THE WHITE STRIPES - UNDER GREAT WHITE NORTHERN LIGHTS
I love good movies. I love good music. So you'd think I'd really like movies about music? But more often than not, documentaries about rock bands or musicians fall short. They're usually about conflicting personalities, drama between band members and the most played out sex, drugs and rock n' roll ideal.
I was pleasantly surprised when I came across Under Great White Northern Lights on iTunes. It's a great rockumentary about Jack and Meg White of The White Stripes as they tour across Canada. It's not just big venues, but more down home style theaters and impromptu shows in town squares, music stores, coffee shops or even riding the bus. There's no sex or drugs, just a well thought out film that does a great job implementing The White Stripes mythology. It blends black and white footage with color that often times over saturates reds.
There's not a ton of dialog or interviews, just enough to learn a little something but yearn for more. More situational shots that showcase interaction with people and fans as they're en route from show to show, which I liked because it feels more natural and less contrived. Then it's all about the power of their music.
If you are unfamiliar with The White Stripes music, branding and mythology I'll try to fill you in a little. The White Stripes began as part of a late-nineties garage-rock revival, but the duo's music and concept - a once married couple who pretended to be siblings and wore alternating red and white outfits - was always bigger than the lo-fi rock and roll of a typical garage band.
The White Stripes played their first show in July 1997, about nine months after bartender Meg White and upholsterer John Anthony Gillis married and began making music together. Gillis took his wife's last name and a dynamic duo was born. Since then the two have put out six albums, winning several grammy's and now have added a great film to their body of work.
I think one of the reasons why I enjoyed the movie so much is in its' simplicity. Both how it was shot and in the music. Two people, one on drums and the other on guitar. Yet they still bring a powerful energy you can feel. They are great musicians and entertainers. Both Meg and Jack have a captivating presence. Meg with her quiet and shy persona, yet impressive curves. And Jack, who seems more complex and thoughtful. Although you get a sense of who they are as people, the film focuses more on the music and what the band/concept is.
If you too like music and movies, I think you'll find Under Great White Norther Lights enjoyable. Check out the trailer:
Have you seen the videos on Vimeo? Wow. I was just creating an account and uploading a bunch of videos for my portfolio, when I started having a look around. I could spend hours watching their content. Made me question if what I was uploading was worthy. I would compare MySpace to Facebook and YouTube to Vimeo. Vimeo is just such higher quality.
So this first video I'm embedding caught my eye because a lot of advertising right now is using the same effect. Where you shoot imagery so that it appears miniature. This is one of the coolest time lapses, shot in Brooklyn and Manhattan, New York. Be sure to go full-screen, it's that much better. This is called The Sandpit.
This next video is for us nature lovers. It's an amazing film shot from May to November of 2009 in this guys fathers garden. Have some patience and watch the entire thing, as it builds throughout. Also be sure to go full-screen, it really does improve the viewing experience. Enjoy this film called My Fathers Garden.
I found one more video I have to share with you. Remember the band OK Go? They did that viral YouTube music video on treadmills. Well, whether you like their music or not, you have to give it to them for their creativity. Apparently they had some sort of blockage from their record label, EMI, that wouldn't allow them to post the video on more sites than google. Some sort of profit sharing deal. Then State Farm came in and sponsored the video so the rest of the world could see it. State Farm really picked a good one. Check it out!
While the rest of the country may be experiencing a blustery winter, springtime has hit the Pacific Northwest early. I could wear shorts if I didn't mind blinding bystanders with my pasty white legs. I mean it's well above normal winter temperatures. Even nature is confused, as it's mid-February and the flowers and trees are beginning to bloom. The bulbs in the flowerbed in my front yard have sprouted forth a good six inches.
I find it humorous how the term "global warming" is taken so literally by people. How they argue that because 3/4's of the country is getting snow that there can't be global warming. Wasn't it just last year that the East Coast experienced one of it's warmest winters? I remember news stories around christmas where New Yorkers were in their shorts, sunning themselves. They forget about they global warming symptom of wide temperature swings in either direction.
Anyway, before I get sidetracked on global warming, I have two little stories. First, upon driving home from the gym today, I was noticing the cherry trees starting to blossom. I parked on the side street and a nice woman said "hello." She asked if I would like a bouquet of cherry blossoms. I figured why not.
We got to chatting, I found out she was from the Netherlands, then moved to Canada and finally to Seattle. She's lived in my neighborhood for about a year and is trying to build the community. Apparently the area I live in is called ZooZoo? I always just tell people I live at the top of Fremont, sort of the Phinney Ridge neighborhood, but I'm guessing we get that name because we're right next to the Woodland Park Zoo. She is trying to get our community to interact more, sharing tools, services or something to that effect.
Not until later, did I recall her saying something about the fact she is going to try and generate income off of this service. At the time I was passively listening, while thinking about something else. I remember ending the conversation short, taking the cherry blossoms, saying "nice to meet you" and not offering any money. Crap, was the service of trimming the cherry tree, making bouquet's and offering them to people passing by, a way to "generate income" or a nice gesture? I'm hoping it was a nice gesture on a beautiful day, otherwise I must have looked like an ass. But don't they look nice by my bedside table?
I'm going to use the excuse that a kid came to the door this morning to sell magazines, then I gave money to the lady pan handling outside of the grocery store. Maybe by the time I got home and was offered the cherry blossoms, I just didn't think it would be for money? Getting hit up for money all the time in this poor economy may have desensitized me. When she offered, I just thought how nice this woman was to being doing this.
So the other story. I used to live with this wonderful woman named Sarah. She had an orchid that bloomed when we were roommates. She moved out a little more than two years ago and the orchid hasn't bloomed since. But wait! For the first time since she left, it's finally blossomed. The orchid flower is amazing. Have you ever looked at one closely? It is what people call, "a gift from nature."
I'm glad all those times when I thought maybe it was dead, that I should toss it, that I didn't. I think I'll try to take better care of it.
Was cruising around some advertising sites today and came across this video on pleasefeedtheanimals.com. Upon viewing, I knew it was something good to share.
"The art of living does not consist in preserving and clinging to a particular mood of happiness, but in allowing happiness to change its form without being disappointed by the change, for happiness, like a child, must be allowed to grow up." - Charles L. Morgan
I'm generally a happy person. I like to think that I project a happy persona onto others and attack life in a fun manner. Much of my happiness has been from working in a career for which I have great passion and in experiencing success. But as I've gotten older, the success and career has yielded a dwindling return of happiness.
I have worked in the action sports industry for over a decade, mostly in wintersports, where I love skiing and being in the mountains. First at Helly Hansen, then K2 and lastly working for myself producing ski films and webisodes. I have been extremely fortunate. Yet somewhere in the last six months it lost its luster.
Part of it involves working from home. Now that has some serious perks, being my own boss, setting my own schedule, commuting from my bedroom to my home office and being able to go skiing whenever theres powder. It also has some negative aspects. I'm a very social person who enjoys personal interaction, that isn't being fulfilled via my cell phone or computer. I have grown to miss a dynamic, social work environment.
If you ask my parents or people who know me, I've been slow to mature. I've finally outgrown the wintersports industry. I found myself at premieres wanting younger people to be quiet, to stop talking to the person next to them and pay attention. To stop partying so much and get things done. It just made me feel old. A lot also has to do with it being a popularity contest, I think I became tired of trying to project "cool." I seem to place more value on substance than cool these days.
I could go on about the subtleties that brought me to this realization I was no longer happy doing what I was doing, but there is no reason to dwell on the past. Some friends have asked me why in the world I would ever stop what I was doing, but I'm much more interested in discussing what's next.
I'm shelving the G Brand, going to reorganize my life, get in better shape, update my resume, website and portfolio and then look for work at an Advertising Agency. It's going to take me a couple weeks to get everything organized, going through external hard drives and finding particular projects I want to showcase. Plus I have some ideas on how to freshen up this website, which I've done nothing to but blog since launching in October of 2006. This thing has gotten a bit stale.
Going to try and get back to blogging on a regular basis. It needs to become more habit than a chore.
You know, I figure it's a new year, actually a new decade... why not have a new decade resolution to better myself, continue learning and challenge myself in a new industry? To broaden my social network and experience new things. I have so much more I want to achieve in my life and career. The beautiful thing about life is that you can change whenever you want. Tomorrow is a new day with new possibilities waiting around the corner.
As I get older, my body just isn't what it used to be. In 2006, I broke my back but have fully recovered. Occasionally my back still hurts from the injury, but I avoided the knife. I was in real bad shape for a while. Had numbness in my arm and couldn't make my calf muscle fire. But after lots of physical therapy, pilates, swimming, road biking and yoga, I got everything working again.
