirt pusher. During the many occasions I got my ankles turned by Clark's killer cross-over, I didn't know he had a t-shirt business brewing in that noggin of his. In the last year he's released a series of tees under his Mura Mura clothing line. I'm proud of the dude for taking the road less travelled. I'm SUPER proud that that journey includes one of the smoothest renditions of the fabled tanuki (hairless sack and all...) and a mighty fine blog on all things fashion, pop culture, and basketball. CLICK HERE for the Mura Mura blog and information on how to order your own Mura Mura t-shirt.

What is your religion? By no means, am I talking about religion in the traditional sense. I'm talking about what you devote your precious time to on a daily basis. If we are influenced directly by our objects of focus our jobs, passions, and past times have a larger influence on our sense of spirituality and identity than any religion we have been born into or adopted. Everything we experience and interact with has a profound affect on our identity. On the most simplest level, that experience will either challenge you sense of self or reassert it. So, putting aside any traditional sense of the word, give yourself a moment and think: what is your religion?

I just got back from a 3-day camping trip in Yosemite. With the exception of last year, it's become an annual event with the In-Laws. There's nothing quite like having a few days with just you and nature. We saw a bunch of wildlife: deer, some beautiful birds... I even saw a swimming snake. It's pretty humbling being out there. Everything is so freakin' beautiful. You're forced to slow things down a bit (which is both tiring and nice as a 3-day trip can easily feel twice as long). Despite all that I'm grateful to be back in Los Angeles.

I was surprised to discover that Ohm's general taste are similar to my own. He loves basketball, he loves hip-hop, he loves Chris Ware's comics (although his love for Ware surpasses my own!). It was awesome talking hip-hop and basketball with the fellow. It was even cooler to discover that he does a little rhyming/rapping himself! As a side project, Ohm and few of his close friends put together a hip-hop emcee crew called the Fake MC's. You can see their MySpace page by CLICKING HERE. He ended up writing and recording around 13 tracks with the Fake MC's of which only 2 songs can be found on the MySpace Page (I'm not 100% sure, but I believe Ohm can be found rapping on 'this is the fake mcs' & 'par terre'). Sadly the producer's been so busy with his funk band project that he hasn't completed mixing the majority of songs that Ohm worked on.

When Ohm was being interviewed by Jesse Hernandez (a wonderful designer toy artist and hip-hop aficionado in his own right) I suggested that Ohm share one of his rhymes with Jesse and his video crew. Ohm, being the humble man that he is, was fairly hesitant to share his French lyrical prowess... but with some urging and a promise that I'd make a fool of myself by doing my own rhyme (my porno rap) Ohm stepped up like a man, grabbed the mike and spit some ill flows. :-)

I THOUGHT that I was let off the hook once Ohm's interview was done... but Jesse remembered my promise (damn it!) and I had to follow through on my promise with my own rhymes. As a novice with nothing recorded, I'm nowhere in the same league as Ohm. But it was fun nonetheless. Vids of both 'rhymes' can be seen below  (as filmed by ninja video recorder Muttpop Nico!). We have yet to see Jesse Hernandez's official video.

OHM RAPPING:

MUTTPOP BOB RAPPING:

Here are two hilariously beautiful fan sketches chronicling Ohm and MuttpopNico's time with us in the United States. Both artists' were largely inspired by our time wielding the Evil Dead chainsaw at the McFarlane Toys office and the mysterious MuttpopNico photo (seen below) Jerry posted on the French Muttpop Blog. Bony did the fabulous color sketch. Fat Basterd aka DocteurGrafik did the snazzy pencil pieces. I'm amazed out how well they captured our likenesses (Jerry, MuttpopNico, Ohm, and I are in both sketches) from the photos found on our blog! Wonderful work guys. Thank you!

I spent the day yesterday visiting a couple of the better known beaches in Los Angeles (Santa Monica & Venice) with our French visitors from Muttpop. Ohm and Nico finally got to dip their toes in the Pacific Ocean. Weather was nice. The girls were beautiful. Started the day off nice and easy in Santa Monica. Ended the day zany and edgy in Venice. Highlight of the Santa Monica beach was seeing some 5 year-old girl put sand crabs in Ohm's toe-graffiti. Highlight of Venice was seeing two 50-year-old dudes fist fight for 5 minutes and then give up because the two of them were out of breath. All in all a cool day in LA.