In this video, 12-year old Victoria Grant explains why her homeland, Canada, and most of the world, is in debt.
(via explore)
Jim Henson Tribute
The Muppets pay tribute to their creator, Jim Henson, who passed away 22 years ago this week.
(via explore)
David Kelley: How to build your creative confidence
Absolutely wonderful TED talk by David Kelley, founder of IDEO, in which he is telling stories from his legendary design career and his own life, offering ways to build the confidence to create.
Reverse Of Volume
In this stunning installation, reverse of volume RG, Yasuaki Onishi uses the simplest materials — plastic sheeting and black hot glue — to create a monumental, mountainous form that appears to float inside of Rice University Art Gallery.
(Thank you Mark and Angela)
The Key to Science in 63 Seconds
Richard Feynman’s Key to Science in 63 Seconds, via Brain Pickings.
The Employees First Effect
For the first time, I did *not* skip an ad on YouTube. This is the one that was playing:
TYPO SF: The Importance of Side Projects
I had the huge honor to kick off the TYPO conference in San Francisco a few weeks back, and this is my talk. I am speaking on the importance of taking your side projects seriously and share 8 lessons I am going to teach my children.
Other TYPO SF videos currently available are by Mike Monteiro and Joshua Davis.
TYPO conferences take place in Berlin, London and San Francisco. I highly recommend attending one.
What is a hipster?
(via kottke)
Cool Hunting Video: Photobooth
At last Friday’s 99% Conference, I had the pleasure to experience the magic of old Tintype Portrait Photography. Michael Shindler brought his tintype studio set up all the way from SF to the 99% conference and set up shop.
In this Cool Hunting video they talk to Michael, co-founder of Photobooth. If you are in SF, make sure to go by and have one of these Tintype Portraits taken. Nothing really compares.
Also check out the piece about Photobooth at 99% on the conference website.
Sullivan’s Travels
My friends Cameron and Tyler organized a movie night at The Invisible Dog Art Center last night. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a movie that dates back to 1941. I admit, I was afraid it would be a tad bit too slow for my taste. But boy, was I wrong.
Sullivan’s Travels is a fantastic movie, that kept me on the edge of my seat and made me want to rewind a few times so I can write down some of the dialogues.
About the movie: Sullivan is a successful, spoiled, and naive director of fluff films, with a heart-o-gold, who decides he wants to make a film about the troubles of the downtrodden poor. Much to the chagrin of his producers, he sets off in tramp’s clothing with a single dime in his pocket to experience poverty first-hand, and gets some reality shock. Written by Bob Doolittle.
In 1990, Sullivan’s Travels was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked it as the #61 Greatest Movie of All Time, the first inclusion of this film on the list. In addition, the movie’s poster was ranked as #19 of “The 25 Best Movie Posters Ever” by Premiere.
If you have a chance to watch it, please do. It’s time well spent.
Body Hotel
This video is the brainchild of David Luepschen and was created using a mixture of stop-motion and realtime-video. The elements are made out of cardboard and wood – supplemented by an animated vector graphic. Fascinating.
Jonathan Harris’ PSFK Talk
I had the pleasure to see Jonathan Harris’ PSFK talk a few weeks ago. It is a moving talk and one that will make you think. Jonathan Harris is a new media artist and in this presentation talks to the audience about how he walked away from success and notoriety and was inspired to counter current trends to build Cowbird.com. Watch it!
The World’s Largest Invoice
Do you have a freelance gig you haven’t been paid for? Well, then check out World’s Largest Invoice and add your info.
The site launched today, and is an initiative by The Freelancers Union, to urge lawmakers to pass the Freelancer Payment Protection act in New York. It’s model legislation that gives freelancers the same protection as “traditional” employees – they can file wage claims for the money they’re owed and get protection from the Department of Labor.
CreativeMornings Video: Simon Sinek
I am extremely excited to share last week’s CreativeMornings talk by Simon Sinek. His talk was a touching one, definitely getting under my skin. Simon’s message is an important one and I can assure you that watching his talk is 20minutes well spent. Simon believes in a world in which the vast majority of people go home everyday feeling fulfilled by their work. Amen to that.
A big giant thank you to our videographer Ben Hallman.
The Power of the Pentatonic Scale
Bobby McFerrin demonstrates the power of the pentatonic scale, using audience participation, at the event “Notes & Neurons: In Search of the Common Chorus”, from the 2009 World Science Festival, June 12, 2009.
(Thank you Karin)
An ALS Love Story
A friend of mine, Andy Coon, runs the Often Awesome series and is a finalist for Best Documentary Series in The Webby Awards. Often Awesome the series is a web series that follows Timothy LaFollette who was diagnosed at 29 with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) in 2009. Andy created 34, 10-minute episodes from diagnosis to his passing and chronicles a beautiful tale about love, hope, community, friendship and courage, in the face of daunting challenges and deep loss.
This story will not only bring you to tears, it will make you smile about the beauty of humanity. If you’re as moved as I am by the trailer above, please vote for for the project:
The Webbys: http://pv.webbyawards.com/ballot/104
Vimeo Awards: https://vimeo.com/awards/vote/series
Watch more clips, learn more:
Often Awesome, the Series
Spell Tower
Spelltower just had me jump off my office chair! I can’t wait to play this. #currentlydownloading
Music from Nature
Diego Stocco did it again:
To celebrate Earth Day, Diego Stocco collaborated with Burt’s Bees to create an all-natural musical experience. All the sounds you hear in this piece were created real-time using instruments provided by Mother Nature herself. The same ingredients that are instrumental in making the Burt’s Bees products, which I am a big fan of!
Goodbye Hillman
Brooklyn based designer, author and filmmaker Hillman Curtis passed away. My heart goes out to his wife and small children. What a tremendous loss. Hillman will always be remembered in the creative industry, he was a true force.
Coca-Cola Hug Machine
The Coca-Cola Hug Machine takes hugs instead of money. Because vending machines have feelings too. #mademesmile
(via @nthnryn)
Walk [Your City]
WALK [YOUR CITY] is a Kickstarter project by Raleigh based Matt Tomasulo that is trying to get America walking. Consider it “guerilla wayfinding” that helps soon-to-be pedestrians find their way from place to place. The funds will go to create an open source tool that will enable anyone to create and print simple signs that indicate how many minutes by foot it takes to get to a certain destination. Simple instructions like these can shift public perception and get more folks on their feet.
I am backing this Kickstarter. Join me?
(via the awesome TBD Newsletter)