This summer I fell on my left shoulder, walking away with a level two AC joint sprain. It pretty much sucked, as I got taken out in the final minutes of a soccer game. Some dude took me out from behind, I flipped over, landing on my head and shoulder. It knocked my slightly unconscious, my shoulder was out of socket and I couldn't breath. I went to the Ballard hospital, got X-Rays, some painkillers and a sling.
Right when I was getting back to playing soccer again, BAM, I get taken out again, this time landing on my right shoulder. Same thing happens but not as bad. More of a slight AC joint shoulder sprain. I'm finally getting back to playing again but am doing so with pain. I just started physical therapy again to gain my strength back and try to keep the AC joint in the socket. My left shoulder has a rubbing and clicking to it that swells and hurts after skiing and playing soccer.
Sometimes it feels like I've been rehabbing my body my whole life. But the body continues to amaze me. It keeps healing and getting better. I have to slow down and take it easy to heal, where I usually gain weight and get fat, then I work myself back into shape. When I think back, to all my body has gone through, all the pounding and injuries, it is amazing I can even walk. The human body and what it can do...
So when the Bodies Exhibit came to Seattle, I thought I should check it out. If you go, you will be impressed by what you see and learn. The real life bodies that they have cut up and put on display are crazy. To think thats what's under our skin? Then as you go from body to body, you can read what different organs, glands and elements of the body do. If you pay $5 extra bucks, you can also get a audio handset that will tell you wants going on.
They have both male and female bodies, taking the viewer through the differences and functionality of each. There is also a breathtaking portion that goes over the miracle of life, how babies are conceived and shows fetuses in different stages. Appropriately, they have a warning posted before you enter this part of the exhibit. Some people could be offended with all the fetuses and babies in the womb.
Check out the website for when the exhibit comes to your town. You'll learn cool facts you can tell your friends like, "what's the biggest muscle in the body?" The buttocks. Oh, or "what muscle fires more often than any other?" The muscles in the eye. If you smoke, you can find inspiration to quit, as they show healthy lungs and lungs damaged by smoking. One pack of cigarettes takes three hours off your life.
Be good to your body and your body will be good to you.
I continue to lose faith in the news media. I think they have forgotten the difference between current events and in-depth reporting. They, as media companies, don't seem to understand that different communication vehicles should be used for different types of media or information. I have a little theory about it? Then I'll get to why I like and would recommend watching The Daily Show.
So I find that there are a couple different communication mediums: words/text/copy, photography and video. You then communicate using different methods like traditional means of: newspapers, magazines, books, TV and the newer online medium of: blogging, twittering, photo galleries, streaming videos, digital downloads, YouTube, Hulu and social networking everything you find. What amazes me is that major media networks don't know how to differentiate the mediums, methods and content nor how to generate revenue from it.
I'm going on an unplanned tangent here, so I'll try to bring it back to the show here soon, but you'll see what I mean. Why is it that some TV news, newspapers and magazines are failing? Because much of their revenue model was based off of ad revenue, which the amount a company could charge for that advertising was/is based off of the number of people who view the content, or what's called "reach." No longer was media charged for or purchased for it's quality. Most news became measured on if it was the latest breaking story, not whether the story even is justified being told. Our news was no longer based off of investigative reporting, that's too expensive to generate and takes too long to put together. I think we have "Reality" programing to help thank for the demise. It's just cheaper to produce.
But if you are a TV show, newspaper or print magazine... you will lose to the Internet every time. There just is nothing faster, so if newspapers, magazines and TV are going to compete with the internet on "current events" or "happenings" they will never be as fast as online media. Online media, where the content is given away for free will end up generating more revenue off of advertising than traditional media going forward. Especially as media now is mobile with cell phones and laptops.
The level of production for much of the media has become hollow. I mean there is no depth to it, it just sits there looking at you with simplicity and basic face value. It is either straight up information or pure mindless entertainment. News media has become too sensitive and worries too much about making people feel uncomfortable. You have media outlets that pander to the left, to the right and some who try to be in the middle, but it's all mindless ranting and hearsay. I think that provocation, stimulating debate, is much more desirable than ignoring sensitive issues to avoid hurting anyones feelings. But what is communicated has to informed and educated, instead of most of the mindless reporting that is being done.
Traditional media is going to have to revert back to putting out quality content, that is different or premium to that of what is available online. People or consumers will have to pay for getting the content. They will have to make money off of putting out a quality product, that engages people mentally. It's about content management. How media companies distribute and syndicate the content that is current event news for free versus quality engaging information that is paid for.
I feel it's a lot like art, for it to be truly genuine, it has to be done free of financial restraints. Or the creator, director, writer or artist has to have complete freedom, both financially and with time constraints. For something to be worthwhile of my time, it has to have something provocative, engaging and a point of view. Too much of what we see today is pretty meaningless and just about fame. I think the news media has become too driven by revenue generation, so as the revenue started dropping, old business minds found themselves in a panic, not figuring out the root of their problem.
So to bring it all back now, because I could write a whole blog on my media theory, managing content and distribution, etc. I like engaging information, that is well thought out, makes me question, I like it to be entertaining and if at all possible, I like it to have some humor and humility.
I have found that The Daily Show with John Stewart has all of these things. It's makes fun of all the dumb reporting on the cable and main news shows, it pokes fun of the total absurdity that sometimes is American Politics, yet it has a level of intellectualism not found in today's news. Jon asks hard questions, not what many consider "hard" in today's news which is usually some rude, disrespectful question, but a hard question of substance that you wish other people would ask.
When I watch the show, it's almost like an affirmation of what I think or my opinion of much of main stream media. I think because the show can mask itself or hide behind the fact it's a comedy show, allows it to take on issues that other programs can not. I often wonder if Jon Stewart is more of a comedian or a voice for much of what's troubling Americas news media. He knows what many of us want and the show gives it to us in a non-serious, entertaining, engaging, thought provoking way. I believe their is half truths to most jokes, with The Daily Show, I think it's more like 3/4's of the content rings true.
I'm sure most have heard of or watched a little bit of the Daily Show. The following are a couple clips that I think demonstrate what I'm trying to say, from the online video communication medium doing it better than anybody, Hulu, and the "TV shows" own website.
Here's the format or one of the reason's why I like the show. The beginning is where Mr. Stewart goes through different news stories from MSNBC, CNN, FOX and even the non-cable news shows of NBC sometimes and makes fun of how poor their interviews and stories really are. Here's an example of a show just a little while ago. The beginning makes fun of reporting done on Pakistan, the whole Taliban and what's going on, then makes fun of how much coverage was given to when Obama and Biden went to lunch at a Hamburger joint. Check it out:
Now Jon Stewart also has a lot of guests on the show. Sometimes they are other comedians, sometimes they are actors promoting their latest film, lots of authors, but he also has political figures. One of his most interesting and invigorating interviews was with Jim Crammer of the CNBC show Mad Money. It just felt good to watch him tear into Jim Crammer on what he does on his "news" show. Watch it and you'll see what I mean. It's still funny and Jon keeps things light, but he gets straight to the point. He could do a similar interview with most anchors of news shows. Even Brian Williams, of the nightly news of NBC could be torn to shreds. Oh now I loved to see that, and I'm a fan of Brian Williams. I guess it also has to do with accountability. The news media used to hold everybody else accountable. Now they need somebody like Jon Stewart and The Daily Show to hold them accountable, because for some reason we the viewers are not.
It is almost my 35th birthday which causes, as most birthdays do, for me to reflect on my life. It makes me question my decisions and paths I've chosen. Then it makes me wonder about my future and how I will continue to grow.
As I do these things, I sometimes seek out help to some of life's questions. In doing so, I came across an amazing piece of work. It's the book, film and exhibition called "Wisdom." I would highly recommend it to anybody. Here's a little information on the concept:
"Inspired by the idea that one of the greatest gifts one generation can pass to another is the wisdom it has gained from experience, the Wisdom project, produced with cooperation from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, seeks to create a record of a multicultural group of people who have all made their mark on the world. Presented against the same white space, all of the subjects are removed from their context, which not only democratizes them, but also allows for a clear dialogue to exist between them. In an attempt to create a more profound, honest, and truly revealing portrait of these luminaries, the project encompasses their voices, their physical presence, and the written word. This comprehensive portrayal of such a profound and global group is an index of extraordinary perspectives. Wisdom is an ongoing project. Additions to the list of contributors continues."
The project was done by Andrew Zuckerman.
I think one of the reasons why I enjoyed this project so much was that it took one theme, multiple sub plots and then communicated a message that challenges you mentally through multiple communication mediums. I have only seen the movie and read the book. I wish I could have seen the exhibit.
Here's is the teaser to the film. I would also encourage you to visit the website, as it has different video edits explaining the concept and how the project came together. Go to: http://www.wisdombook.org/.
There is something soothing to the soul about seeing a beautiful sunrise. I've had my head down working full steam ahead and needed to stop, look around and take a deep breath.
