Ahmadism

An Inspirational Google Experiment

2010-07-19T07:11:00.001-05:00

I think what Alec Brownstein did is brilliant. I'm not at that point of my career yet; but when I am, I'm sure his technique will come to mind.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FRwCs99DWg

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How to Inspire with Photos

2010-06-28T07:11:00.001-05:00

Photography can without a doubt be inspirational. But what can you do to inspire people, drive them to action and, for most, to sell more?

For that and much more I urge you to explore this excellent article on the topic. ▣

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Branding & Social Media: An Inspirational Slide Show

2010-06-14T08:01:00.000-05:00

I love this slide show from TBWA on branding and social media.

Today’s media world is thrilling, captivating and full of challenges for brands - a revolution in brands and people’s behavior in fact. But as in all revolutions, it’s sometimes difficult to get a clear view of what’s going on. And so, dear readers, TBWA’s strategy department was looking for patterns and similarities from different discussions and has attempted to sum up the revolution in 135 slides. Our goal is to explore the different ways of tackling today’s communication challenges - and to show how successful brands are switching from brand-centric to audience-centric behaviour. Inspired by many different people and brands, it intends to spark a conversation about the need for Media Arts, and how it is ingrained with the theory of Disruption.

The Audience Is Always Right

What do you think? ▣
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Inspirational Work by KDS Group

2010-04-26T22:08:00.001-05:00

I'm always looking to do good by donating and/or helping apply my expertise and knowledge in key areas to those who need it. What this group does, as shown in this video, is something I simply can only aspire to do.

The KDS Group is a relatively young company whose video (below) I've come across by coincidence. View it and let me know what you think.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcZVthTwyQw

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Going Green with Humor

2010-04-19T21:27:00.003-05:00

It's no surprise that Designers of the present are looking into incorporating people's behavior for us to be greener in the future. But did you know that humor is a factor?

The following two videos by Rolighetsteorin take a simple problem and answer it with humor. An intentional take meant to change people's behavior for the better. Could it really be this easy?

The World's Deepest Trash Can/Bin

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbEKAwCoCKw

Bottle Bank Arcade

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSiHjMU-MUo

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A Teenager's Inspirational Story

2010-04-12T23:24:00.003-05:00

We all come across so many things on this World Wide Web. Some waste it on nonsense. While others use only for work or school. Seldom are those that take the Internet for all its benefits and none of its negatives & malice. Amongst such benefits are inspirational stories, pictures and videos.

Today, I bring you a tear-jerking story I read online at the NYTimes.com site about how a terminally ill teenager inspires a pro-baseballer. Read the story, and think about what each individual has/had in their life. I truly believe that some individuals were born to lead ... with just a smile. ▣

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Inspirational Video

2010-04-05T22:06:00.001-05:00

I know I've neglected this blog lately, but I plan on keeping it up (God Willing). That, at times, means that I'm looking at material late at night when my family obligations have subsided. This usually means most of everyone is asleep. As it was the case, I came across this video and watched parts of it without the volume. The cinematography on it alone was inspirational.

While the narration is key to the story, the music was well selected for this, dare I call it as such, short film. It's definitely worth checking out.

g. from J. Xavier Velasco on Vimeo.

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35 Inspirational Photo Manipulation Tutorials

2010-03-15T20:48:00.000-05:00

I'm constantly in search of inspirational material, and I often want to post inspirational images, but am constantly discouraged with wanting to list only one image ... the inspirational image of the week, if you will.

This week, I came across "35 Inspirational Photo Manipulation Tutorials." Definitely worth the visit. Just be sure you come back here. ;) ▣

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Think Your Life Sucks?

2010-03-01T21:41:00.002-06:00

I struggled to find something inspirational. Something that could help people like you and me think of what we have, be grateful and thank God for all his bounties and blessings. Something that would at least help move our souls and our hearts to give, to share, to do better and to think of others. Others who less fortunate. Not just the poor and needy. But the children, the homeless and the orphans.

I received the following picture without knowing its source. A quick search showed that Reddit had the picture posted with some very good comments from its members. I encourage you to do more than just look at the picture. "Listen" with your eyes.

Think of the possibilities of that being someone you know. And think of what you can do now to help. Then, I invite you to share your thoughts with us in the comments. Finally, visit Reddit and see what others have said.

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The Bloom Box: Green Energy for the Future

2010-02-22T19:44:00.002-06:00

As many of you have noticed, I've taken some unexpected time off. I'm back now and hope that it doesn't happen again. I missed blogging.

Today's inspirational Monday post is about green energy. Yes, it's a buzz phrase that's makes its rounds every now and then; but this is in line with well deserved mention of The Winds of Change.

