forget the box

I really appreciated this ad when I first saw it, but Zablotny...

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:39:31 -0500

I really appreciated this ad when I first saw it, but Zablotny peers into my subconscious to tell me why.

‘photos every day’

this is a spot by tbwa/chiat/day for apple, called ‘photos every day’. the craft is fantastic, and there’s some subtle, unusual attention to detail in it.

let’s take a look at the sound mix. here’s a waveform of the spot:

and now here’s the waveform of a conventionally mixed spot — this is that ‘old spice’ commercial everyone flipped out for a couple years ago. it might as well be any ad you see on tv today.

huge difference. there’s incredible restraint in the amount of compression applied to the music in ‘photos every day’. (from wikipedia, compression “reduces the volume of loud sounds or amplifies quiet sounds by narrowing or “compressing” an audio signal’s dynamic range”.) my point here is that if you caught this on tv, it would be substantially ‘quieter’ sounding than other ads around it.

the other interesting thing about the mix is that the iPhone shutter click sound is substantially undermixed. it comes across as incidental, and unobtrusive. the ambiences are the real star here, and the sound editor wasn’t even afraid to drop them out entirely for effect (see snowy skyscraper, 0:23).

other observations:

• there’s a real nice match-cut at 0:06 of the guy jumping off his skateboard into the shot of the jogger running.
• 0:25, the iPhone bobs up and down at a concert, and halfway through, the shot itself starts bobbing with the phone, keeping the screen stationary in the frame.
• overall, there’s a very careful variety of perspective, scale, and involvement. are we peering over someone’s shoulder? watching from across the street? ostensibly taking the picture, ourselves?
• i could have done without the voiceover at the end.

Catholic Cardinals on Twitter

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:55:00 -0600

Catholic Cardinals on Twitter:

Seeing all of the conclave articles and stories lately, I realized no one was linking to a comprehensive list of Catholic Cardinals active on Twitter. So, I made my own. Let me know if I’ve forgotten anyone!

Tweets from @Osborne/catholic-cardinals

Thanks speedy God

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 08:44:20 -0600

‎”Why do we say speedy?”

Katie Beth tugged on my shirt and quietly asked me this during Mass last night. It was right after the First Reading.

Now, this is a girl who always has something funny to say, whether she means to or not. But I was stumped this time. “Speedy…? When do we say speedy?”
I looked over at Sarah, who heard the question, and she had a huge grin on her face. She could tell I was baffled, so she proceeded to whisper-tell me, “You know… As in ‘Thanks speedy God!’”

I had to think about it for a split second. And then it dawned on me: after the readings during Mass, we say “Thanks be to God.” And my kid has heard it as “Thanks speedy God!” for years.

And then we all did that “my-body-is-shaking-because-I’m-stifling-a-laugh” laugh for the next 20 minutes.

What an amazing way to kick off Lent. I thank speedy God for my family every day.

On joy

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 08:16:00 -0600

Don’t postpone joy.

Of course you should plan for the future and make needed sacrifices now, but don’t do this perpetually at the expense of joy.

On will power in the new year

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 09:15:54 -0600

Do you remember how big of a deal the turn of the year was 13 years ago? Remember all the “dawn of the new millennium” talk? Apart from the Y2K hoopla, I guess the simple novelty of seeing that many digits change on the calendar that New Year’s Eve was cool.

Apparently, even folks who were literally on their deathbeds wanted to stick around to see it, too:

In the first week of the year 2000, hospitals in New York City recorded 51% more deaths than in the last week of 1999, according to the New York Times.

That’s a staggering increase.

How is this possible? If you’re going to die, it just happens when it’s your time to go! … right? Well, there’s more to it than that. Many researchers claim that people can delay the inevitable when facing a major event (like living to see a new century).

This belief is theory more than fact, but I’ll say this: simply by experiencing life for 30 years, I agree with them.

Will power is a massive force.
What else causes us to challenge our comfort zones?
What else spurs us to question our own laziness, inaction, and the status quo?
Will power is that thing that spits in the face of apathy. It builds nations, feeds the hungry, creates jobs, spreads peace, and makes beautiful art.

Once you get this, you won’t be surprised it can also extend earthly mortality for a few more days. That part is simple if you’ve already lived a life of battling the resistance.