Last Tuesday I got up super early and was driving up to my favorite ski hill, Crystal Mountain, when I was happily surprised with an amazing sunrise. There was a crispness in the air, snow everywhere and Mt. Rainier along with the Cascades were backlit with orange. Ah.
I was driving along, grabbed my camera and took this picture. I didn't think it would come out, as it's through the window of my car. But my trusty Canon Powershoot delivered.
I had forgotten how amazing and good for my well-being a day in the mountains is. I've now got three days of riding in. My back hurts worse than it has since I broke it a couple years ago. Time to get the core back in shape.
Hope you all had a Happy Holidays, took a deep breath, and recharged the batteries.
Only three days left to the big day, election day. I'm feeling pretty good that Obama will be the next President but you never know how those electronic ballets will be counted. If you want to get almost over the top supportive of the Obama 'movement', you can download a full DJ set that mixes all sorts of political voice-overs with great songs like Pink Floyd, Audioslave, Public Enemy, Rage Against the Machine, etc. It's a really good mix, I recommend it.
I think I need to create a new category and call it politics. I just can't believe the state of our country and the fact it's a close presidential race. The Dem's should be blowing the Republicans out of the water. Yet, they're not. What does that mean?
So I work for Spacecraft and we're all pretty liberal. So we made some limited edition posters featuring one of our main branding pieces, the bunny, with Obama being revealed as the person inside the suit. Obama Mania!!!
I think I have almost all the gadgets and electronics I need with the addition of my new digital camera. I just got the Canon PowerShot G9 for my birthday. It was on the top of my wish list. I love taking photos and want to expand my know-how. This camera will be the next step in my photographic progression. Hopefully you'll see the difference in the imagery I post.
Eventually I'll get a few of the accessories, like extra lenses and flash. Hmm, I think I'll go on a urban hike this weekend and test out the camera. Maybe I'll go capture the Seattle classics. Stay tuned for the results.
Clean is an opinion. To each and every one of us there are different levels of clean. I find I go from weekly, sort of all over cleaning sessions to sometimes tackling deep cleaning projects. It's that deep cleaning time.
Yesterday I cleaned out the oven and fridge and then was getting ready to sweep and mop when I noticed the amount of dust on my fake tree. Hmm, how would I dust off all of those leaves? What would be the easiest method?
I decided to take all the leaves off the tree, wash them off in my salad spinner, and lay them out on towels to dry. Then re-attach them to the branches of the tree. I didn't realize how much work and how long that would take. Turned into a three hour process. Now this is what I consider a 'deep clean.'
Then of course it was also a challenge to put the leaves back on. They weren't even all the same. Some where smaller than others, some had brighter green leaves and some had more or less leaves per stem.
So taking a methodical approach I started at the bottom, branch by branch and worked my way up the tree. Only to find that I had lost a few stems through the years, as when I ran out of leaves, the tree was bald on top. So then I had to rearrange them and thin out the bottom to the top.
Although the tree is fake, it's now looking healthier than ever. Combine that with the Pine Sol tree scent from having just mopped the floor and it almost seems real. So that's my version of doing some serious cleaning. Hopefully I won't have to do that again in a few years.
I am a man of many theories. Many I keep to myself and just mull over when I'm bored. But lately, one has kept creeping into my conscious. It has to do with pro sports, athlete salaries, funding, and sports arenas. Since I'm here in Seattle I've been watching the spectacle that is the Super Sonics.
For those of you who haven't been following the dilemma, the team was sold to Clay Bennett who wants to move the team to Oklahoma. Upon purchasing the team from Howard Schultz, Bennett publicly was willing to keep the team in Seattle if Key Arena would be remodeled. This of course means more luxury suites, amenities, seats, and high tech big screens. It turns out he really had no intention of keeping the Sonics in Seattle, but that's not what I have an issue with. He wanted Seattle citizens to fund much of the remodel with tax dollars.
These tax subsidized sports arenas and stadiums that many citizens seem to be okay with is what bothers me. When did professional sports become such an economic power that city and state politics have to become involved? What place do politics have in sports? Now I'm not talking about corporate politics, I'm talking about government politics. When new sports facilities and arena's are funded by tax dollars because it's become a 'necessity' for city, community and local economics is where I have a problem.
Big business and sports organizations have flexed their financial muscles to push our government into making unethical and poor decisions for the citizens they represent. But what's the root of this evil or problem? I think there are many variables to the equation, but it starts with the absolutely inflated salaries pro athletes are paid.
Are pro athletes really worth tens of millions of dollars, or even 100's of million dollars in salary? Let's take a look at baseball, Alex Rodriquez makes $28 million dollars a year on a team, the Yankees, whose player salary totals $209.1 million. Whereas one of the lowest team salaries in baseball is the Florida Marlins at $43.8 million and the Marlins won the World Series in 2003. Something about that just doesn't seem right, generally and from a business perspective.
Or how about we take a look at basketball, where Kevin Garnett is the highest paid athlete at $23.7 million and the Dallas Mavericks have the highest team salary at $105.3 million. Oh, the smallest team salary is the Charlotte Bobcats at $52 million, half of what the Mavericks operate with.
When it comes to football, the top paid player is Dwight Freeney of the Indianapolis Colts at $30.7 million and the biggest team payroll is Washington Redskins at $123.4 million. The smallest team payroll in pro football is the New York Giants at $75.7 million and they just won the Super Bowl.
There seems to be a huge disparity between the salary of teams, individual athletes, and wining. I seriously doubt there is as much difference between the total number of people the stadiums hold from team to team? I think the first step in fixing the problem is standardizing or putting better parameters on what pro athletes are paid. Then make the main revenue stream be determined by corporate sponsorships.
So if you have a pro sports team that is paid millions of dollars a year in salary, should each working class citizen help pay for their office? Especially if most athletes only stay on a team for a couple years before being traded? How much does the guy or gal make who's working at the convenient stand in comparison?
What about the people who manage these stadiums and arenas? They usually play host to other events and sports teams. In Key Arena's case, there are rock concerts with Kayne West or other big headliners and the women's basketball team the Storm play there. Just because the Sonics aren't going to play there doesn't mean Key Arena isn't going to generate revenue. Whether or not it will be profitable, I don't know. But that's the challenges of running a business.
What if owners and managers of pro sports teams stopped inflating athlete salaries each year by another million or two? What if teams where forced to make profits from selling tickets to games more than corporate sponsorships? Think of the possibilities if athletes were held to five or six year contracts, were paid less, and the best only made ridiculously more than their teammates because of corporate sponsorships. If players salaries weren't so skewed, maybe team sports would still be more team oriented? Maybe more athletes would finish getting their college education then leaving early for the draft and huge salaries?
Okay, I'm starting to get slightly off topic. The professional sports business model is broken and moving in the wrong direction. Taxes should never be used to fund a stadium or arena for a pro sports team, period. Build roads, pay for education, or even bring PE back to schools and help fund better health for our youth, than help the wealthiest of the wealthy. I realize it's a trickle down model, but it seems like less and less is going through the funnel. Minimum wage employees working at a stadium may go up .10 cents while player salaries go up by the millions. I also understand its the restaurants and bars that also experience financial gains, but this trend just can't keep pace.
You'll end up killing the sports. As prices of participating in sports, whether a fan or participant, keeps being driven up by more expensive equipment and ticket prices, the overall number of people taking part in those sports will shrink. If the market size continues to shrink, there won't be enough people to fund it long-term. As price increases, less people will be able to participate, leaving only the true enthusiasts or the rich. You'll have a bunch of stadiums that just sell season tickets and corporate suites with nobody in them. People will only be involved for the love of the sport or for the love of the money. Those two ideals don't correlate well. How can you develop a devoted fan base if players come and go every couple years and the team has an erratic win/loss results?
I don't know how much sense this rant makes. I haven't thought it out completely. But something just isn't adding up anymore. It all just feels somewhat tainted. Who and how are we going to fix this negative trend? Maybe it will just all work itself out and I'm worrying about nothing. Just think about it for a second.
I drove up to Bellingham yesterday to meet with a potential client. It was nice to get out of Seattle and go for a drive, however short it may have been. I tend to do good thinking while I drive. I've never had a hard time staying awake at the wheel because as soon as I hit the highway, my mind begins to plan, ponder and sometimes dream.
On my visit I met with some like minded individuals whom would be fun to work with. Not only do I think the work would be rewarding and successful but I also like the town of Bellingham. We went out to a local drinking establishment that reminded me of the bars in Bozeman. Where the beer is tasty and you just throw your peanut shells on the ground.
Keeping with the beer theme we then had dinner at a local brewery. Good eats and conversation with a little talented guy playing his guitar and singing. I kind of wish we would have stayed longer and listened to his set.
Then this morning after a little breakfast I packed up my car and started the drive back to Seattle. I needed a thinking break and turned the station on my radio to NPR. Today is Earth Day! I then began to look out and take in the scenery. It just happens to be a blue sky day.