One of those blocks he's holding can power 4 to 6 Indian homes, one home in the UK or two blocks to power an American home. At least that's the claim being made by K.R. Sridhar, founder of Bloom Energy, on 60 Minutes last night. On 60 Minutes, "K.R." confesses that this was an oxygen-generating project built for a scrapped NASA Mars program. He reversed the process, and now instead of producing oxygen the new contraption, the Bloom Box, takes in Oxygen, mixes it with chemicals, resulting in a fuel-cell, which outputs electricity.

I would love to sit here and sound like I know what I'm talking about when I don't. Instead, I urge you to see the video.

In a day and age where one would think that all things have been invented & discovered, we are still surprised with things like liquid glass, wireless electricity and the Bloom Box. ▣

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The BookBook

2010-02-08T23:21:00.000-06:00

The BookBook ($80) is a hardback leather case designed exclusively for the MacBook and MacBook Pro that disguises your 'Book as, well, a book. It's genius and sort of ironic too. Available in Classic Black or Vibrant Red.

I want one, but I'm not a Mac person! It's truly an inspirational and innovative approach to laptop bags/cases/sleeves. I hope that they make it available for the rest of us. ▣

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Knock Knock

2010-02-01T21:55:00.004-06:00

A very inspirational poem. 'nough said.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTZrPVqR0D8

What are your thoughts on this? Please share them in the comments. ▣

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12 Year Old Alex deCunha

2010-01-25T13:34:00.000-06:00

I believe kids can do a lot more than I could when I was a kid. And I encourage my own to venture into such things; despite the fact that I'm very protective of them. This kid, however, has truly excelled at skateboarding at such a young age. I hope he continues along this path and mimics the same attitude and approach with other things in life.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m3cs46Odh4

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Will Smith: An Inspiration

2010-01-18T20:33:00.001-06:00

The following is a collection of clips of inspiration by Will Smith. Yes, the Actor! He's not only one of my favorite actors, he's also a source of inspiration and can-do attitude. I truly enjoyed watching this, and I hope you do too.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLN2k0b3g70

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The Don't Quit Poem

2010-01-11T19:49:00.002-06:00

Here's an inspirational video, which I thought was worth mentioning on this inspirational Monday.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkCFeNeqyHk

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The Circus

2010-01-04T08:09:00.003-06:00

Today, I wanted to share a story with you. This inspirational story is not my own, but it's amongst the many I've come across. Many of the others are commonly heard, and I felt that this one is often not. I hope you find this to be an inspiration & a good start to your Monday, your week perhaps even a story to set the tone for the year.

Once when I was a teenager, my father and I were standing in line to buy tickets for the circus. Finally, there was only one family between us and the ticket counter.

This family made a big impression on me. There were eight children, all probably under the age of 12. You could tell they didn't have a lot of money. Their clothes were not expensive, but they were clean.

The children were well-behaved, all of them standing in line, two-by- two behind their parents, holding hands. They were excitedly jabbering about the clowns, elephants and other acts they would see that night. One could sense they had never been to the circus before. It promised to be a highlight of their young lives.

The father and mother were at the head of the pack standing proud as could be. The mother was holding her husband's hand, looking up at him as if to say, "You're my knight in shining armor." He was smiling and basking in pride, looking at her as if to reply, "You got that right."

The ticket lady asked the father how many tickets he wanted. He proudly responded, "Please let me buy eight children's tickets and two adult tickets so I can take my family to the circus."

The ticket lady quoted the price. The man's wife let go of his hand, her head dropped, the man's lip began to quiver. The father leaned a little closer and asked, "How much did you say?"

The ticket lady again quoted the price. The man didn't have enough money.

How was he supposed to turn and tell his eight kids that he didn't have enough money to take them to the circus?

Seeing what was going on, my dad put his hand into his pocket, pulled out a $20 bill and dropped it on the ground. (We were not wealthy in any sense of the word!) My father reached down, picked up the bill, tapped the man on the shoulder and said, "Excuse me, sir, this fell out of your pocket."

The man knew what was going on. He wasn't begging for a handout but certainly appreciated the help in a desperate, heartbreaking, embarrassing situation. He looked straight into my dad's eyes, took my dad's hand in both of his, squeezed tightly onto the $20 bill, and with his lip quivering and a tear streaming down his cheek, he replied, "Thank you, thank you, sir. This really means a lot to me and my family."

My father and I went back to our car and drove home. We didn't go to the circus that night, but we didn't go without.

Author-Unknown ▣

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Inspirational Video - The Law of Attraction

2009-12-28T23:26:00.002-06:00

This video is slow, and may even seem long; but I think its message is nice and in line with "Inspirational Mondays".

