Cover Bands Don’t Change The World

The image above is taken from a local coffee shop here in Atlanta, OCTANE.

Their smug tag-line brilliantly captures the tension of ANYONE attempting to do ANYTHING New, Creative, or Important :: If you can not Stand Out, if you are not Unique, you will be Irrelevant and ultimately Invisible.

We all know this, but often forget it when it comes to our blogs, bands, videos, design, and churches.  There is a tempting tepid acceptance found in the middle. Everyone likes the middle.  Everyone lives in the middle.  Everything looks like Everything else in the middle .  And Everything pretty much stays the same.  That’s why the Middle changes nothing.

It’s those who are willing to Try, to Risk, to Put it all Out There, and ultimately to FAIL that eventually change things.  Todd Henry says it best, “Cover Bands Don’t Change The World”. He’s right.  Being the first to Copy doesn’t make me original or unique…it just makes me first to copy.

I want to CREATE DOTS, not just CONNECT THEM! To stand out, to risk everything, to fail boldly, and to CONTRIBUTE something fresh, new, stimulating, challenging…something UNLIKE anything else I can find in the middle.

YOUR TURN :: What in your life exists OUTSIDE the MIDDLE?

The Melody of Words // The Happiness Project

We already know that there are more to our WORDS than just what we say.  There are multiple meanings, there is body language, there is what we say when we choose not to say anything.

AND, according to Charles Spearin (of Broken Social Scene) there is Melody.

Over the course of a few months, Spearin invited his neighbors over to his house to talk about “Happiness“.

He then took their words and found the most beautiful and surprising melodies.  He matched those melodies to music and created some of the most Unique, Layered, Intriguing, and Inspiring Music you have ever heard.

It’s called the Happiness Project.  And it’s amazing.

Even the Video that explains it all is amazing.  Be Inspired.

Charles Spearin – The Happiness Project

Why is Honda’s Awesomeness so Awesome?

As a member of the Honda Nation since 1993 I am proud of my people and their vision for this ad.

It is both BRILLIANT and BEAUTIFUL, and done entirely with Honda Headlights in real time.

I’ve Rocked the Following Honda’s throughout the years

• 19984 Accord (silver with burgundy cloth interior)
• 1988 Prelude (made the drive from Chicago to Cali and back to the Chi)
• 1996 Accord aka The Old 96′er (with a 6 disc changer in the trunk yo!) BTW – still rockin’ it!

I have a feeling I’m not the only one.

YOUR TURN :: Who Else is Rockin’ // has Rocked a Honda.  Why are they so awesomeness so awesome?

My Kinda Stimulus Package…Electric Stimulus!

I wish I had the time on my hands (or the guts) to do something like this.

Daito has some pretty good stupid friends to put up with this.

YOUR TURN :: What’s the STUPIDIST THING you’ve done for / with your friends like this?

Just in time for Easter – The Jesus Cookie Cutter…

…useless, of course, you gave up Cookies for Lent.

Sadly or Amazingly, this is the real deal.  You can get one HERE.

I guess this means…

The Cookies have Risen, they have Risen indeed…

Jesus is my Doughboy…

I am the Batter of LIfe…

I’ve got a million of these.  Got any better?

The Greatest and Best Thing on YouTube Ever…today (pt. 2)

Seriously. This is EPIC!

KUTIMAN has taken to Mashing-Up YOUTUBE!

Everything you hear // see is ACTUAL FOOTAGE from YouTube.

Why didn’t anyone think of this before?

I’ll keep dropping his tracks all week, until you are fully INSPIRED!

Your Turn :: What’s One Thing that is INSPIRING you today?

If I knew you were quitting, I’d have baked a cake

If you gotta go, this is the way to do it.

W. Neil Berret gave his comapnay his two week notice in a very sweet way.

He wrote it out word for word in blue frosting and gave it to his supervisor.

You can read what he wrote….HERE.

Berret’s idea is brilliant as far as I’m concerned.  It opens the door to so many possibilites…Break Up Cup Cakes, Terminal Diagnosis Sky Writing…the possibilities are limitless.

Your Turn :: Any Creative Quits out there  -  Job, Realtionship, Team?     I’ll share my killer break up story after you share yours…

The Greatest and Best Thing from Youtube EVER…today (pt.1)

Seriously.  This is EPIC!

KUTIMAN has taken to Mashing-Up YOUTUBE!

Everything you hear // see is ACTUAL FOOTAGE from YouTube.

It’s completely a first.  And you know what…It’s really stinkin’ GOOD.                 DJ Shadow-esque!

I’ll be dropping tracks all week….Be Inspired.

Your Turn :: What’s INSPIRING you today?

This is why I became a father…

Honestly…it’s the TOYS.  My son’s toys are a HUGE reason why I am a father.  He gives me an excuse to play with Star Wars figures all over again…and I love him for that.

These guys, however, take it to the next level!

respect.

Your Turn :: If you could “modify” any TOY from your childhood, what would it be // what would you do?

I told you…Space Invaders is real!

Curse you Scandinavians! With your sleek, modern, yet affordable furniture.  Your ridiculously beautiful people.  And your uber hip danceable vision of our demise.

Royksopp, electronic chill maestro, gives us a glimpse into our future when the aliens attack….slowly….in predictable rows…

Happy Up Here from Röyksopp on Vimeo.

Your Turn :: What’s one of the Coolest videos you’ve seen lately. (embed it in the comments!)