As I make my way down Interstate-5, I come to Mount Vernon and the Tulip Festival. I'm not sure if this is the season, but I figure what the hell, it's Earth Day. I pull into the visitors center and find directions to the Tulip fields. I drive a ways but only see empty fields. I'm about to turn around when I see gorgeous yellow, red and orange hues in the distance. They are in blume on Earth Day.
I stop and snap a few pictures. The total mass of Tulips are on the verge of making me dizzy. It's rather breath taking and a great way to celebrate the beauty mother nature produces.
Happy Earth Day everybody. Take care of what we have. Enjoy the beauty of nature. And let's try to tread a little more lightly.
After a great time at the Ghostland Observatory concert, my friends and I went over to the Alibi Room for some more dancing. We cut the rug downstairs in the smaller bar and had a few cocktails.
I of course opened a tab with my credit card. At closing, we got the 'alright, everybody out' speech by a couple of bartenders. They turned on the lights and shut it down quickly.
So quickly in fact that I just up and left, forgetting my open tab at the bar. The next day my wallet felt a little bit thinner and I realized my mistake. I called the bar when it opened at four and they said come on down. Upon getting there, the woman in the bar apologized as my credit card was locked in the safe. I would need to come back again when the manager was there.
So I returned again the next day but there was no manager. I called again the following day to the same result. Finally, three days after leaving my card I would get it back. I called four times but no body answered the phone so I just drove down and luckily the manager was there.
Every trip down to the Alibi Room, I would notice the gum wall and theatre across the alley. So impressive is the number of stuck pieces of gum that it stops people in their tracks. How many people have donated? How many people have donated their gum multiple times? Was this intentional? When did they decide it was no longer just a mess and more like art? It's like guessing how many jelly beans are in a jar. So I finally took a picture of it's glorious wonder, I even donated my own piece upon retrieving my credit card.
I'm soft. But I think I'm okay with that. I enjoy watching movies that make me feel good. Pure escapism, where somebody achieves the impossible, finds love, is funny and makes me laugh, or mostly inspires me or provides some sort of hope.
There are a lot of film categories like drama, comedy, action and documentaries but where's the 'feel good' films section? What prompted this topic was watching the film August Rush. It was a little sappy and all over the place, but overall pretty enjoyable. It's not going to win any academy awards, its just a nice film. It got me thinking about all the 'nice' films that should be lumped together.
I made a quick list. It's interesting to find some actors seem to be in more feel good films than others. I wonder if they are sold to actors as such. Here's my quick list:
01. August Rush
02. Green Mile
03. Finding Forester
04. What Dreams May Come
05. Little Miss Sunshine
06. Good Will Hunting
07. Jerry Maguire
08. Garden State
09. Dan in Real Life
10. Wedding Crashers
11. Scent of a Woman
12. Big
13. Dead Poets Society
14. Meet Joe Black
15. Hitch
16. Pay It Forward
17. Rudy
18. Patch Adams
19. Under the Tuscan Sun
20. Strictly Ballroom
21. Rushmore
22. Somethings Gotta Give
23. Bucket List
24. As Good As It Gets
25. Purple Violets
26. It's A Wonderful Life
27. Shawshank Redemption
28. American Beauty
29. K-Pax
30. Pleasantville
31. Remember The Titans
32. Say Anything
33. The Pursuit of Happiness
34. Once
35. Million Dollar Baby
36. Shrek
37. Cars
38. Ratatuille
39. The Wedding Date
40. Swingers
41. Pretty in Pink
42. Erin Brockovich
43. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
44. Superbad
45. Martian Child
46. The Cider House Rules
47. Tootsie
48. Good Luck Chuck
49. Spanglish
50. Sleepless In Seattle
And the list could go on and on. But there's just a few off the top of my head in no particular order. What would your list consist of? Do you like feel good films?
So the day after Thanksgiving, I needed to get out and go for a walk. To try and burn off some of those turkey calories. So I took the bus downtown and checked out the new SAM sculpture park. Then walked up to the Seattle Center and finished up at the Queen Ann park that everybody takes their "epic" Seattle images.
It was a beautiful day and the light was amazing. Hope you enjoy my amateur photography.
A few of the red chairs looking out at the Olympic Mountains.
A row of trees I thought could be a interesting photo, just as you start out on the park path.
A reflection of a tree on the rusted wavy sculpture.
The metal tree sculpture.
The Federal Building. Hmm, don't think I should be taking photos of that. Might risk National Security.
Can't get any more classic Seattle than a shot of the Space Needle.
The media, with its scandals, oversized personalities and power, has become an institution that people both revere and despise, often at the same time. I can barely stand to watch the local news, as it starts out with the crime report stating how many deaths occurred during a particular day. I tend to find the only tolerable part of the local news is the weather and sports. The only news show that seems worthy to view is the NBC nightly news with Brian Williams.
No longer is the news media a source for factual or intellectual information. Too often it's filled with conjecture, assumptions, accusations, and half truths. What happened to intellectual stories that inspire or challenge us to seek what's fundamentally right?
I have formed the opinion that aspects of our political system are broken, and mass media is partly to blame. The root problem, I fear, cannot be fixed in both mass media or politics, which is the necessity for generating revenue. There will never be enough money to get by and report or represent an unbiased opinion that can operate independently of the financial bottom line. Somehow, someway, they need to run as a non-profit organization.
Today, the most electable candidate for President is measured by how much money they've raised and not the position they hold on electoral issues. Upon the completion of the last Democratic debate the newscasters were trying to decide who 'won' like it was a Monday night football game. If any panel members tried to talk about differences in stance or on something of circumstance, the moderator would bring it back to a high school social status gossip level. Where is the correspondent that will dissect the education plans of Clinton and Obama? Who's plan is better and why? Not who slung the most mud and who kept their composure.
The media makes it seem like a race between the three candidates of Clinton, Obama and Edwards and hardly mention the likes of Joe Biden, Dennis Kucinich, Christopher Dodd, or Bill Richardson. Why? Is it because the polls and media have them behind in the race? Why do the 'categorized' lessor nominees receive fewer questions during the debates?
Why are the Democratic Presidential Nominees being covered in the media more than the Republicans? Is it because the Republicans aren't holding as many debates? Or is it true, the media is run by a bunch of leftist liberals? I must not be watching enough FOX news.
It is a bitter marriage between politics and mass media. Each party hurts and help one another. The current administration uses the media to feed us misinformation while the media is too caught up in ratings promoting exciting drama and being first than taking the time to report accurate findings. It's become a wicked self serving cycle that somehow needs to be broken.
All of American broadcast media and most of the print media as well, are owned primarily by wealthy individuals. Direct ties to the biggest of big businesses are almost unbelievably extensive and these ties cannot help but seriously bias and compromise news coverage. Moreover, the media empires are, first and foremost, profit-making corporations that conduct themselves like other corporations when it comes to corrupting American politics. That is, the parent corporations of many make so-called "campaign contributions" and also act against the public interest in other ways. As big winners in the corruption game, they show no signs of serious interest in political reform.
Allegations of political bias in the media are common, although there is considerable controversy concerning the nature of this bias: neither liberals or conservatives are pleased. Conservatives allege that the media exhibit a liberal bias. On the other hand, liberals allege that the media exhibit a pro-corporate bias. The truth is that the apparent liberalism of some of the mass media is primarily cultural, and rarely economic. Like most other American institutions, the mass media advance the economic interests of the wealthy few at the cost of the interests, and values, of the majority; and the self-indulgent, empire-building interests of the wealthy few are not those of either liberals or cultural conservatives.
There is much change to be desired in American politics and mass media. How can it change? Hmm, we live in a democratic society right? Doesn't it come down to the will of the people? There within lies the problem. The will of the people to make more and more money has continually won over the will to change what is going wrong in American politics and mass media.
So I think it's safe to say this has been one of my more serious blogs in some time. Don't know exactly where it came from, but figure I gotta write something more interesting from time to time than being just self involved. Just to keep things light, check out the speech Stephen Colbert gave at the White House Correspondent's Dinner in 2006. It is so harsh of President Bush it hardly got any press except for the hundreds of thousands of people who saw it on Youtube. Youtube, who would have thought this internet site could truly be an unregulated source of free press.
To say it's a wet day in Seattle would almost be an understatement. It's raining cats and dogs, coming down in sheets, um, that's all the raining sayings I can remember...
I love it when it rains. It just sort of slows things down. Makes things just a little more mellow. Maybe it's why we have so many coffee shops? You want to go inside to have a cup of coffee or tea and watch the rain come down. Well, that's what I did anyway.
Walked to the bank in the downpour, stopped at Starbucks and had a latte. I hardly even drink coffee anymore. Now I'm going to lay on my couch and read a book while the caffine is still working, probably take a nap when it wears off. Ah, I love a lazy Saturday. Peace.
