Vane Lifestyle Clothing.

Pains of pooping

2009-11-14T08:50:00.000-08:00

General surgery taught me one poignant message -- trouble-free pooping is never something be taken lightly. The tortuous gooey journey food takes from the mouth to the anus is fraught with peril. The human alimentary canal (also known as the poop factory) can be up to 30 feet long in a normal human. Within that 30 feet anything goes. It can bunch up, pinch off, knot up, swell, shrivel, burst, bleed, telescope in on itself, detach, reattach, and erode.

A lot of these problems warrant surgery. If someone starts pissing air (pneumaturia) it means a hole has worn through their colon and bladder. Same goes for someone pissing poo (fecaluria -- you get the idea). Some of these problems happen because of a reckless lifestyle, but often people's bowels just turn against them. In a squishy revolt a colon will start wearing holes in itself and bleeding. The answer can be to remove it, connect the small intestine to the butt, bunching it up at the end with staples to make a new rectum. This new answer works OK, but it can get infected, and even if everything goes according to plan it leaves the patient with 6 - 8 poops per day that are the consistency of oatmeal on a good day.

So this is why we pester our patients about poop from post-op day one. Every morning I wake my patients and asked if they've pooped yet, or farted. Farting is a harbinger of poo, and is a good sign.

"Gas is music to our ears," we tell our patients.

When one of my patients had his first poop with his newly revamped colon post-op day 4, I stopped by and said,

"I've heard the good news sir -- two poops, amazing."

Poop means we can start a patient on solid food, it means that they are one step closer to getting out of the hospital. I've always thought pooping is hilarious and awesome, and now it is my professional duty (heh) to hassle patients about their movements. Surgery is the best.

NEW SITE/NEW BLOG

2008-10-11T14:53:00.000-07:00

I wanted to leave this blog up for our archives but we have moved the blog to a new location.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE NEW VANE BLOG

DIDDY: COMIC GENIUS?

2008-09-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

Even if Puff, or Diddy, P-Dids, or Daddy, or whatever the fuck he calls himself, makes shitty music, you can't deny he's one hilarious bastard. The simple ingenuity of "No Bitchassness" has made its ways onto XXXL silk-screened tees all over the hood and now, we have this gem of a Video Blog. The Fruit Loops with OJ and his Diddy spazz at 3 minutes into the video are well worth watching.

Comedy is seriously a viable career for Mr. Combs. Oh yea, I almost forget he's already filthy stinking rich.

THE BOX > US ECONOMY

2008-09-17T20:30:00.000-07:00

While the Economy continues to implode and the Market plummeted another 5% today, how about some solid music to get your mind off your money woes?

The first time you saw Folk & Stress, we brought you the video interview we did with the two brothers at their home-cobbled studio in Long Island, and hopefully you caught their live ass set at the the Spring Launch party. Well, remember how we said doods was dope? We've kept up with our boys Folk & Stress and them boys have been on the grind, quietly going about their way, preparing to blow up the underground.

Fast forward a year. After linking up with Downtown titans Alife, they got connected with The Wu, signed with Baby Grand Records, opened for the GZA on his legendary Liquid Swords Tour [see previous post for flicks], and have been working with a roster of the Underground elite for their Album THE BOX, dropping September 30th.

With production work from Dreddy Kruger, Preservation, Pushakey, and Bronze Nazareth, while Folk holds his own on the boards, handling the bulk of the album. Interlacing plenty of new lyrical content with some from their mixtape flows, F&S spit with their usual bravado and word play on the track. And, with guest spots from GZA the Genius, Aesop Rock, Vast Aire from Cannibal Ox, and Blu, I get all school-girl giddy just thinking about the kind of talent they have backing them for the album.

Here is a special leak of Beatrix, featuring Vast Aire, a mean head nodder with menacing strings and piano hooks, a free track to fill your headphones to help you get through this economic slump. Don't worry, we broke too...

Stay tuned for a full interview with Folk & Stress and REMEMBER TO GET THE ALBUM SEPTEMBER 30TH!!

-e.poon

FOLK & STRESS & GZA & RZA & NYC

2008-09-14T23:56:00.000-07:00

Our boys Folk & Stress opened for GZA at Irving Plaza this Friday September 12th. They totally killed it, the new album, The Box, is gonna be dope! Expect to see more of them... they're gonna do big things. You heard it here first!

More Photos at SHOTBYBROOKLYN.com

“My City…”

2008-09-11T10:22:00.001-07:00

Our good friend and writer Jada G. just wrote a good piece remembering 9/11 from the perspective of an NYU student. Check it out at The Smoking Section.

