Kaged Confession

I have a confession, or two.  First off, I am a crappy blogger.  At least I know this.  I told myself that I would stay on top of this, and be diligent about giving my followers some cool and different content.  Well, I dropped the ball on almost all of those counts, but I am back at least for today, so lets just focus on that super positive fact and move on.
This next confession is less surface and was born more out of constant self reflection and meditation (actually I was thinking about it whilst I two-sied yesterday).  I think I posess all the tools to be a great hipster, but I am severely lacking in the spirit.  I am constantly accused (yes it is almost always accusatory) of being a hipster for the way i dress, the music I like, my facial hair choices and pretty much my general likes and dislikes across the board.  That said, there are several things that have started to make me doubt this "hipster lifestyle" everyone seems so ready to accuse me of living.

his name is probably Dexter or Rufus.

-PBR is gross.  This statement would get me beat up by an hipster that heard me utter it in public, I mean "beat up" in figurative terms...these are hipsters we are talking about.       

-I actually care about things.  I very rarely feel apathetic, especially about things that matter, like religion, politics or the Golden Girls.

-Irony is not the motivation for every decision I make.  My facial hair is never ironic, its always very serious.

- I have way more than 2% body fat...wait, is that why they drink PBR?

I could go on, but I think I have made my point.


God Speed,
Kage

Kaged Creation

Manly Men

I was going through my normal blog roll, and stumbled across a video which led me to this site.  There is just something about creating something out of nothing with your hands (as opposed to magic...copperfield you rascal) that allows one to feel a very specific and focused sense of accomplishment.  Now, I feel that a disclaimer is in order, I am not a very "manly" dude.  I can't work with wood, or hang cabinets, or work on my car and maybe that's why videos like this, or men like this I should say provoke a severe sense of admiration and envy in me.  Is it just that those who can't do wish that they could, or do those that can ("manly" men) love doing these manly things because they feel the same sense of accomplishment?

-Kage

Kaged Entrepreneur

I know what you are saying.  Wow Grant, another denim video?  Well, this is indeed the second denim manufacturing video that I am posting, but I am posting this video with far different intent.  Listen to the words, and appreciate the creation just like the last video, but notice the subtle differences.  Notice the cool space, the history of this company, the very different view of success they have and also notice the giant chest of buttons....its awesome!  Enjoy.


-Kage

The Forecast | STRONGHOLD from www.theforecast.tv on Vimeo.

KAGED ESSENTIALS

I am back!  Yay, you better be saying yay.  I have been super busy as of late.  I have been in school after school. High School classrooms tend to be a true test of self confidence, and often times a great source for my self reflection.  In one of my classrooms the other day a volunteer made a comment that made me think.   It was a fairly benign comment in comparison to some of the honest quips teenagers seem to be built for, yet it got m thinking.  "Man, you have a lot of stuff in your pockets" a man in plaid pants (yeah, plaid) said to me.  I was somewhat taken aback, and responded with something like "thank you?".  I guess I hadn't ever thought about it.  I suppose I do carry more than most, but less than some.
The contents of a man's pockets says a lot about who that person is and what they care about.  I still have no idea what my "essentials" say about me, but I hope it has something to do with being ruggedly handsome and dangerously intelligent, but I am sure it has more boring connotations.  None the less, I carry what I like, and what I need.  I have titled  the picture of my pockets contents (in true Emily Henderson fashion) stylized functionality.  Vanny, that "Secrets from a Stylist" reference was just for you.

Leatherology initialed wallet, 32gb iphone, keys and awesome free keychain, RSA token from work, Vasoline chapstick, Swiss Army Pocket Knife, Waterman Pen, Handmade Chambray Pocket Square, Vintage Omega Seamaster Watch

Take a look at the contents of your pockets.  What do the contents say about you?  Also, check out this blog, and take a look at the crazy contents of pockets everywhere.

Kaged TGIF

So, its Friday.  I am swamped at work, and I have had a really hard time finding time to Blog.  It's shameful, I know.  Never the less, I present you with an amazing video that is inspiring on several levels (one of them being the sturdy mustache being sported by Taylor).  If you hate good music or have the attention span of a cocker spaniel then at least hang on until around 3:27 for something really great.  Happy Friday everyone!




Local Natives "Who Knows, Who Cares?"







GodSpeed,
Kage

Kaged Self Deprecation

Almost a year ago my wonderful wife truly became obsessed with blogs, specifically design blogs.  I blame her sister for the influence, but at least we have a nice looking home now, right?  Well, that love of blogs slowly crept into my life, and now I, myself am a friend of the blog.  I don't read home design blogs, mind you.  I leave that up to Vanny.  I have found a blog that I enjoy reading daily, and to be honest it has greatly helped me learn to be comfortable with who I am.  There are three blogs that are directly responsible for my own blog creation, and "the Hipstercrite" is most definitely most directly responsible.

She lives in Austin (perhaps my favorite city), she is a member of my generation, she has a great sense of humor and lastly, she is able to make fun of the box that people in my generation who listen to a certain type of music, dress a certain way and have spectacularly groomed facial hair (you realize I am describing myself right) are so often put into.

The box labeled Hipster is a box I have been trying to climb out of for years.  Who likes to be labeled?  Not this guy!  But my efforts were futile.  Never was the futility more evident than in my workplace.  I like to dress nice, I wear big glasses, apparently my musical taste is strange and I don't waste time or energy every morning shaving (please see grooming comment above).  I give up.  I can't fight it anymore.  So, instead I will follow the lead of my blogger friend (in reality she has no idea that I exist) and self deprecate until it isn't fun to talk about anymore.

In the spirit of said deprecation, I leave you with a youtube video that does it for me.  Enjoy, and please "Put A Bird On It".

Godspeed,
Kage

Kaged Facination

Oh Beard, How I miss you.

Alright, so maybe I comment on other people's facial hair a lot.  Maybe when I see someone with an amazing beard or mustache it makes me like them, and dream of us being friends, even though I most likely don't know them, and will never see them again.  What's the matter with that?  Until now, I have wondered just that, what is wrong with me?  Why do I respect and daydream over the luxurious locks of wonderfully managed chin whiskers?

(as my high school students would say) Psssh, I don't know.  But I do know this, I am not alone, and here is the proof.  This site is to fellow beard connoisseurs, what "The Sartorialist" or "The Style Blogger" are to clothes hounds.  It's not just about the clothes, though they are more than often amazing, and as for the style blogger, they are often a style inspiration for me.  It's about the people wearing them (or it when speaking of a beard).  There are few things that truly fascinate me more than beards and fashion, but people are one of them.  So, when I find something that is able to encapsulate them all it is such a great experience.  So go check out these blogs, if you already haven't and remember "creepers don't groom their beards".





Godspeed,
Kage