MOMENTS IN ASIA

Moments In Asia - iPhone 5s 120fps from Markus Kontiainen on Vimeo.

Markus Kontiainen traveled through 11 cities throughout Asia. Here is what came of that.

TABLESS THURSDAY

Single-tasking Is the New Multitasking from The Atlantic on Vimeo.

Let's start a trend.

First, listen to the pitch: press play. I have zero resources, so here is someone else's video about single tasking, but what I got out of it was the concept of Tabless Thursday.

If you take a look at a typical week, there is clearly a gap:

Meatless Monday

Taco Tuesday

Womething Wednesday

_________ Thursday

Funning* Friday

So now, just for fun's sake,** this coming Thursday, practice tab monogamy. What is that? It's simple: only use one tab on your browser at a time. If you need something else, close the one tab, and open another. Then work on that ONE tab for the entire time until you have completed whatever it is you're doing. 

Only once a week, a small commitment of your time. Let's see what that does for you. 

* I meant to put something else here, but then thought that was too easy. 

** It helps sometimes to just think of change as fun, improvement as fun, and fun as something you want in your life. 

VIDEO: DARING GREATLY TO UNLOCK YOUR CREATIVITY WITH BRENE BROWN

This is a very good talk by Brene Brown, author of Daring Greatly. I think everyone should watch this - and if you are feeling a bit down - then you should watch it more than once.  

It's a little long, but not a moment of the time is wasted. There are a lot of really great quotes. A lot. If you create, sooner or later, you have to put yourself out there, and that will probably leave you vulnerable. If you want to learn how to deal with this, take a look, take a listen. Repeat.  

WATCH THIS VIDEO: TINY SYDNEY

Tiny Sydney from Filippo Rivetti on Vimeo.

This video is a pleasure for the eyes. If you need a lift for the week, have a look. It's not terribly long, but the pleasure lingers.

THE CONTRADICTION OF SILENCE: SHORT FILM FROM CHOREOGRAPHER ALEXANDER EKMAN

The Contradiction of Silence from Bolon on Vimeo.

PHARRELL PUTS THE HAPPY IN HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Happy Thanksgiving!  

And because no one can express this sentiment better than Pharrell, I have attached this video chock full of subliminal messages and excellent dance moves.

QUICKIE ON BATKID

Image via Cinema Fanpage

Wow, when you dream - dream big! Miles Scott asked to be BatKid as his wish for MakeAWish Foundation. And he got it. I am in awe of this kid.



Batkid from San Francisco Chronicle on Vimeo.

MELLOW WRITING MUSIC: RHYE

Two songs that are mellow and just slightly captivating, a nice bit of sound to have in the background while you're typing furiously away. The videos are also tell an interesting story of disconnect.

JARED LETO AND HAMLET

Jared Leto and the song Raped in the Face from Hamlet 2

I think Jared Leto sometimes regrets his face, so I have diluted the effect by accompanying him with the refrain to Raped in the Face from Hamlet 2.* Click on the link for the full song in all its glory.

I once attended a concert for his band 30 Seconds to Mars and every other band member played under a spotlight while Leto sang in the dark, and then ran around stage to escape any chance of good lighting. He was literally running away from the spotlight. During the break, people (women, me) complained that they couldn't see him. 

For background information, the face of Leto is also the mind behind Batholomew Cubbins (a fat sounding alias if I ever heard one), who directs the music videos for the band 30 Seconds to Mars, where the face of Leto is also the lead singer. But when you get caught up in that face, come on now, it's easy to forget that it comes with an incredible amount of talent and a strong aesthetic sense.

So here below, as proof, is the music video for Up in the Air, a visual massage of intersecting images, some disturbing, some fascinating, all very well done. 

 

*If you haven't seen Hamlet 2, it's worth your time.

WHAT KIND OF ASIAN ARE YOU?

I wish I had the balls to do this whenever I'm asked the "Where are you from?" question, but I don't, so I watch YouTube.

OMELETTE

Omelette from Madeline Sharafian on Vimeo.

I'll be out and about for awhile, so in my place is this animated dog.  Enjoy!

BRAD FROST: ON ENDING BULLSHIT

2013/4 Brad Frost from CreativeMornings/PGH on Vimeo.

BEND NOT BREAK

Video

I always read how the quality of resilience is a virtue: it is key to success, to happiness.  All well and good, sir. However, in practice this is difficult.  What I can offer, is inspiring stories where people show how this quality works in practice.  It seems to work pretty well, and is surprisingly humble.