World of Wonders

2008-09-06T00:52:00.000-07:00

I recently took a two-week vacation to Ecuador. I was born there, and haven't been back to visit in 8 years. I thought I might get altitude sickness in the capital, Quito, which at 9,000 ft above sea level is the second highest capital city in the world. Thank goodness I was wrong, and going back was a much needed adventure. It's interesting what a 2 week visit to a third world country does to your perspective on New York.

Little girl catching a ride from the cops.Some recommended experiences: the rainforest, the bootleg mall (I got Rosetta Stone for $10), delicious fruits you never knew existed, the art of Guayasamin, desolate beaches, active volcano hikes, THE MUSIC, views to die for... And all that's without even talking about the Galapagos Islands.

Wildlife in the Amazon."Mother and Child" by GuayasaminStanding at about 14,000 ft, deceivingly close to the Pichincha volcano.Needless to say, it was great to get away and have my senses stimulated again. I easily forget my love of hiking and clear, endless starry skies. If you are a fan of nature at all, Ecuador has basically every climate found on earth... so I highly recommend it.

See you next time Ecuador!

ANTICS AT ANTIK

2008-09-03T21:05:00.000-07:00

Playing catch up on the blog, here are the images from last week, where we kicked it at the Lola party at Antik last Wednesday, which is ironic enough because they prolly goin at it again this week as I write these words.

Our boy John Reason, aka DJ Price, aka Dennis the Menace, from the infamous Reason Brand [peep their online sale for some cheap, quality goods], spun the party along with fellow delinquent and super talented jet setter selector, DJ Vibes from the Lola Crew.

Jon, the wink is pretty priceless, ahem no pun intended. Coinciding with the Lola party was the birthday celebration for the lovely Miss Fia.

Yea, she's cool AND she's hot. And as usual, our boy Felipe rocked out with characteristic reckless abandon. My dood is not a dancer, he's a damn force of nature. Recognize.

Promise I'm gonna stay more current, finally getting the hang of this big picture on blog thing. AND I learned to shoot in RAW instead of jpegs, and you know, raw is always better. AND I got a flash diffuser. Sweet. Damn it feels good to be a gangster.

Kanye West Good Morning Video

2008-08-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

Pretty Dope

Every Day in Vane - August 21th - 23th 2004

2008-08-24T15:40:00.000-07:00

21th: Camera Phone

22nd: Baltra blowin' smoke

18th: Did a shoot on Anna's roof on Saturday photographing her, Ammar and Jeff. Much thanks to Ammar for the assisting...photo's of Amma coming soon.

August 2008 Gallery

STAY FRESH

2008-08-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday, my boy Christian and his partner Brandon, the production duo better known as Fresh Prodeuce, competed at the iStandard Producer's Showcase.

Their beats were be judged against 10 select up and coming NYC producers by a panel of industry heavyweights, competing for a Roland prize package and possibly the opportunity to land some serious record placements.

The panel of judges included Lenny S., (Senior VP of A&R for Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam), Devo Springsteen (Grammy Award Winning Producer for Kanye West "Diamonds", John Legend, Cassidy, etc.), Omar Grant (Creative Director of A&R for EMI Publishing), and Illmind (Producer for G-Unit, SkyZoo, etc.)

Straight up, them boys shut it down. The emcee of the show thought that they had cheated and put in extra beats because Fresh Pro is on some next level shit. The DJ had to come over the loud speaker with That Was Only 5 Beats to put dood in his place. While most the competition relied on samples and borrowed sounds, Christian and his boy are legit musicians, and doods actually play their own riffs and drum lines. Chopping up enough vocal samples to keep the crowd happy, their banging bass lines and musical style ran from synthed out futuristic bangers, to head nodding club beats to raw, Dirty-South style bass with a more musical inflection, all while retaining a signature, Fresh Pro sound.

For all their industry weight, the judges were moved. First words that came out were, "Can I get that CD?!?" while shouts of TO! came from some females in the crowd, since Brandon resembles the Dallas wide-out.

Keep your eyes on these boys, talent like theirs doesn't stay unnoticed for too long.

Every Day in Vane - August 15th - 20th 2004

2008-08-20T22:23:00.000-07:00

Been so busy the past couple of days, but have been taking photos...

15th: Vane Legal Dept...

16th: This is Anna you can follow her every move at twitter.com/annafrenkel

17th: It's my worst nightmare...

18th: Reminds me of my schoolyard days...

19th: Obama is all up in the club!

