My name is Joshua Jenkins and this is debris; a collection of tiny snapshots into my life. I make websites in Portland. I like bicycles, coffee, cities, running, beer, and letters. I like other stuff too.

If you're feeling sassy you can ask me a question.

 

  1. I’m trying to learn French. A large part of it is going to be immersing myself in the culture. I listen to music all day at work so I’ve decided it makes sense to listen to French music. I don’t know any French bands (other than Phoenix, but they sing in English) at all, but I bet you do. You can check out my last.fm profile to get a feel for what I listen to (feel free to ridicule me for my bad taste). I’m open to anything, I just want the words to be French.

    Recommendations?


  2. Best Coast. Statement.

    Best Coast. Statement.


  3. I saw Portugal. The Man last night at the Doug Fir. I’ve been aware of them, but never really listened to them. Hot poop they put on a great show. Half the time they reminded me of The Mars Volta, except I actually wanted to listen to them, and the other half they had kind of the normal good-indie-Portland-band thing going on. That’s probably quite possibly the worst characterization of a band ever written, but guess what bitches, it’s the internet and it’s really easy to publicize ill-informed opinions.

    Also worth noting: these gentlemen know how to rock the fuck out.


  4. I saw Metric for the first time at the Crystal Ballroom last night. Somehow I’ve been completely oblivious to their existence all these years, just really getting into them earlier this year.

    They put on an amazing show, had the venue been smaller (or had I not been situated next to flailing-middle-aged-lady or bend-down-to-smoke-a-blunt-asshole) it would probably register in my top three shows. Based purely on performance it’s way up there though.

    Great time.


  5. Grizzly Bear last night at the Crystal Ballroom. I wasn’t sure how the show would be because they’re such a chill band. It turned out to be such a good experience, it just felt good the whole time. That sounds weird. The music coupled with the lighting was a really cool experience, I loved the lights inside staggered mason jars. I wish I had last night on DVD. Or Blu-Ray. Or DivX. The openers were the Morning Benders, and they too were solid. I love shows.

    Grizzly Bear last night at the Crystal Ballroom.

    I wasn’t sure how the show would be because they’re such a chill band. It turned out to be such a good experience, it just felt good the whole time. That sounds weird. The music coupled with the lighting was a really cool experience, I loved the lights inside staggered mason jars. I wish I had last night on DVD. Or Blu-Ray. Or DivX.

    The openers were the Morning Benders, and they too were solid.

    I love shows.


  6. Miike Snow’s Andrew Wyatt from their show last night at Doug Fir. I had no idea this show was even happening, but I am so happy that it did. If you haven’t heard the band before, you need to check them out. The album is amazing, and their live show is ridiculously great. Quite possibly the best show I’ve ever been to.

    Miike Snow’s Andrew Wyatt from their show last night at Doug Fir.

    I had no idea this show was even happening, but I am so happy that it did. If you haven’t heard the band before, you need to check them out. The album is amazing, and their live show is ridiculously great.

    Quite possibly the best show I’ve ever been to.


  7. Jack Peñate last night at Doug Fir. Totally surprisingly amazing opening act.

    Jack Peñate last night at Doug Fir. Totally surprisingly amazing opening act.


  8. I decided to try out one of these new-fangled iTunes LP’s. As a designer I think it’s a rad idea and I’m happy it exists. As someone that doesn’t buy CD’s (but buys digital albums and records) this is a happy middle ground. My biggest issue, which has already been talked about fairly widely, is that the LP kind of breaks the doing-other-shit-while-listening-to-music-in-iTunes aspect of iTunes. Once you start the album you can screw around inside the LP without hurting anything, but if you back out into normal iTunes and try to get back in to the LP it just starts the album over, which sucks. Other than that I’m pretty happy with it. Nothing mind blowing. Just kind of a cool website inside of iTunes (which is actually fairly true since the whole LP is rendered with WebKit). It’s fun having the lyrics available, some random photos and videos, and background images and animations related to the album. I think this is a pretty big step in terms of audio entertainment in the digital age, glad someone took the step. I’m a bit surprised, and honestly disappointed, that there’s no iPhone or iPod integration with the LP’s. I hope the technology matures and continues to be expanded upon, and by that I mean I hope there is competition and Apple doesn’t become complacent. With only a handful of albums available right now I don’t really know what the technical limitations look like, so I’ll reserve full judgment until I have a few more of these. Oh and Resistance by Muse is amazing by the way. Buy it (iTunes LP or not).

    I decided to try out one of these new-fangled iTunes LP’s. As a designer I think it’s a rad idea and I’m happy it exists. As someone that doesn’t buy CD’s (but buys digital albums and records) this is a happy middle ground.

    My biggest issue, which has already been talked about fairly widely, is that the LP kind of breaks the doing-other-shit-while-listening-to-music-in-iTunes aspect of iTunes. Once you start the album you can screw around inside the LP without hurting anything, but if you back out into normal iTunes and try to get back in to the LP it just starts the album over, which sucks.

    Other than that I’m pretty happy with it. Nothing mind blowing. Just kind of a cool website inside of iTunes (which is actually fairly true since the whole LP is rendered with WebKit). It’s fun having the lyrics available, some random photos and videos, and background images and animations related to the album. I think this is a pretty big step in terms of audio entertainment in the digital age, glad someone took the step. I’m a bit surprised, and honestly disappointed, that there’s no iPhone or iPod integration with the LP’s.

    I hope the technology matures and continues to be expanded upon, and by that I mean I hope there is competition and Apple doesn’t become complacent. With only a handful of albums available right now I don’t really know what the technical limitations look like, so I’ll reserve full judgment until I have a few more of these.

    Oh and Resistance by Muse is amazing by the way. Buy it (iTunes LP or not).