Just came across this manifesto on the Holstee site (www.holstee.com) a product design company with an ethos in the vein of old 2DO favourite Howies. A nice expression of how to stay curious and make the most of things.
Click here to check out the details...
ONE thing. Done ONCE Each Day. For ONE Hundred Days.
That's the great, simple idea behind Josie Long’s one hundred day mission "to make everyone a little friendlier, stronger, fitter, wiser or just plain jollier. Since 1st December 2009, indefatigable, affirmative action-hero Josie has been leading a group of comedians, writers and musicians on a brand new scheme of creative betterment.
Alongside inventive pledges from over 900 members of the public (everything from ‘a comic a day,’ ‘micro art history essays,’ ‘mythological creatures in haiku’, ‘kissing in front of a different London landmark,’ ‘leaving a hundred post it notes in public,’ ‘jogging art,’) Josie is talking to a stranger each day, and writing at least one new joke."
Click here for more details - and to submit your own ideas.
(The project is part of the London Word Festival - details on that here.)
2DO writer Joe 'Metal Cowboy' Kurmaskie has both a new book and a new video out now. Watch a snippet below to get a taste of Joe's travels, adventures and great efforts at raising money for kids in need. You can also enjoy some of Joe's past exploits right here on the site.
He covers all the basics, really...
People In Order: 1. Age from James Price on Vimeo.
Joe's been called 'David Sedaris trapped in Lance Armstrong's body' and 'Mark Twain on two wheels'. He's a natural storyteller, and a proven crowd-pleaser with many a great tale to share. He'll be on the road throughout 2010, so do pay him a visit should Joe stop in your town. And say hello from us!
Here's a link to an excerpt from his latest book, which is also featured in the current Bicycling magazine. And if you can't wait until February for its mass market release, you can pick up a copy from Amazon or even better, get yourself a special signed edition signed of Mud, Sweat and Gears directly from Joe's site. Congratulations Joe - nice work!
Loved my recent visit to NYC - I had forgotten what a great city it is. Just came across this - some good short profiles of intriguing NYC locals...
Via Boing Boing: "A city guide website called Revel in New York makes great mini docs about interesting New Yorkers." Here is Josh Hadar, 'Bike Builder' - with a few more listed below.
Others from the same series:
The Pigeon Lady, an East Village pigeon fancier who's been stealing pigeons from prized coops for nearly a decade.
High Times senior editor David Bienenstock, who explains the different effects of different kinds of pot.
Molly Crabapple, artist and founder of Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School.
Tea blender Nini Ordoubadi, an Iranian born New Yorker who comes from a long tradition of tea blenders.
I would take the stairs a lot more often, if this was the rule not the exception...
Composer Jarbas Agnelli was inspired by a photo in a newspaper of birds sitting on electric wires and decided to set it to music, using the birds as notes. Results below...
"Spike Jonze is known for making videos and movies his way — fast, cheap and dirty — but adapting Maurice Sendak's classic book turned out to be slow, expensive and very complicated."
'Learn Something Everyday' is a new site dedicated to illustrating various trivia using Sharpie drawings.
Directed by William Hoffman for Anyone Everything, here's a nicely observed, well edited series of moments - some exceptional, some everyday...
David Byrne has just brought his latest installation 'Playing the building' to London's Roundhouse. Connecting a small organ to various parts of the building's structure via a series of pumps and automated devices, Byrne manages to turn the whole building into a musical instrument. The results may not be as catchy as some of his Talking Heads hits, but it's nice to see someone making music with girders for a change.
Below is a Wired video with Byrne explaining the original NYC installation, and click here to check out the full article on Creative Review.
Playing the Building is on show at the Roundhouse until 31st August.
It can be a challenge coming up with new ideas. Sometimes to arrive at a fresh approach, one has to come at the situation from a whole new angle...
Churchill dictated from his bed in the morning and took a siesta at 5pm; Designer Stefan Sagmeister kicks off his working day at the crack of dawn with a pot of coffee and a cigar; Barack Obama is happy to be working from home...
From cup stacking, to getting dressed, to running and more - a video compilation of (some of) the world's fastest everything...
Just another normal day in the life of Thomas & Sebastian (bet it took a lot of practice). Pretty impressive...
In the past, he's scrutinized topics such as life-goal obsessives, the virtues of being ordinary and those suspiciously convenient case-studies featured in almost all self-help manuals. This week he looks at the twisted priorities of modern life, how being eager to please can keep you from your lifelong goals and the perils of sharing your ambitions with those around you. Click here to read the full article... Image courtesy of plan59.com
Oliver Burkeman's weekend Guardian feature "This Column Will Change Your Life" often hits a note that regular readers of this blog might appreciate. His is a sharp-witted, anti-fluffy approach to the tricky topic of self-improvement, with a healthy store of scepticism for the quick-fixes and miracle cures of the self-help industry.