So since my blog has been out of commission for a while, I figure I should provide an update as to what's been going on the last few months. There's a fair amount to tell, so get comfortable if you plan on reading everything.
I have to tell you I'm a bit torn with my situation these days. Not totally satisfied with where I'm at and plan to make a change for the better. I mean, we're all in charge of our life, so it is what we make it.
I've been at K2 trying to make a living. By taking almost a year off to recharge the batteries, it was tough to get back to the grind. I'm a strong believer that whatever I do, I want to make a difference. I'm not going to go into the reasons why it hasn't worked out, it's just not what I expected when I signed on. I do like all the people at K2, good group who put their heart and soul into what they do.
Had some success with certain projects. Made some really cool product video's for each ski on the Line website with my long time friend Kris Ostness. Check it out here. We ran a little late getting them done, but in the end, think we did a better job than in previous seasons. Finally re-skinned the entire site, although it didn't turn out as planned. The original site and all the coding is super messed up. Also put together a pretty cool brand overview video for Full Tilt ski boots. Did a cool "Golden Wicket" contest where end consumers can win a heli trip and weekend up at Whistler/Blackcomb with our pro Eric Pollard. Also did a cool testimonial generating deal with Ski Press, although the execution hasn't been what I'd hoped.
Working from 8 to 6, then going home and working late into the evening hasn't brought the self-satisfaction of a job well done that it used to. Just has brought the marketing neck and buddha back. Too much resizing of imagery and web updates that don't seem to make a big enough difference to the brands overall. But I don't want to complain, even though that is what it sounds like. There are a lot worse jobs out there in the world.
I yearn to breath life back into the G Plan and work for myself. I think it can be a healthier way to live. I just have to take certain opportunities and make them a reality. I have to do something special. I want to help my friends in their business endeavors and see them be successful. I want everything to have meaning. Am I dreaming? Is that too much to ask? I just don't want to go to work for the sake of a paycheck. It's got to make a difference and have a positive effect. I like to grow brands together. It has to be fun and challenging, not repetitive. I just haven't found that next career path that gave me what working at HH did.
Okay, so that's the work rant/update. More to come on the work plan pretty soon, as I hope to shake things up, I'm just not ready to announce what I'm doing yet. But I will post that soon, just have to have a couple one-on-one conversations with a few people first.
So what's be going down personally. Well, my good friend MIke Gaeir and Kate Goodwin got married. I really should do a gallery post with all the images, but haven't had time. I love weddings. It's always a good excuse to get all my friends together and catch up. I wish them great happiness as they move to Portland to start a new life. Mike is moving on from REI to work for Columbia. I hope it's what he's looking for in apparel design. Kate left Hayter Communications, hopefully she finds good work in P-town. Get on that writing career! Write a novel or something.
Hmm, what else. Went to a wedding reception with a friend named Tara. Been trying to get some pictures from her but she hasn't delivered. It was for this girl Denise. Another happy story of finding love. It was at the top of Seattle's Smith Tower. An amazing setting and a super fun evening. Well, for the most part, except for my dates boyfriend (unknown to me) showing up. Still was fun even with the dude showing up. I'll leave it at that.
Another friend of mine Bryce created a community workspace in Greenwood. Super cool space and saw lots of friends. My buddy Mike Arzt was in town and I showed him around town a bit. Would love to work with him again. Would love to work with Bryce more too.
I'm exercising on a regular basis again. Haven't done pilates or yoga for a while, but hope to get back to it. I miss my pilates instructor Erin and Maya. Too bad it's so expensive or else I'd be going every week. I've been running, biking, and playing soccer, but as you get older it's tougher to get back into shape. I keep hurting myself which makes getting exercise everyday tough. I need to join a gym again, so when my legs hurt, I can do low impact machines, weights, and swim. Soccer has been fun but we are in the highest league and haven't won too many games.
So a few of my friends, including my Mom, have told me I should try online dating. Hey, I'm not getting any younger so why not right? It's weird. You create a profile with some pictures, an overview on yourself, and then it shows you who your matches are. You can see how many times your profile has been viewed and the profiles of women who viewed you more than once. Some are fairly interesting and I'm trying to get up the nerve to shoot them an email. But what do you say? So the computer says we are compatible so you wanna go out? I mean, what do you put in an email to a woman who a computer program says you are a match with? I haven't sent an email out yet, as I'm hoping somebody will email me first. I'm just a big ol' chicken. But it is nice to see my profile viewed so much and so many marking me as a "potential". It's also entertaining to see girls I know who have profiles online. Ha, nice to know I'm not the only one...
Well that's it for now. There's more, but nothing too exciting to report. I'll let you know if I go on a date via interweb action. I only signed up for a month, just a couple more weeks to get up the nerve to ask somebody out.
Since I love quotes, I'll leave you with the following:
"Nature will not forgive those who fail to fulfill the law of their being. The law of human beings is wisdom and goodness, not acquisition" - Robert M. Hutchins
For X-mas this year my Mom gave me a Glassybaby. Now what's that you say? Check out the image above, although this time the photo doesn't do it justice. Basically it's a blown glass candle holder that's made with a lot of love and patience. Something about it is just really soothing. I light mine just about every time I sit down to work at my computer.
For me the cool thing about it is the floating water like appearance. When the tea light wax inside begins to melt, the green glass looks like it has a shadow of water inside. It's pretty cool.
My Mom gave me a green one since she knows that's my favorite color and primary brand color. The following is a description of the Glassybaby and what it's all about. If you like what you read, you can find out more at www.glassybaby.com or call 206.568.7368.
GLASSYBABY //
The favorite description of Glassybaby was written by Lee's 12 year old son, Hector, and given to her in the early morning last Christmas.
"A Glassybaby is physically a small, colored, glass cup, candleholder, or vase. But the light of the candle coming through the Glassybaby generates more; it gives warmth to a cold day, a calm token of peace in the busy world.
Since 1998, three-time cancer survivor Lee Rhodes has been designing, publicizing, and selling these small, extremely tough and strong cups. In 2001, she began to learn to blow these glasses, and has produced many glasses since.
Glassybaby are made through a multi-layered glass blowing process and their color comes from different shaded color rods to produce a mix of opaque, translucent, and deeply colored glasses. This method creates a thick, strong piece of glass that has many functions and uses.
Glassybaby come in 53 different colors that you can mix to create a stunning, flickering picture for a quiet vigil or a bustling party. Shining out of a window, a Glassybaby creates an aura of love and good that fills the heart of anyone on the sidewalk or street.
There is almost no limit to the moods and feelings that a Glassybaby or a group of Glassybaby can produce in someone, be it the calm and tranquil mint green or the inspiring dark orange.
As glasses, the Glassybaby are beautiful and useful, they act as cups and goblets, and the transparent colors are ideal for this job. The Glassybaby are dishwasher safe and are practically indestructible when you drop them.
Glassybaby are useful in many ways. But their real use is lifting bad moods and loneliness. Their warm and colored light flickers like we do in everyday life.
The Glassybaby serve as a metaphor to symbolize hope, and are humble in spirit but not in beauty. Whatever your mood, a Glassybaby can keep your home inviting and full of Spirit." - by Hector Rhodes.
The kid who wrote that is 12 years old! I think he has a future in copy writing.
How many great ideas have you had that never came to fruition? I think it all started in college when a friend of mine, Max, and I started to write down different business ideas. It was a little competition on who could come up with the best new business idea. Then as I became social chair of our fraternity, I started to write down new party ideas. That became how can I create a comfortable atmosphere that will promote social interaction between the sorority girls and my fraternity brothers. It was just a notepad in which I did my thinking and problem solving on.
Hmm, let me go back even further. Maybe it began with my Mom and her daily writing down of the "To Do List". I then started to write down and organize each and every day on a small notepad. Through the years, my note taking, thought process, "To Do List", and writing has progressed. Now I keep everything in a notebook journal of sorts.
I came to this new journal method via a friend and mentor named Jane. Upon her leaving a job and handing the reigns to me, she gifted a Moleskine notebook. I didn't know the company or notebooks history at the time, but having used them for the past 4 years, it's been great. They are almost like my diary but encompass so much more. I write quotes in them, business plans, travel logs, notes on life, topics for my blog, things to do, and is also a form of mental therapy. Most of all, it's where I write down my ideas. I wish I had kept more of my past notebooks, especially the ones from college. I only begun keeping my journal notebooks these last couple years.
I highly recommend you go out, purchase and keep a notebook yourself. It might not be for everyone, but it really has helped me in my life. It wasn't until a month ago that I noticed a little pocket in the back cover. Inside the sleeve was the history of these notebooks and who else they've helped organize. Here's the description:
THE HISTORY OF THE LEGENDARY NOTEBOOK //
Moleskine is the legendary notebook, used by European artists and thinkers for the past two centuries, from Van Gogh to Picasso, from Ernest Hemingway to Bruce Chatwin. This trusty, pocket-sized travel companion held sketches, notes, stories and ideas before they were turned into famous images or pages of beloved books.