Here’s to 2013.

May we all have the intestinal fortitude to listen to the quiet and mighty voice of will power more often.

Another note on Down Syndrome and Abortion...

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 10:32:23 -0500

Another note on Down Syndrome and Abortion... :

motherofthevalkyrie:

I would also like to add that while 90% of babies diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome in utero via blood testing are aborted, prenatal testing is only so accurate. False positives and false negatives occur. Somewhere down the line, someone killed a baby that they would have normally given birth to and, most likely would have loved regardless, would have been born without a genetic disorder. Fear drives us more than anything. I just wish fear didn’t make us so quick to end a life ( or give one up for adoption) simply based upon mental processing speed.

Great point. Sad truth.

Whether you're marketing a widget or yourself, don't include the good with the great.

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 16:52:58 -0500

Whether you're marketing a widget or yourself, don't include the good with the great.:

Of course great is better than good - but the “good” still isn’t that bad, right? Wrong.

When people start selling themselves to someone else - like in a job interview - most will include the minor successes alongside the big achievements. Don’t be that guy. The good drags down the great!

If your very expensive luxury hotel rooms offer ocean views, silk sheets, and a Jacuzzi, don’t mention the ironing board in the closet or the coffeepot.

On Down Syndrome and Abortion

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 13:38:00 -0500

In case you missed it, after Monday’s showdown between Romney and President Obama, Ann Coulter was dumb enough to tweet and call Obama a “retard.” I’ll spare you a soapbox rant on Coulter. You can read more here.

In response, John Franklin Stephens, a man with Down Syndrome, wrote Coulter an eloquently worded “open letter” explaining how her use of the word was hurtful and unintelligent. The entire piece was as well-crafted as this portion:

After I saw your tweet, I realized you just wanted to belittle the President by linking him to people like me. …

Well, Ms. Coulter, you, and society, need to learn that being compared to people like me should be considered a badge of honor.

No one overcomes more than we do and still loves life so much.

Go read the rest of it. Now. (Seriously.) And come back. Here’s that link again.

…

OK, welcome back.

Good read, isn’t it? I’m no writer… but I know enough amazing people to know that dude is not only a great writer, but an excellent communicator.

I’m thankful for Stephens’ response.
And for his intelligence.
And for his… existence.

Keep this in mind next time you hear about someone with Down Syndrome: Around 90% of babies with Down Syndrome are aborted when diagnosed in utero. (Source and note below.)

90%. That’s literally 9 out of 10 lives that don’t make it.

All life is precious indeed - even those who are “slow,” and even still those who need ‘round the clock care. But I can’t help but wonder how many of those who are aborted, could be as brave, talented, and “life-loving” as John Franklin Stephens. They’ll never have the chance.

________________________

Source
Note: I’m aware this stat is over 12 years old, but there is no updated evidence that I’ve found that contradicts this number.
Related: While overall abortion rates since 1999 are actually down, Planned Parenthood has substantially increased their abortion activity in the same timeframe.

10 Questions a Pro-Choice Candidate Is Never Asked by the Media

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 09:37:38 -0500

10 Questions a Pro-Choice Candidate Is Never Asked by the Media:

We should have heard some of these in the presidential debates, especially this one asked to Obama:

7. Alveda King, niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. has said that “abortion is the white supremacist’s best friend,” pointing to the fact that Black and Latinos represent 25% of our population but account for 59% of all abortions. How do you respond to the charge that the majority of abortion clinics are found in inner-city areas with large numbers of minorities?

Don't read this if you're offended by the phrase "nipples rule"

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 22:03:54 -0500

Y’all - I just read the coolest article about a Baltimore-area tattoo artist who only inks one thing: nipples.

Nipples, you ask? Yep.

Vinnie Myers creates them for ladies who no longer have any after major surgery for breast cancer. He has become the go-to guy for this kind of thing after two things happened: First, he learned surgeons were awful at it. Next, he perfected his own 3D technique - and it was way more advanced than anyone else’s.

Myers is so good, he has since been getting attention from breast cancer support groups and agencies nationwide, and clients come to see him from all over the world.

You should read the entire article. (If you’re looking for “nipples rule,” it’s on Page 2.)

———-

So, moving away from nipples a little bit…

I don’t know why this piece moved me like it did.

