d u d e r n e t

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I've been reading a lot about The Kingdom (Thailand) lately. There's some interesting stuff out there, from some interesting folks. A couple of my favorites:

• To Be Young & Hip in Bangkok: Matt Gross, the NYT's Frugal Traveler (and a brilliant writer) spent some time in my future city a couple years back, and has a rather fascinating take on it.

• Bangkok Vice: Buddhas, Boxers and Bar Girls: Slate's Matthew Polly spends a few days in Bangkok and, er, makes the most of it. (Despite the headline, this isn't the typical tourist travelogue; it gives some good local flavor.)

• Craigslist: Bangkok has one, too. 

And in the wild self-promotion department: I've got some Coachella photos up at the JPG Magazine site. Check 'em out. Vote for them, if you like. Enough votes, and one might even get published in the next issue. And that, I'd like.

And so they'll call me Thai-Ball

I've typed this so many times in so many different places, it feels odd and repetitive to do so again. But, in the interest of catching the odd random visitor to this site, an introduction:

I've worked for newspapers for a decade, in various roles from writer to photographer and editor to designer. The bulk of my time in the industry has had something to do with visuals. The industry, as you might have heard, is in a state of... flux. There are layoffs and buyouts and takeovers by companies good and bad... and just general uncertainty.

So, if life is going to be uncertain, why not take advantage of that? I'm packing my bags (and, well, my boxes and my house and my life) and moving to Thailand. It's a chance for what I hope will be an incredible adventure personally; and, professionally, a door is open that I thought might never be: A job in the magazine world.

I'm passionate about magazines. I have piles of them around the house, unable to throw any of my usual titles away. I rarely go back to them, really, but they just seem so much less disposable than newspapers. And they're able to do so many things newspapers can't. (Or won't.)

So, I move out of California and the U.S. in August. There's a whole lot in flux at the moment. Like, say, a place to live in Thailand. But many things will become clearer in the coming weeks, and I'll share them with you, right here.

Bringing the funny

As we get things rolling here at dudernet.com, we can't help but pass along the funniest thing we've seen in ages: Clark and Michael. It stars Michael Cera, of Arrested Development fame, and his buddy Clark Duke.

It's a mockumentary of sorts (the funny sort), where Clark and Michael try to get a show on the air. See, it's a mockumentary, because this is the show. Get it? So clever, these two.

The first episode guest stars Tony Hale; later episodes, if the previews are to be believed, feature none other than Andy Richter (!) and David Cross. 

Anyway, it's well worth watching (several times over), and a new episode shall appear online every Wednesday. At last, a reason to watch TV on Wednesdays. Even if it's of the internet variety.

Watch. And share! Don't let this go the way of AD.

Update: Turns out, Michael Cera even funnier in this. Holy hell, do I love that guy.