Originally produced by small French bookbinders who supplied the Parisian stationary shops frequented by the international avant-garde, by the end of the twentieth century the Moleskine notebook was no longer available. In 1986, the last manufacturer of Moleskine, a family operation in Tours, closed its shutters forever. "Le vrai Moleskine n'est plus" were the lapidary words of the owner of the stationery shop in Rue de l'Ancienne Comedie where Chatwin stocked up on the notebooks. The English writer had ordered a hundred of them before leaving for Australia: he bought up all the Moleskine that he could find, but they were not enough.
In 1998, a small Milanese publisher brought Moleskine back again. As the self-effacing keeper of an extraordinary tradition, Moleskine once again began to travel the globe. To capture reality on the move, pin down details, impress upon paper unique aspects of experience: Moleskine is a reservoir of ideas and feelings, a battery that stores discoveries and perceptions, and whose energy can be tapped over time.
The legendary black notebook is once again being passed from one pocket to the next; with its various different page styles it accompanies the creative professions and the imagination of our time. The adventure of Moleskine continues, and it's still-blank pages will tell the rest.
Come on, does that copy not inspire you to go out and get your own? If you are in Seattle, you can find them sold at Paperhaus on 1st Avenue. For more information, check out the website at: www.modoemodo.com.
Below are a couple shots off of the their website of famous notebook pages:
I was called out. "Dude, you're like that chick on Sex and the City. You know, that famous girl who writes the newspaper column but hangs out with all her women friends. Then writes about her life experiences." I think that's pretty funny. Got to be able to laugh at oneself right? Now I just need to start getting some lovin' and it could be true.
Yeah, so lately I've been getting kind of deep. I will also admit I watch that show occasionally. I find it interesting and a slight guide as to the minds of neurotic older women. Too bad there's a new version of it on TV, Men in Trees or something. It's about another journalist who moves to Alaska or something. More like "Sex in the Boonies".
I will agree with my male friend, my ROUTINE has been anything but the daily happenings of Gary Winberg. But hey, I'm going skiing tomorrow so we'll get back to some more manly stuff like sports.
Thanks for the call-out. What did you say, "sack up like a man!!!"
I think I'll go to the gym next and lift some weights.
Choices, outcomes, who we've become, and who we'll be is determined by the road we travel.
I've been struggling with this entry for some time as I look around and see so many idling at the fork in the road. What to do? Get off at the next exit, stay on the highway, take the scenic route, go off-road, stop and ask for directions, put life in cruise control, or put the pedal to the floor.
I was surfing a friends, Josh Mitchell's, flickr site to check out his road trip from Seattle to Chicago and came across the image above. The shot grabbed me. He and his wife Melissa packed up their things and moved to Chicago for new career opportunities. I'm impressed with their willingness to move across the US and start fresh.
My roommate is considering traveling the express lane in the sky. Her whole family has been in the airline industry and she was a flight attendant once before. She left the industry to attend college and work on her marketing degree. The cloudy Seattle skies, a repetitive day job, and the need for adventure finds her pondering less money, a more challenging study atmosphere, a new place to live, new travels, and an old career.
Another good friend of mine just left her job at an agency. She has three mortgages, rents two of them, and needs to find new purpose and passion in life. She's brave to leave her job without another one waiting in the wings.
Some other friends own a small business experiencing rapid growth. The pedal is down to the floor and their driving a bus with curves ahead. They need new investors to keep pace with the growth. Who should they choose? The people who own furniture stores, the sports management group, or sell out completely? One road is hard, unpaved, but at least they get to steer. The other is straight, freshly paved, and comes with a driver.
Another friend owns a PR company and could sell, trading in a truck for a Porsche. A beautiful person who keeps me healthy is struggling in her business and could sell. A childhood friend has found success in business and financial security but is bored with work and doesn't care for the projects. He wants to do something he's more passionate about, but what about the good money that keeps pouring in? An athlete calls, wondering which film company to shoot with and what brands to represent?
Marriage. I can't believe the amount of weddings I've been to the last few summers. This spring and summer will be no different. I have 5 'save-the-date' cards sitting on my desk, waiting to be inputted in iCal. This life commitment changes the road and how you travel. "The person who goes alone can start today, but the person who travels with another must wait until the other is ready". - Henry David Thoreau.
There's the vacations you'd like to take and the ones you can afford. Which ones do you go on? Do you take friends with you? Do you seek out the sun and the beach or the blizzard and the mountains?
Do you rent, buy a condo or house, go in on it with friends or with a girlfriend?
Past, present, and future. The road we have travelled, the fork in the road we idle in front of, and the roadmap of life's future ahead of us.
Past. All roads we've travelled so far has lead us to who we are today. Looking back, do you ever ponder what could have been? Who and where you'd be today if you had taken a different road? I wonder sometimes.
What if I never skied or never played soccer? What if I would have stuck with baseball or played more football? What if I had gone to a different college or joined a different fraternity? What if I had gone to work for Onyx Software Corporation instead of Helly Hansen for my first job? What if I had put more effort into a couple relationships, would I be married now?
It's all just wonderment. I have no regrets, as I have lived an amazing life and am surrounded by great friends and family. Wouldn't change a thing but I'll still wonder. Why? Because the road of life continues and I know where I'm going, I just need to look at the map and figure out how I want to get there. My past experiences aid me in picking the next path.
Present. Here I am, looking at the map. I'm at a major interchange with so many routes staring me in the face. Just as many of you are. Should I take the express lane or the scenic route? Should I drive a bus, an SUV, a bio-diesel, a mini-van, station wagon, or a sports car? It's nice to have choices and whether or not you know it, everybody has lots of them.
Future. It's bright because I plan to drive in that direction. Every day is a new day in which we can choose our own road. We are the driver and can take any on-ramp or off-ramp. The trick is to know where we're going, how to read the map, and not be afraid to ask directions from friends and family along the way.
Along your drive through life, I hope you see a couple rainbows, as they are truly beautiful. They appear when it's cloudy, raining, yet clear and sunny at the same time. As you travel towards them, they remain elusive. You can try to find the end of the rainbow and your pot of gold, but I think you'll be missing the point. The rainbow is the reward itself. Always changing, moving, and appearing only when all of natures forces and different weather elements are present. It makes you stop and enjoy the beauty amongst the turmoil. Try to do the same during your life.
When we keep our noses very close to our own daily grind for a very long period, we are in danger of becoming, every now and again, pessimistic. If this happens to you, change. Grab the map out of the glove box, the atlas off the bookshelf, and pick a new road or direction.
"I have wandered all my life, and I have also traveled; the difference between the two being this, that we wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment". - Hilaire Belloc
How much of life should one capture? Wether that be through photography, video/film, or in written form? How much should just be submitted to memory and thought about from time to time?
I have become a huge fan of photography and film the last couple years. There are so many styles and reasons to take a photo. Some capture a moment in time while others are timeless. There is photography as an art form and there is photography for the masses, which typically encompasses freezing a memory to be placed in an album for later review.
But sometimes taking photo's or whipping out the camcorder can take away from the moment. The trick is to know when to capture and when to release. I think this is one of the reasons why I can't stand reality TV. It's taking an art form or what should be a memory of an experience and commercializing it. Then prodding situations and setting things up for a contrived response that's just not natural. Hmm, it makes me squirm.
I didn't realize how much I learned from being on professional photo shoots. How to frame an image, how to capture a documentary feel, how to stage a high production shot with tons of lighting, and how to talk with people to make them feel at ease in front of the lens. Capturing people on film is amazing. Why do we never sound or look like what we think we do? I wish I had learned and absorbed more.
Then there is capturing nature. My favorite type of photography. It doesn't have to be nature per say, it just has to have interesting angles and texture and be void of action. These are timeless images or film that could have been shot in the 1800's or yesterday. They speak to the viewer regardless of time constraint.
I need a better camera. I need a better understanding of photography and film. I need to learn how to better manage my film and photo assets. I need to know when to capture and when to release. But I always need to bring the tools of capture with me. I always need to be open to learn more about the capture.
Can you feel it? Maybe it's just me, but I think good things are to come. I watch the news, talk with people, and see things that give me hope for society and the world.
So many things have been going wrong or there seemed like a negative trend in so many areas. But lately I sense a trend break. People and companies finally realizing that the government isn't going to do it for them. That each and every individual has to be a part of a greater good. People taking it upon themselves to make a difference.
Whether it was the war in Iraq, the corruptness of the US government, the media only reporting on death, destruction, and negativity or people being so busy and messed up that they only had time to care for themselves. I don't know what it is, but I feel like there has been a subtle shift. Maybe it's just me and my outlook, but I'm starting to see and hear about more good deeds.