20th: This dude sings while he cuts your hair..wish he rapped

August 2008 Gallery

NOT FINDING GOD

2008-08-20T12:11:00.000-07:00

I recently just finished reading The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins, and I would highly recommend it to anyone, religious or not, whether Jesus is your homeboy, or if you just left your Jesus piece at home. Dawkins, an accomplished evolutionary biologist, argues from a scientific and humanist viewpoint why he overwhelming believes there is no God, highlights the historical fallacies of the Good Book, and goes on to further to establish why organized religion has historically been a dividing force.

Understanding the essence of his subject matter, Dawkins never takes himself too seriously, but his impassioned critique of modern religion can't help but strike some note of truth underneath his humor and wit. In today's environment of blind Bible-thumping and religious wars, this book is especially pertinent for any logical, rational mind

These summer weekends are numbered...

2008-08-16T20:50:00.000-07:00

Summer just flew by didn't it? I'm trying to enjoy these warm days as much as I can before NYC becomes painfully frigid...

Everyone seems pretty excited about headin out...

First stop Belmost in Union Sq for Alex G's birthday

Happy Birthday homie
hope you had a good time....
Then hit up Sahara East to kick it with the boys
WTF...can they even do this?

Had brunch with Anna this morning, the omelette at Cafe Brama was delicious...finally a place where I can add chicken to my breakfast!
Saw this guy selling some crazy book and got in the mood to bookshop
I've always been into old school russian cover designs
Hit up Strand for a couple of hours...its so hard to leave that spot

This is what I ended up buying...seems like a pretty interesting bunch of books...
I wonder if there is a Men's Computer Literacy Handbook is....oh wait...thats right...we don't need one...

Book was published in 1992, I wonder if they would still have a white dude in a ski mask for the cover if it was published today. Its so interesting how the whole meaning of the word "Terrorism" has changed so much in the past 4 years.

Every Day in Vane - August 14 2004

2008-08-14T20:05:00.000-07:00

Today was Pakistan's Independence Day

August 2008 Gallery

Every Day in Vane - August 13 2008

2008-08-13T21:38:00.001-07:00

I didn't leave my house today, worked from home and took this shot of my brother Ali

August 2008 Gallery

Janelle Monáe's : The Chase!

2008-08-12T21:02:00.000-07:00

Under the tutelage of Grammy Award receiving hip hop duo, Big Boi and Andre 3000 of Outkast, emerges futuristic rock soul phenomenon, Janelle Monáe. Inspired by Fritz Lang's 1927 science fiction classic, Metropolis: the Chase Suite concerns an cyborg named Cindi Mayweather, who is fighting for love and freedom in the year 2719. Take Cindi's journey as she guides you into a world of unforgettable songs and powerful anthems wrapped in a new genre called cybersoul. Lyrically, she touches on race, slavery, love and segregation in magnetic songs such as "Many Moons" and Violet Stars Happy Hunting" which translates into what sounds like theatrical soul. The hauntingly beautiful, "Cindi" sounds like a moving Broadway classic, with operatic influences infused with hip-hop funk. "Metropolis" is reminiscent of a Bladerunner-like world where cyborgs fall in love with humans at their own peril.
-Nastassia Davis

Check her out on myspace here, her music is really fresh, i recently got plugged into it and love it. The CD is in stores today and is only $4.99 and can be found at your local retail store!

Every Day in Vane - August 12 2008

2008-08-12T20:23:00.000-07:00

I know I have been saying this for a while but I'm bringing back the "Every Day in Vane" section. For those of you who don't know it's going to be an image or two from everyday of the month compiled into one gallery. I take photographs almost everyday so I might as well post them. The only different this time is that it will be in blog form (one after the other on a page) and not in a flash gallery. So here goes the first one...

August 2008 Gallery

Snoop Dogg goes Bollywood

2008-08-11T19:16:00.000-07:00

Ok I'm not a big fan of posting stuff to this blog that isn't in one way or another related to Vane but you guys have to see this. Its a music video called Singh is King by Akshay Kumar feat. Snoop Dogg. It's really funny and definitely has viral value but ....seriously WTF?

Actually I have mixed feeling about it, on one hand it just seems like such an unsuccessful attempt to blend punjabi music and hip-hop and almost seems embarrassing for both parties but on the other hand its pretty funny and innovative, I don't believe I've seen something like this before.

I donno, what do you guys think?

