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Inside DJ Shadow’s ‘Public Works’

After getting dicked over on the 1st by the Kid Robot staff, today I returned to the store and found that they, in fact, still had [the DJ Shadow box set](http://www.obeydjshadow.com) I was [previously lusting after](https://vjarmy.com/archives/2005/08/public_works.php) still in stock – and even in my size, to boot. After getting it home, I promptly shot the hell out of it and bring you the hot hot details.

The box is adorned with [cool artwork](http://www.flickr.com/photos/remydwd/46247879/) and a [number on the back](http://www.flickr.com/photos/remydwd/46247398/). Opening the box finds all the contents neatly wrapped in a [paper holder with a “flamable materials” sticker](http://www.flickr.com/photos/remydwd/46247664/). When you unpack it, you’ll find…

Five t-shirts, the [“Post No Bills” book](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1584230932/), the [Funky Skunk mix CD](http://www.flickr.com/photos/remydwd/46249166/), and a manilla envelope [full of stickers and buttons](http://www.flickr.com/photos/remydwd/46249389/).

Public Works: Shirt #1 Public Works: Shirt #2 Public Works: Shirt #3 Public Works: Shirt #4 Public Works: Shirt #5

A quick judging of the t-shirt designs (and I’m making most of these names up): I’m not crazy about [“Portrait”](http://www.flickr.com/photos/remydwd/46248475/), but [Crane](http://www.flickr.com/photos/remydwd/46248591/), [Take Action](http://www.flickr.com/photos/remydwd/46248705/), and [Molotov](http://www.flickr.com/photos/remydwd/46248809/) are quite nice and I can see myself wearing them in public. The [Grim Reaper World Tour](http://www.flickr.com/photos/remydwd/46248952/) shirt – which I should note, is not available outside of the box set (unlike the rest) – is particularly remarkable in that it takes what is already an amazing box set and just makes it approximately forty-six times better. (That’s rounding down, mind you.) All the shirts have nothing printed on the back, are high quality cotton, and have a small Public Works logo thing on one arm.

The book contains a variety of pictures from Shepard Fairey’s [OBEY](http://www.obeygiant.com/) project; locations around the world where the pastes are up, some action shots as they go up. Very nice art book, perfect for a coffee table.

The CD – well, I haven’t had much of a chance to listen to it much yet, but it sounds like a very well done mix with lots of obscure hip-hop source material. It’s 66 minutes long, and the CD looks remarkably similar to the artwork on the front of the box/the Take Action shirt.

The envelope contents include buttons for the first four t-shirts, stickers for them, some Obey project stickers, and some advertising for the Public Works set.
All in all? I’d say it’s definitely worth it, if you’re a DJ Shadow fan.

(If you’d just like to browse all the linked pictures, check out [my photos tagged with “publicworks”](http://www.flickr.com/photos/remydwd/tags/publicworks/).)

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The Two Most Important Shows On Television

Yes, the Emmy’s sucked. But there is salvation ahead, for tonight, the two most important shows on television return for their third seasons.

## Arrested Development

Whatever reason you have for not watching this show is invalid. It’s got a fantastic cast, great cameos, the best writing on television, more jokes per minute than any other comedy in years, and might even teach you a thing or two about leaving a note.

**Arrested Development** debuts tonight at 8PM on Fox. You can find more details online at

## Cheap Seats

What MST3K was to movies, Cheap Seats is to shitty ESPN footage. Randy and Jason Sklar are fan-fucking-tastic at ripping apart every random “sporting event” under the sun – ice motorcycle racing, spelling bees, arm wrestling, cliff diving, Scrabble competitions, World Series of Poker…and yes, tonight they’ll be taking on the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Competition from 2004. Add in a veritable who’s who of comedians doing guest bits (Jon Benjamin! Michael Showalter! Mike Bleiden! Ed Helms! Ian Roberts! [Eugene Mirman](http://cheapseats.tv/clips/feature_mirman_hi.mov)!) and you’ve got a half an hour on ESPN that even people who hate sports can enjoy.

**Cheap Seats** is on ESPN Classic at 10PM, although episodes occasionally air on ESPN2. You can learn so much more at

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Benefit Comedy Shows At UCB

Just wanted to give people a heads-up:

On the 12th, Aziz Ansari is hosting a benefit edition of Crash Test. Check out Aziz’s post about it and the UCB press release. Tickets are $10, and we will be there.

On the 18th, there will be a very special ASSSSCAT MercyCAT. At the very least Amy Poehler, Horatio Sanz, and Paul Scheer will be performing, and probably many more. Tickets range from $20 to $50. Check out the PR, or just buy tickets.

Come out, folks – it’s great comedy and a great cause. Anyone who wants to team up for either show, please drop me a line or a comment.