I lost an aunt to breast cancer in 2000, so that’s part of it. While I wasn’t on the inside of her story, I know enough to now be aware that these women have been through so, so much. I view what this guy is doing - restoring dignity - as incredibly noble work.

Yet I think there’s more to it. Since quitting my job last month, I’ve been looking for the big “what’s next?”. And this story is part of a larger process that gets my brain going. It’s not that I want to become a tattoo artist - but I’m often being healthily challenged by learning about people who have strange jobs in very niche areas.

There’s something special to me about little stories like Myers’s. I mentally catalog them for later, and then take some time to think, “How did this person get where they are? What fulfills them about this? What can I learn here?”

Maybe I’ll learn enough to figure out, not “what’s next?”, but “what’s now?”

imogene+willie at TEDx

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:55:32 -0500

If you’re here in Nashville, you’re probably already aware of imogene + willie, the clothing store down on 12 South. If you’re elsewhere, you’ll likely hear of it soon: they’ve got a big deal with Anthropologie, and their qualiy, American-made goods are getting a lot of national attention.

But besides their quality, they have an amazing story. Making jeans is in the owners’ DNA, and they’ve done a great job of sharing their heritage in their marketing. (There’s also a local connection for me - Matt and Carrie are from Henderson, Kentucky, about 30 minutes from my hometown.)

Interested in supporting small businesses? Or do you just appreciate great, sincere marketing? I want you to watch this TEDx talk where they tell their entrepreneurial story (ups and downs), and stress the importance of bringing manufacturing back to the good ol’ U.S. of A.

I first encountered the naming of my inner turmoil...

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 06:46:44 -0500

I first encountered the naming of my inner turmoil “Resistance” in Stephen Pressfield’s “The War of Art.” And the book has rocked my world. Since then, I’ve been whoopin’ on Resistance with increasing frequency. You should get it and let me know what you think.

Resistance never quite disappears - it morphs as you do. But you can defeat it.

Underdog Victorious

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 06:40:39 -0500

Is one of these things not like the other?

The Tortoise (as in, the Tortoise & the Hare)
David (as in, David & Goliath)
Apple, Inc.

Believe it or not, they’ve all been the underdog at one point - even Apple. From Kottke:

… what looked like an underdog proved to be a powerhouse in the making.

Interesting. Not too long ago, Apple looked like a second-class company to those who were paying attention. If you can recall (or believe it), Microsoft was the behemoth.

While they had great products and massive market share coming, they were still the underdog at one point. That’s obvious to anyone who has read the Steve Jobs bio.

How times have changed. Apple is already the largest company in the world, and is on track to become the first trillion dollar company. Trillion.

It’s just fine to be the underdog. Embrace being underestimated: it will make your success all the more delightful.

"If not now, when?"

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 06:21:58 -0500

“If not now, when?”

Do It Yourself - Part 2 ("DIY... like Louis C.K.")

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 06:19:32 -0500

This is Do It Yourself - Part 2. You should read Part 1 here.

You know who else does the work himself? Louis C.K. This guy first popped onto my radar when I saw the video at the bottom of this post. I was so impressed, I passed it along to a few folks, and my friend Chris LoCurto shared it with his great tribe (read the comments!).

Although sometimes a little crude, C.K. is simply a very observant and funny person. His successful show on FX, Louie, works because it’s poignant, relevant, and connects with people. Why? I’d argue it’s because he’s directly involved in meticulous details.

From a recent article on C.K., this blew my mind:

C.K. doesn’t just star in Louie, he also writes every episode, directs, produces, and oversees the music. Until recently, he even edited the show on his personal laptop.

Wait. He edited his own show? A comedian did the video editing for his own cable TV show?! If you’re unaware, video editing takes skill and patience. It’s technical and tedious. This is an amazing feat if you ask me.

After reading this, I’m asking myself, “If he can make time for this, and get it so right, what else can I do on my own that will benefit my work, my growth, and my family?”

Obviously there’s a place for delegation. If I start a billion dollar company, and I’m still responsible for all of the accounting, cleaning, and supply ordering 10 years in, we’ve got a problem. For example, note that C.K. no longer does all of the editing. But ultimately, his success is obvious, and its link to his deep involvement in his projects is undeniable.