Part of this topic comes from a conversation I had with some friends a while back. Am I an environmentalist? My answer was a 'yes'. But then I was challenged on what things I did to make a difference to better the environment? This lead us to defining what it meant to believe in a good cause and what it meant to be an activist.
Being an environmentalist is a tainted word that the media and far right made dirty. Now it's more appropriate to say your 'green'. I'm in marketing and I think there isn't a difference. It's just what's more socially acceptable and how it's spun in the media. These type of discussions are healthy, and made me realize that reading Al Gore's book was one thing, but living by it totally another.
I think it's great that Al Gore is nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. It just goes to show that people realize all the nay-sayers were bought by big business. If you don't think global warming is for real, then you've been programed. Sorry, but that's just my belief.
What will be interesting to see is how fast things change. Unfortunately it will happen the fastest for the wrong reasons, when it becomes profitable. You can already see it. But just as one knows the difference between right and wrong, people will know what companies are doing good because they believe in what their doing versus it being good for their bottom line.
I guess the other reason for this entry is my friends new company, GIV. It is based on the values and ideals that I have recently embraced. It's about a collective of friends and like minded individuals that share a love for art, nature, and those things good. It's about, "GIV more, GIV back". There are other companies out there doing it for the right reasons. If you haven't read "Let My People Go Surfing", by the founder of Patagonia, you should. It's more about how to run a business and do good for all people and the world you live in. It's a business model more than, "look at my successful business I built" type of book.
If you have time, check my friend Peter's company out at: www.givbrand.com. It was good to see you in Vegas Peter. I wish you success in business and life. Cheers buddy.
If you think you've heard that title before, it's because you probably have. That is the slogan for the new Seattle Art Museums' outdoor Olympic Sculpture Park. I have yet to go walk through but plan on marking it off my list soon. I would have done it already if it weren't for the big eraser sculpture I saw when driving by. Why feature an item artists use to delete there work? It just doesn't seem like art to me.
So I was walking to the Wells Fargo Bank from my house through the Wallingford neighborhood, when I saw a painted billboard advertising the new park. The billboard painting itself was a piece of art. I had my digital camera with me and decided to take a picture. It's the shot above. I was just taken back by the different textures. The metal along a stairwell, the trees, the brick, and the billboard. It to me was 'Where Earth Meets Art".
As I kept walking, I noticed other things that I felt fit in this category. Cool street art or graffiti on buildings that at one time also had advertising on them. Old typography and fonts were so clean and simple back in the day that they almost are better than a lot of what's currently out there. I think one of the hardest things in graphic design is to make an impact and still be clean. Just because we have all this new technology doesn't mean that we can communicate it better through graphic treatments. I feel like there is a movement back towards simple, straight forward fonts.
Our generation has been so bombarded with advertising, slogans, messages, and 'used car salesmen' tactics that a blunt, straight-forward message can almost be refreshing. Hmm, what is the difference between a graphic designer and a graphic artist? Are there designers out in the world that aren't artists as well? For example, somebody who designs a logo or a font, are they any less an artist? I don't think so.
If you'd like to follow me along my walk and the things I saw, go to my photo gallery and click on 'Wallingford Walk'. Go check out the new Olympic Sculpture Park as well. Then notice all the other places in Seattle 'Where Earth Meets Art". I think you'll find that it's all around you.
So somebody brought to my attention that you normally end a entry with a quote instead of start it (like I did in an earlier Routine entry). I beg to differ. I think you can either begin with one, put one in the middle, or conclude with a quote. As long as it has meaning it shouldn't matter which part of the copy it appears. Today, it's at the end.
"What you see and hear depends a good deal on where you're standing". - C.S. Lewis.
I'd like to start off with a couple sayings... One I wrote myself on the plane to Vegas and the other I saw in a book I was reading.
"Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the quicker we will be able to treat life as art". - Maya Angelou, Poet.
As I was reading my book, it was spurring on notions and ideas that I had to write down in my journal. So then I came up with my own little saying. I feel like it's been said before or I read it somewhere else, but at the time it's just something I wrote down.
"Traveling is like reading a book, you have to go on an adventure to turn the page". -Gary Winberg, Some dude.
I used to travel all the time for my last job. Actually, I was probably traveling more than staying in one place. It opened my eyes to so many different things but mostly to different types of people. Social interaction and personal stories fascinate me. I heard once that you can measure how well one lived by the number of stories they can tell. I truly believe in that.
So the last 7 months I've been grounded and staying in Seattle for the most part. It's been nice but I was excited to see a bunch of friends I hadn't seen since I left my old job. The trip started off by bumping into my friend Murray Wais, co-founder of the film company Matchstick Productions. I was sitting in a restaurant on a layover at the SFO airport, trying to watch the NFL playoffs when he just happened to walk under the TV. We sat down and caught up on life. That's a picture of Murray in the opening of the blog.
Then when we landed in the Las Vegas airport and there were tons of other people I knew. Both in the hustle and bustle of finding luggage and then in the cattle herding taxi line. Some peoples faces I remembered but struggled to recall their names. Every time we'd do a switch back in the line I'd see somebody else I hadn't seen in a while. It was nice, kind of like a high school reunion.
Same thing happened while at the trade show. I had no idea I had made so many connections and friends through my past travels. Every time I left the booth to go to the restroom or grab a bite to eat, I would see somebody and have to chat. I mean, it literally took me an hour to get from the booth to the restroom one time.
I know I don't want to travel as much as I did before, but I realized I missed the experience. I missed meeting and talking to the diverse group of people. There is no place on earth where you can be exposed to so many different kinds of people. The airport is the best place for 'people watching' and a flight where you may sit next to a stranger, the best place to hear a life story.
On my flight home, I was exhausted and just wanted to sleep. I could tell the person next to me wanted to converse. I had contemplated just putting my headphones on and going to sleep, but then decided I might as well see what he had to say. He then told me about his life long struggle with addiction, losing his wife and family, going into rehab and getting clean, and now his dream of moving to the Olympic National Forest to photograph the old growth in an effort to help the environment. As other people had helped him and clean his environment, he figured the only way he could give back is to help the people who'll inherit the earth.
It wasn't much effort on my part. I just had to listen to him, wish him good luck, and supply a little hope to fuel his dream. So next time your on a flight, don't bother the person you're sitting next to, but be willing to listen to a story.
I leave you with one more saying, "Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I can remember and remember more than I've seen." - Benjamin Disraeli, British Satesman
Oh, I guess that wasn't the last thing. Just wanted to say sorry I haven't been posting much lately. Just been trying to help some friends. I appreciate the emails and a couple phone messages asking about the next entry and when I was going to get around to it. Thanks for your patience and I'll try to catch up. Thanks also to those concerned about my lack of sleep. I emptied my brain and am sleeping again. Cheers.
It's been two nights of no sleep and constant brain downloading. I have always had an active brain that's been hard to shut down in the evenings, but the last couple of nights have just been ridiculous.
Went to Las Vegas and had a great time. Figured a few more things out about myself and the life I want to lead. It's exciting to me. I now have a few more dots, have connected a few more lines, and can see my future 'life picture' clearer now (reference to Gary 4.0 routine entry).
During my 3 nights in Vegas, I didn't go to sleep earlier than 4 a.m. and got up no later than 8 a.m. every morning. I got home and felt exhausted and still do. But last night I watched my bedside clock count to a little past 5 a.m. before I fell asleep. I kept writing in my journal, trying to empty my thoughts on paper.
I awoke in the morning at quarter past eight and this brain of mine clicked back on full speed. I kept my cell phone off all day and just kept writing, trying to empty my brain so that it would be quiet.
Here I am the second evening back from Vegas and still more thoughts race through my cranium. I keep reaching for my journal on my night stand and just keep writing. Just glanced at my clock and it's fast approaching 4:30 a.m. I'm hoping this 'Routine' entry will be my last bit of copy before my eyelids close and my mind finds silence.
Stay tuned, I have some good entries coming up. Just been busy with other things.
I don't know if I'm just getting older and the body isn't working like it used to, but I keep straining or pulling my calf muscles. The last few months I've lost a fair amount of weight, gotten in pretty good shape, given up caffine, hardly drink the booze anymore, and am eating healthier than I have in years.
I will admit that the last few years just about everything on my body hurt, so just having calf problems is better than where I was. But I don't get it? I can run on the treadmill in the gym for an hour without any problems. I usually run on it 3-4 times a week, sometimes for an hour, other times just for 20 minutes as a warm up. Granted I do stretch before hand.
But then I also run around Green Lake a couple times a week and every time my calves get tight. It's one, the other, or it's both. Whenever I run outside on uneven terrain, I get flat tires. While I'm running I can feel them stiffen up and tighten. I stretch before I run just like I do at the gym.