JUSTICE x DIOR is FUCKING ILLL

2008-08-04T00:37:00.000-07:00

Legendary fashion house Dior linked up with everyone's favorite Parisian Disco-edit duo, Justice, for the latest Dior Homme Spring/Summer 09 collection, held earlier in July at the Paris Observatory. These still don't even do the show justice [no pun intended], peep the youtub videos to witness magic.

Part 1

Part 2

Under the direction of Heidi Slimanne, menswear designer Kris Van Assche has created an amazing ready-to-wear line, staying true to Slimmane's minimal, slim silhouettes, clean lines, with an edge of dark grunge pairing black and grays with bold hues of blue, magenta, and metallic gold.

Justice's influence extends beyond the music, with each of the models sporting retro-futuristic shades, that when paired with the fashion, creates a visuall stunning, unique look that is reminiscent of street done high fashion.

Fucking Brilliant. Stay tuned for multiple streetwear bites...

In typical Justice fashion, the track features grand, orchestral piano chords, ripping guitar riffs, paired with hard, pulsing bass lines and just some good ol' dirty, dirty electro-synth. Justice might be hyped a lot, but these talented French doods deserve every bit of it. The download for the complete Justice track for Dior Homme S/S09 is available here.

The Relaxing, Productive and Wild Weekend

2008-08-03T23:51:00.000-07:00

August is off to a good start! A bunch of new products go into production in a week for Fall08, Spring09 is almost done, The lookbook for Spring09 in under construction, I've been updating my site, did a lot of cleaning and organizing, got back into using twitter, been shooting more...etc! Just have a good feeling of being fully focused, which is keeps me calm while tackling this endless todo list.

Anyway...the weekend was relaxing, productive and wild..

I dont know if you guys are aware but Toasties is the new spot to hangout...

Just ask Brian M. Trunzo bout toasties and enjoy his 20min rant

Hit up Antiq after a while

She loves the camera

Why so surious...?

Next day Brunch with Anna and went to go see Step Brothers..which was actually pretty damn funny

Sunlight!

There was a crowd of 10 people trying to get a glimpse of these mushrooms...

Saturday hit up a rooftop party with Dave an Trunz...it was a good night to be out oudoors

THE GOOD LIFE/TONE LOCO

2008-07-23T09:02:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a double whammy of street culture goodness. Our first stop for the evening was the Good Life Exhibit by Craig Whetherby hosted at Milk Gallery. Showcasing a broad spectrum of his New York-centric work, Whetherby has a way of capturing classic images that still feel very raw and of-the-moment. Included with some unique New York imagery and were shots of some of The City's most familiar faces, shooting OG's like Nas and Ghostface Killah to up-and-comer Santogold, his body of work was straight up dope. Also apparent was his evolution as an artist, showcasing not just the collection of his work, but his growth behind the lens and the sharpening of his focus and visual language.

The played some good ass old school soul, breaks, and funk, and free booxe was provided by Budweiser and Svedka. We ran into a lot of familiar faces, old and new. I spent most the night chopping it up with my boy Vinnie, the Assistant Designer at Subscript and all around chill dood.

Our next stop was Tone's fundraiser at Sutra, which was chill, more good music and good people. I swear, me and Atif are raffle kings, and we took home 2 tees by Kilo and an OK Player package raffled off. Our girl Anna even won a Vane Pendant, haaa.

All in all, it was a solid night, you gotta love Tuesdays in the City.

FUNDRAISER FOR TONE

2008-07-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, July 22nd at 9pm come out to Sutra Lounge [16 1st Ave between 1st and 2nd Sts.] and join us to help our boy Tone raise some funds for a new camera.

Apparently, someone pulled the ill jack move on his expensive ass camera, and since Tone is a well-established New York Photographer and all around good dude, Sutra was kind enough to host him a benefit party. We at VANE are doing our part, providing some Focus Camera Pendants for the raffle as co-sponsors, along with a bevy of New York brands and boutiques.

PS, peep our new, semi-improved redesigned logo at the bottom of the flyer, I'm sure yall will be feeling the new classic steez.

My Photos Make it Rain!

2008-07-09T22:18:00.000-07:00

It seems like every time I want to do a photoshoot it has to rain. I have been putting off a shoot with Folk and Stress (remember them?) for 3 weeks now because the weather has been shitty on the weekends. And I knew it was going to rain toady but that wasn't gonna stop me...We were soaked by the end, but it was worth it...got some great shots!

New product will be coming soon, I'm very excited for this particular piece!!
Big ups to Dreewwww and Caitlin for rockin' the gear!

Absolut-ly Clever Marketing

2008-07-09T13:38:00.000-07:00