The Payoffs of Procrastination

A couple months back I got an email saying that there is a recall on my 1st gen iPod nano.  Something about the possibility of the battery exploding, I think. Now, I figured that I would probably get around to this one eventually, but since my 6-year-old iPod has been just been sitting in a drawer for a couple years, it wasn't really high on my to do list.  That is until now.

Apparently, Apple has run out of their original iPod nano refurbs that they were sending as replacements.  So, what does this mean if you listen to music in fear that your pocket could explode or if you would just like you music player to have fewer scratches?  Apple is still replacing the recalled iPod's, but now you'll get back a current generation nano.  (MacRumors says this may be happening for some; while, my cousin has received his free upgrade already.)

For those of you that have the original iPod nano just sitting around, this is a fantastic deal.  I'm just hoping that Apple doesn't manage to find some old iPod nanos in the next few weeks.

Action Bronson & Static Selektah - "Strictly Business"

Action Bronson & Static Selektah have returned as collabo-buddies. Well Done was dope, and with the first leak from New Jack City: Chopped and Screwed, they've given credence to our awarding Watch the Throne Album of the Year. That shit's influential. That whole mid-song-change-up thing that was all over Throne? Let's just say there's a reason this track is titled "Strictly Business - parts 1 & 2"

By the way, Action's follow-up tweet read, simply, "I am viral video." Follow this cat, now.

[via On Smash]

Movie Posters Reimagined for Different Eras

As cool and amazing and revolutionary as The Matrix was, (suck it, people who are mad that it just repurposed decades-old sci fi themes and meshed them with fairly modern anime tropes) I think it is an undeniable fact that having Bruce Lee replaced Keanu Reeves in the lead role would have substantially improved the film. Not because Keanu Reeves was any more awful than usual, he actually worked quite well for what the role of Neo require, it's just that any movie would be better with Bruce Lee in the lead role.

Sadly, that casting possibility is not a reality... in this universe. Which leads us to designer  Sean Hartter's Alternate Universe movie posters. Hartter is essentially making movie posters for relatively recent films with design styles and techniques of yesteryear, but what sets him apart from the massive crop of designers retrofying movie posters is that Hartter actually completely reimagines the films themselves, matching stars and directors with their era's poster stylings.

As cool as these are from a design standpoint, the window they open up in your imagination is the real draw here. Shatner in Avatar? Connery in The Fifth Element? James Dean in Drive?

Yes-freaking-please. (Although none could top the combo of Pam Grier and Bruce Lee - just sayin')

(And technically, Gosling did do a pretty good Dean impressive throughout 90% of Drive.)

Hit the jump for some highlights.

Joy Division/Mickey Mouse T-Shirt

This will probably the last time we ever link to the Disney Store, but this Mickey Mouse shirt taking a stylish visual cue from Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures album art is worth the visit. I know it would at least be the second coolest Mickey Mouse shirt that Ultimate Salt contributor Alex Clark owns.

Added bonus: The guy modeling the shirt looks like Danny Brown's Korean cousin.

Hit the jump for the original album art, for comparison's sake.

Meet the Latest Joke Rapper Who's Better than Most Regular Rappers

The line between "regular rap" and "joke rap" has become increasingly blurred over the last few years (not talking about Yung Humma). One of the most notable examples of that blurring is Childish Gambino, a blatantly talented rapper, but one who has had to use several tracks to openly plead for listeners to look past his alternate persona as comedian Donald Glover and take his bars seriously. In interviews, Glover has brought up the point that so-called "serious" rap is actually quite funny:

"Look at Lil Wayne, he is very funny! He has punch lines galore, like “my gun means business; the bitch should have a tie on.” But, because of his background people take him serious. I have a comedy background so people struggle to take me serious..."

As Glover points out, a rapper's background is key, if not absolutely integral to how an audience perceives them. Glover's background seems to fit the bill; he managed to escape the hood in a manner rappers claim to strive for: Without turning to drug-dealing or violence. Yet despite being honest about his upbringing, he will never find the mainstream success of a guy like Rick Ross, who has fabricated his way to the top of pop-rap.

If Glover was able to turn an internet sketch series into a writing gig on what was then the funniest show on television, turn that into a starring role on what would become the funniest show on television (different shows - neither of which retains its title) all while earing a degree from NYU and writing and starring in a feature film and still can't get his rise to fame respected, what chance does Cancer Merchant have?

To pork pie or not to pork pie

It would seem that the tides of change are upon us as pork pie hats of all things are becoming more and more relevant by the day. I've counted more of these in the last month than I have pseudo blue collar hipsters, and we're in Portland mind you. Something's afoot. At this rate, I estimate the pork pie hat will have eclipsed the popularity of the slouchy beanie by roughly mid April. Why any self-respecting man would dawn a ladies' hat beats the hell out of me, but hasn't stopped droves of 20 something year old retirees from doing just that.The guys pictured above seem to be making them work, but these are men who play dress up for a living. Okay, Yogi Bear kills it in the pork pie hat, but he is, like, the lone exception to the rule. Will I be extolling the virtues of these hats in six months? Probably. But I'll salt until then. What do y'all make of these pieces? What's the appeal? 

What happened man? You used to be cool.

There is a problem with new cars.  

As car makers have tried to make their cars last longer and more reliable, I think they have lost something: frivolity.  Those things on a car that you’re not quite sure why they built it that way, but man it’s cool.  

Normally, I would never do this: Spider Man/Drive Mashup

As a rule when faced with anything that is completely bullshit, I'm vehemently opposed to franchise mashups (dude, what if, like, Harry Potter was wearing a Han Solo vest and it was like "Harry Solo?!!"), but switching the scorpion jacket for a spider jacket just works too perfectly.

Check out Yale Stewart's tumblr for more great stuff.

And you can't miss his hilarious take on the Justice League as lil' whippersnappers,
Little League.

An Ultimate Salt Original

A Photo Essay

by

Robert Hribernick

Over the past six months, we have undertaken several attempts at infusing vodka. What follows is the photographic documentation of our most recent attempt. As I can still see the words I am typing, and still have fingers with which I can type them, it is safe to say that our efforts were met with rousing success.

Check it: Archetype - short film

Visual effects supervisor Aaron Sims showcases his talents in this short film about a robot warrior who decides he no longer wants to serve his primary functions. Intrigue ensues.

The usually modus operandi for visual effects gurus showcasing their work with a short film is to include a lot of technical wizardry, but to only hint at something resembling a story. Sims bucks that trend, and is able to develop the main character pretty succinctly, and the result is a nice little short that showcases his storytelling abilities as much as his special effects prowess.

But you've gotta lose the super-zoom at the beginning, dog. That's never been cool.

[spotted on twitch]
[Aaron Sims' website]