Same thing has been happening when I play soccer on Thursday nights. So last night we had our first game in awhile (they keep getting canceled due to frozen, snow covered fields) and sure enough I had to leave the game in the middle of the second half. I'm dribbling with the ball into the corner, I cut hard and cross the ball. Right when I cut I felt almost a 'pop' or the tear of the muscle. Shortly afterward, it felt like I had a softball for a calf muscle. Done for the night. Went home, grabbed the ice, the Advil, and the remote control.
I've been making an effort for months to stretch my calves and increase my flexibility but it must not be working. AAaarggghhhh. Is this what happens when you get older? I sure hope not.
Oh they aren't cramps in my calves either. I am pulling the muscle over and over again. Both calves. It hurts right where the diagram is pointing. So it goes I guess. I've participated in sports my whole life with injuries and can hardly remember something not being out of whack. I'm just so close and actually making an effort that its discouraging. If anybody has advice I'm all ears.
I hate departing with my money unless I perceive that I received quality work in return. I will even pay more just to 'feel' like I'm getting a higher quality service or good. Certain things are worth paying more for, but these things are different for different people.
I will pay extra to keep my car looking good and in safe running order. I like my car clean, I fill it up with Super Unleaded because I think it's better (even though it probably doesn't matter), I get the oil changed right at the recommended milage, if anything goes wrong I fix it right away, and I always take it to the dealership where I bought it.
Most people will gasp at the last thing on my list. My friends tell me to find a mechanic that I trust and never take it to a dealer. I have had bad experiences in the past, but so far Chaplins Subaru/Volkswagon has treated me right. I bought my Subaru Legacy GT wagon with 23,000 miles on it and purchased the 3-year or 100,000 mile extended warranty. They have found things wrong with the car and fixed most of them under this extended warranty.
I just had my 90,000 mile service done on the car and wasn't too pleased. Upon leaving, you receive the receipt listing what was done along with the mechanic's report. Problem is they didn't match up correctly.
The receipt listed new oil and filter, replaced brake fluid, replaced spark plugs, replaced transmission and differential fluids, and replaced coolant. All of which I paid, and was listed in parts and labor on the receipt. But then I go to the mechanics sheet and there are two columns, one says 'replaced' and the other 'Ok'. Under spark plugs, coolant, and oil filter it was marked 'Ok' and not 'replaced'. So which is it?
I also told them that if they found anything else wrong to call me and I'd get it fixed the same day. They told me when I picked the car up that I needed new front brakes and left outer CV boot. Another $500 bucks... I told them that the wipers could be replaced and my drivers side doorlock was sticking. It came back with the wipers marked as in good condition and that the locks all worked fine. Did they check what I had asked them to? They didn't even wash the car like normal. What happened?
I have lost my confidence in them due to poor follow-through and inconsistent paperwork.
I then went to get my haircut. I don't have much hair so my only option is getting a buzz cut. I usually cut my own hair, but every now and again I like somebody else to do it. It cleans up the hair on my neck. But since my hair is getting more fine on top, it's hard to get them all even. I tell the person cutting my hair every time to be careful to get every hair. Some take the extra time, but today, the guy just went too fast and left a lot of stragglers. I had to go home and finish the job. I even tipped him an extra dollar.
I get my hair cut at Rudy's, which normally does a decent enough job. I can read magazines while I wait and I like the atmosphere. I usually tip because you never know who you are going to get the next time. I don't know if I'll be going back...
I then took a new pair of skis in to have bindings mounted. This is a rather easy task that involves drilling holes in the skis, then adjusting the bindings to the boot length and skier ability. When I went skiing my skis pinged off three times on the first run. I started looking at them and realized pressure on the toe piece was totally loose. I could lift my toe up and down a lot. I popped out a couple more times on my way down to the base to grab a screw driver. I felt like I wanted my $30 bucks back.
With everything I do, I try to provide high quality work. If I know the work I do is my best, then I have the confidence to justify my position and ask for relative payment or praise. But always let your work speak for itself and stay humble. Give credit to where credit is due. There is a balance between confidence and cockiness. Every once an a while, quality work and humility can be taken for granted, so it's good to send a reminder from time to time. I may have just contradicted myself, but you get what I mean.
It also only takes one mistake out of a hundred for a customers perception to change. Mistakes stand out more than perfection.
There is this need or a feeling to be the best. I could never work for a company that wants to sell on a cheap and quantity platform. If you're not in it to win it, don't bother. The image below is a Bentley ad run in Europe. Simple and to the point. I'd say it's on the cocky side but I included it because it's entertaining. It's open to interpretation. What do you think they are trying to say (besides the obvious)?
Should I go into the dangerous waters of talking politics on my blog? My question is why talking about politics is so 'dangerous' today? I'm not going to talk about which party or what candidates are better in my opinion, but why as individuals we don't discuss it more often.
I recall growing up and having my parents and their friends talk about politics all the time. If there was a family get together or party of some sort, politics always came up at some point in the evening. Issues were discussed, argued, debated, and it was good healthy conversation.
Why is it that today, people are more afraid to talk openly about their thoughts and positions on political issues? Is it because the media does a poor job educating the public about what's really going on? That they focus more on political scandal and drama to obtain high viewer ratings than the more boring facts of serious issues facing our great country?
Could it be that people are so busy looking out for their own and their families well being that they don't have time to be concerned with what our government is doing? I mean, does it seem like the government of the United States is currently acting in the best interests of it's citizens or the best interests of a political party or campaign of the few? How much GOOD is our country doing for it's citizens and the world as a whole versus HARM?
There is no question the people who live in the United States are better off than the majority. But could it not be better? Where is the leadership and people standing up to say, "enough is enough"?
We live in a time where if one does speak their opinion, which is supposed to be protected by our government and freedom of speech, they receive death threats. How did it come to this? I could provide many examples like what happened to the Dixie Chicks or even the Rabbi who wanted more than just X-mas trees up at Sea Tac who in turn got death threats, but that would take too long.
I am not going to put blame on any individual or organization but say it is up to every citizen to start making things better and nurturing the idea of 'HOPE'. As a society we have become complacent. We need to discuss politics and the workings of our government. When we do not voice our opinions, our government and fellow citizens will not know what is and what isn't the will of the people.
So the next time you are at a social gathering, bring up a political issue and don't be defensive if somebody expresses a view different from your own. Learn from them, get to know what they think and why? When issues are talked about, others will want to sound knowledgeable and will seek out information.
I will state a couple issues that need to be addressed. I will not say what needs to be done with these issues, just that they need to be discussed:
1) Education
2) The Environment
3) The War in Iraq
4) The Economy
5) The Growing Divide Between Social and Economic Classes
6) What It Means to Be a Good Citizen
That should get us started. Lastly, I will state that I was one of those people who was just concerned with my own well-being and getting by. I didn't have time to get involved with politics and government. I did vote, but is that enough? Now I'm seeing that I can't help but get involved. You have to agree that the United States of America is in rough shape. It may have to even get worse before the people rise up and take responsibility since our government isn't. If you think America is doing really well, did you know that Wal Mart is the #1 employer?
Ok, I will put it out there... If you didn't notice from the first image, I'm not a fan of President Bush. His leadership is taking us in a scary direction. I miss the days of balanced budgets, budget surpluses, intelligence, education initiatives, and blow jobs being our nations biggest problem.
This post starts a new category that I am calling 'random'. I have a lot going on in my head and sometimes I need to get it out. When I started laying out the contents of my website I wasn't sure about having a blog. Why? What was my purpose of it?
I wanted my site to have two main purposes or sections: personal and work. The personal side is like having a myspace page. I mean, with the way software, technology and computers are going, everybody will have their own website in the near future. Myspace was just an easy template for people to use. A brilliant idea!
The other portion was to document the work that I have done and help me find new employment. The whole thing was also part of a learning process I wanted to experience. The site has turned out much better than I anticipated.
So the blog has turned into an interesting outlet. One of the reasons why I decided to include it was to help me with my copy writing. It's not one of my strengths, but practice will make me better. Another reason is for having a diary of sorts. The tricky thing here is that this is a diary for the whole world to read. How much do I say or what can I say?
If the content becomes too social or just parties will it negatively affect my ability to find new work? Can I use cuss words? What about my friends? Many times pictures or words could be written about friends that could negatively affect my relationships. They most likely will be the main activity and content for the site.
I imagine the key is to know my audience, keep it light, keep it fairly clean, and don't drink and blog. I can be kind of emotional for a guy and might write something I shouldn't after having a few too many cocktails.
I will say that I enjoy doing the blog more than I thought I would. People can keep up to date with what's going on in my life, I will have it documented and backed up for my future viewing, and I think it's a form of mental health or mental exercise.
I do enjoy logging onto other sites and reading blogs. It's a source of news that's more entertaining than what's on TV. I hope you enjoy my ramblings...
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