My two biggest takeaways from writing these posts and learning about Louis C.K.’s involvement in his work:

A reminder of the classic axiom: no one will treat your work the way you do. But if you’ve DIY’d it for a while and you get to the point where you must delegate, you’ve had the opportunity to define success. You can set the bar for what excellence is.
This completely lines up with what has become the theme of this season in my life: life is a journey, not a destination. If you’re not enjoying the process, you won’t fully appreciate the end result. By fully owning tasks in your life, little ones and big ones, you’ll learn what you truly love in life. Through the process, you’ll discover what makes you tick.

Do It Yourself - Part 1

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 09:26:00 -0500

A recent conversation with a friend brought up the beauty in doing things yourself instead of passing tasks to someone else. Since then, I’ve approached my task list with this in mind: What can I gain if I do the work myself?

Let’s be real: if I want a complex website coded, I’m probably farming that out. But overall I’d rather start small, and learn and grow along the way. Why not try a blog where I learn how to improve the layout and design on my own? Who knows - maybe I’ll develop a new passion in the process.

Or take yard work. Cutting the grass is an escape for me. I get to experience the awesomeness of walking my own property, and listen to some great podcasts while I’m at it. I’m not judging anyone who has a yard guy - I know as many people with a yard guy as I do who cut their own grass - but there is undeniable beauty in doing the work myself.

Whether it’s time or money, there will be a tradeoff here. Sometimes it’s not worth it (i.e. I’m awful at ironing my own clothes. I’ve tried and failed!). But if you genuinely ask yourself what you can learn by doing something yourself, you may be surprised by the answer.

This is Do It Yourself - Part 1. Part 2 can be found here.

Life Coaching from The Beatles

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 08:55:11 -0500

It’s not every day that The Beatles offer up new life lessons.

Here’s what I heard in a recent CNN interview with George Harrison’s widow, Olivia:

CNN:
What do you think George would be doing if he hadn’t played music?

Harrison:
I have no idea. He always said he had no idea what he would have done if he wasn’t a musician. He didn’t have a clue. He’d have been a total failure, he said. He had no idea how to do anything else.

George was not meant to be anything else. He had to be a musician. He focused on his natural talents and you should too.

Don’t ignore what you love, and don’t write it off as a quirk. If you have to paint, if you have to take care of people, if you have to make music, that’s who you are. You don’t have any choice. (George really felt he had no choice but to play rock and roll.) I’m not saying it has to become your career, but I’m mentally tallying “I should have done this…” stories I’ve heard and the number is depressingly high.

Aside from loving God and leading my family to do the same, I don’t know exactly what He has called me to do - but I’m working on it. I’m open to the call and I’m open to new experiences. But I’ll admit there’s a tinge of jealousy for people who undoubtedly know where they’re going.

So, do me a favor: if you’re called to paint, or become a nurse, or make music, go do it.

Sure, be smart about it (i.e. create a plan, don’t quit your day job or make sure you have some cash reserves ready), but you owe it to yourself and to the world to find a way to nurture that passion. Do you really have any other choice?

Gangnam time! If you’re not one of the 215+ million people...

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 20:19:00 -0500

Gangnam time!

If you’re not one of the 215+ million people who have already seen the video, check it out.

Even more interesting than the popularity of the song is this discussion over at Reddit about the tune’s deeper meaning in Korea. Turns out, it’s being used to question the country’s recent rise on the global stage.

User mijuk explains:

… such social commentary is uncommon in Korea to begin with. Gangnam is considered the shining example of Korean success; mocking it can give off the appearance of mocking the whole country’s rapid advancement from a merely agricultural nation to one of the world’s big industrial powerhouses.

American popsters, take note. Substance, style, and fun are not all mutually exclusive.

"Real love stories never have endings."

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 11:16:38 -0500

“Real love stories never have endings.”

- Richard Bach (via fathershane)

The Plot Thickens

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:57:02 -0500

Today has been the most amazingly challenging day. And I thank God for it.

Maybe I’ll elaborate more later, maybe I won’t. But I wanted to note that today feels like an inciting incident. The whole day.

And to make my story even more interesting, I just had what I’ll call a movie moment. In a brief conversation I had with a co-worker, the lines she uttered and my responses were the kind of thing you’d only see in an adventure movie.

Something like this…