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Peg 'O The Day : MotoX Big Air

Australian Truman Carroll performs the 'no-hands' during the Big Air competition, MotoX category, during the 2009 X Games Asia in Shanghai.

Just in case we've all forgotten what bravery looks like: What Is Bravery?

Does Your Hummer Feel Small?

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The KNIGHT XV is priced at $310,000. 

At 1,500 hours to build by hand, only 100 will be made as a limited first run.

Gallons per mile unknown.

 

Apocalypse survivability guaranteed.

Quote 'O The Day : Goethe

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What's In A Cigarette?

Would less people smoke if Congress mandated that cigarette packs carried ingredients?

Just a thought for our toothless lawmakers.

Eight Habits of Highly Effective People

Yeah, yeah, it came out when Reagan was president, but its insights about time management and accentuating a person's strengths rather than managing their weaknesses are more timely than ever.

Habit 1: Be proactive

Change starts from within. Most people react to external forces. To lead effectively, you have to overcome that natural tendency.

Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind

You cannot lead unless you know where you want to get to.

Habit 3: Put first things first

You need to have a very clear view of what is important, so that you know what to spend time on. Note that this often means leaving your comfort zone by acting on tasks that you don't naturally like or feel competent in performing.

Habit 4: Think win/win

Seek agreement and relationships that are mutually beneficial. In cases in which a win/win deal cannot be achieved, accept that agreeing on "no deal" may be the best alternative. In developing an organizational culture, be sure to reward win/win behavior among employees, and avoid inadvertently rewarding win/lose behavior.

Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood

First seek to understand the other person, and only then try to be understood. Stephen Covey presents this habit as the most important principle of inter-personal relations. Effective listening is not simply echoing what the other person has said through the lens of your own experience. Rather, it is putting yourself in the mindset of the other person, listening empathetically for both feeling and meaning.

Habit 6: Synergize

Through trustful communication, find ways to leverage individual differences to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Through mutual trust and understanding, people can often solve conflicts and find better solutions than would have been obtained through either person's own solution.

Habit 7: Sharpen the saw

Take time out from production to build production capacity through personal renewal of the physical, mental, social/emotional, and spiritual dimensions. Maintain a balance among these dimensions.

Habit 8: Refer to 1 thru 7 with frequency.

Brand 'O The Week : Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's wins the emotional branding award for their own-label tissues promising:

I'M THERE WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF TOILET PAPER

I'M THERE WHEN YOU'RE SAD

I'M THERE WHEN YOU NEED TO PICK UP ICKY THINGS.

Can there be a more emotional product than this?

Copywriting with a heart.

Movie 'O The Week : Art & Copy

So where do advertising people get their inspiration exactly?

The new documentary Art & Copy interviews all the usual creative director brand names for insights on the craft of advertising, and how they come up with their ideas.

"Creativity can solve anything" says the poster. You be the judge.

Watch The Trailer

My views on creative inspiration:

Where Ideas Come From : Part 1

Where Ideas Come From : Part 2 

Where Ideas Come From : Part 3

Things That Make NYC More Bearable

 

Moscow's Padlock Trees

On 'Trees of Love' planted on the Luzhkov bridge in downtown Moscow, newlyweds can signal their undying love by placing a padlock on one of the iron trees.

Yep, I see an opportunity for MasterLock.

Top Ten Movie : Man On Wire

 

There's only one documentary that makes it into my Top 10 Movies along with The Graduate, Apocalypse Now, The Fugitive, Some Like It Hot, Chinatown, The Shining, 2001, Laurence Of Arabia, and The Odd Couple.

Man on Wire (the NYPD offense description on his summons) is the Oscar winning film about high-wire artist (he's no artiste) Philippe Petit and his co-conspiritors who, under cover of darkness, erect a tightrope between the World Trade Center towers.

He then proceeds to walk across the 1,340 foot drop without a safety harness.

(Photograher Jean-Louis Blondeau took some breath-taking shots of the 'Stunt of the Century' in Precarious Moments.)

More philosopher that circus-act, Petit sees every day as a work of art, and every performance an act of rebellion.

By turns poignant, uplifting, and hilarious, this piece of film allows you to believe you can reach any goal you set your mind to, however high.

Watch it now!

Collection Of Necessary Objects

Versus an Archive Of Formerly Useful Objects

Homeless Signs As Art

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More from 'The Collectors' at this years' Venice Bienalle.

I'm guessing the artist haggled for the homeless person's sign, then framed them.

It's an idea, but is it art?

GM Fantasy Ad

Can't say I ever recall seeing Mid-town ladies-who-lunch stepping out of GMC Safari's at Bergdorf's, but this ad show just how long GM have been living in their world of delusion.

Former Head of Design, Bob Lutz, 77, has postponed his retirement and stepped in to oversee the dino-brand's communications.

"I do believe we have to be much bolder and much more self-aware, and in some cases, more controversial or willing to tell it like it is rather than putting out a more sanitized version."

No s**t Bob.

Marie Antoinette's Blog

If she were alive today the Royal Diaries of Marie Antoinette, Princess of Versailles, would be a must-read blog.

 

A Principle Is Only A Principle When It Costs You Money

If you wish to compliment Andrew on his honesty, email me at hello@householdname.com and I'll forward it on.

Happy Sunday!

Best Business Card Ever

Clean.

Minimalist.

Lateral.

Wish I'd done it.

And I may.

(My only quibble: 'See other side for instructions' is redundant.)

Build Your Own iPhone App

Looking to grab a piece of the App gold rush?

The iPhone Developer Program "provides a complete and integrated process for developing and distributing applications for iPhone and iPod touch."

Your path to greatness starts with the Standard Program at 99 bucks...and an idea.

Newsmap For News Junkies

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Fab new Japanese-developed site called Newsmap aggregates world headlines and displays them in a checkerboard map.

New York Times, are you watching?

Clip 'O The Day : The Big Slip

 

Can a guy slide down a 400 foot Slip-n-Slide ramp and land in a kiddie pool 150 feet away and live?

You tell me...

The Big Slip

Slideshow Of Netflix Core Beliefs

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When Netflix first appeared I thought they were one of the most powerful examples of how the internet could fundamentally and permanently change our lives; no more rushing to the video store to avoid late fees, or discovering Blockbuster don't carry "Saturday Night Fever." (Incredibly, they still don't.)

So it's with interest I read through this 127-page online slideshow of their core beliefs.

Above, 'Nine Behaviors And Skills' they look for in potential––and current––employees.

[Thanks to Michelle Roufa for the post suggestion.]