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Verge Favorites: Valentina Palladino

Verge Favorites: Valentina Palladino

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The Verge staffers aren't just people who love technology. They're people who love stuff. We spend as much time talking and thinking about our favorite books, music, and movies as we do debating the best smartphone to buy or what point-and-shoot has the tightest macro. We thought it would make sense to share our latest obsessions with Verge readers, and we hope you're encouraged to share your favorites with us. Thus a long, healthy debate will ensue where we all end up with new things to read, listen to, or try on.

'American Horror Story'

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Ahscoven

While I never got into Ryan Murphy's Glee, I was hooked on American Horror Story from the beginning. The miniseries-style show returned for its third season, Coven, this past October to tell the story of witches fighting for life, and pride, in New Orleans. This season followed Jessica Lange and Angela Bassett as they battled it out to be the baddest b/witch in the French Quarter; the star-crossed and infinitely creepy love triangle of two young witches and the boy they literally sewed back to together after a deadly bus crash; and an undead Kathy Bates as she dealt with being an 1830's racist Southern socialite living in the 21st century as a housekeeper. And that's only a fraction of Coven's craziness — keep up if you can.

Audio-Technica ATH-CKP500 SonicSport in-ear headphones

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Headphones

It took me a while to get used to these athletic headphones, but now I don't do anything without them. Their in-ear construction and C-shaped ear tips make them literally stick to your head, so you never have to worry about them falling out during even the most strenuous workout. They're also waterproof and washable, so you can clean them up after the gym and use them to listen to music on your morning commute. My only complaint is that the cords sometimes tangle into a twisted mess, but it's a small price to pay for the ability to block out the world at any given moment.

'Folie à Deux' by Fall Out Boy

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Falloutboy

On Scuzz TV, in one of the most insightful interviews with the band I've seen, Patrick and Pete explain how Folie À Deux faced a slew of obstacles when it first came out, but since then has turned in to a slow-build success. For me, it was instantly a favorite, with its classically FOB tongue-in-cheek lyrics, R&B chord progressions, and punk-rock outcries. Folie was a natural progression in the most unnatural way, channeling the pop, rock, punk, funk, soul, and hip-hop influences the band always had into lyrically dark and musically light songs. The result was the album many fans wanted but, on the heels of Infinity on High, couldn't quite explain in words. Five years later, Folie À Deux continues to create its legacy, and maybe in another five years, we'll consider it to be the perfect example of how FOB's legacy of doing everything wrong has always proven to be so right.

JacksGap

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Jacksgap

I've been a fan of twins Jack and Finn Harries for a while, but the duo's intermittent posting had them fading from my memory over the past few months. JacksGap totally won me back recently by posting the videos chronicling their adventures on the Rickshaw Run, a two-week, 3,500 kilometer trip the two took across India with five friends in three colorful rickshaws to raise money for charity. Within the first two episodes, the boys were hit with rainstorms, broken-down tuk tuks, and the agony of a stolen camera. The episodes are each 15ish minutes of well-edited, energetic footage that plays out like an Amazing Race-esque reality show.

Ryka Women's Illusion Running Shoes

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Shoes

I work out almost every day, I have back problems, and I hate sneakers. The Ryka Women's Illusion Running Shoes have been the best sneakers I've tried that cater to all those needs. I had no awkward "breaking-in" period with them — their cushioned Ortholight insoles were ready to go right out of the box for my morning workout. They're also super lightweight, and since my mother also wears them to get the best support for her back issues, I knew I was getting a pair of kicks that wouldn't kill my spine. As far as my hatred for sneakers, I still have it — but my Rykas are pretty enough, and functional enough, that I'll never turn them away.

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