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEqdr_Awdak

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Inspirational Monday Quotes

2009-12-21T14:35:00.004-06:00

I won't bore you with what I have to say, and instead allow these quotes to speak for themselves:

“Fall seven times; stand up eight.” – Japanese proverb

“You must give up the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you.” – Joseph Campbell

“The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.” – Gandhi

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” – Theodore Roosevelt

“I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” – Jimmy Dean

“All is flux, nothing stays still.” – Heraclitus

“For everything you have missed, you have gained something else, and for everything you gain, you lose something else.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I am tomorrow, or some future day, what I establish today. I am today what I established yesterday or some previous day.” – James Joyce

“I don’t need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod; my shadow does that much better.” – Plutarch

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” – Epicurus

“Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else” – Judy Garland

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” – Anne Frank

“The mind can make a heaven out of hell or a hell out of heaven” – John Milton

“Try not to become a man of success but a man of value.” – Albert Einstein

“The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet.” – James Oppenheim ▣

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Blake Mycoski: Creating Sustainable Charity

2009-12-14T23:00:00.007-06:00

By now, the mission of TOMS Shoes is well known: When you buy a pair of their shoes, you help provide a child in need with new shoes. It's called the "One for One" movement and it has helped the company emerge as a leader in conscious consumerism.

When it's a holiday season for you and yours, TOMS is asking you to "choose Shoes" for the occasion. Forget holidays; whether it's a gift for yourself, a friend, or someone in your family, giving TOMS Shoes this holiday also means that a child will receive a present that will help them grow up healthy and happy.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysE2VlyvdnI

TOMS "One for One" is not a gimmick intended to boost holiday sales. Instead, it is the basis of the company's business model. Blake Mycoski didn’t just want to start a charity to put shoes on the feet of children who needed them — he wanted to do something more sustainable, something that didn’t rely on asking for donations.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt3BQQ6dQaQ

Innovative thinking, running a for-profit business and giving globally can all coexist ... and inspire others in more ways that one.

Got an inspirational story to share, please let us know in the comments. ▣

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An Innovative Pizza Box

2009-12-07T21:16:00.004-06:00

Cardboard pizza boxes don't fit easily in trash and recycle bins, and many recyclers don't accept them because of the food residue or awkward size. They aren't necessarily easy to break down, and they can leak grease unto your floors or on your clothes.

Earlier this year, a New York City-based green design firm --Environmentally Conscious Organization, inc. (eco for short) -- has a so-simple-it's-genius solution: the Green Box! The concept looks like a standard cardboard pizza box that comes pre-perforated.

When your pizza arrives, you can easily tear the top of the box into four makeshift disposable plates. The bottom of the box is also perforated on the edges and down the middle, so you can easily fold that part into a small container that fits a few slices --giving you a convenient place to store leftovers in your fridge, without having to juggle around everything else. In fact, the leftover box is a pinch less than half the size of a full pizza box.

And perhaps the best part of this patented invention is that fact that the Green Box is made from 100% recycled cardboard. There is also the option for a vegetable-based coating.

Here's a video of the product:

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQBjJjpkjl0

"Our goal is to increase the functionality of packaging and to eliminate or reduce follow-on waste [additional materials like tin foil, plastic bags or plastic wrap]," eco inc.'s Jennifer Wright recently explained about the Green Box, her company's first product. Since consumers have a built-in storage device for any leftovers, they won't need to fool with extra materials. And since the box can become handy serving plates, that will cut down on water and energy needed for dish washing.

Whether or not the pizza box, aka the "green box," is actually green seems to be a point of debate as of late. You can learn more about that here (be sure to read the comments). In my opinion (IMO for the new O.M.G. generation), for a box that hasn't seen any change in decades, this innovative approach is very inspirational.

See Wright present the pizza box here at what appears to be a trade show of sorts, and listen for the crowd when the demonstrator (Ned?) shows the storage & bottom part of the box:

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMDmp-cR4I0

Wright (one of three partners at eco inc.) explains that since the Green Box is made out of standard pizza box material, there is no need for retooling factories or changing the way pizza shops do business. In fact, she says that the boxes can be purchased for the same price as -- or possibly less than --conventional boxes, since according to Wright the recycled pulp costs less than the virgin pulp.

The Green Box can also be used as marketing for pizza shops, who can tout the greener footprint, as well as innovative packaging and (at least for a while) novelty.

"Three billion pizza boxes are used in the U.S. every year," said Wright. "If you stacked them on top of each other, in two years you'd reach the moon…We feel like we're doing our part for the environment, one pizza box at a time." ▣

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Bayan Sensation Aleksandr Hrustevich

2009-11-30T11:08:00.004-06:00

Some time early last month, October 2009, Aleksandr Hrustevich's video on YouTube (see below) became an overnight hit. Aleksandr Hrustevich, also found as "Khrustevich" perhaps due to pronunciation/transliteration from Александр Хрустевич, put the Bayan (a Russian chromatic button accordion) by performing the third movement of "Summer" from Vivaldi’s "Four Seasons."

Featured on NPR's blog and submitted to Digg twice (here & here), viewers raved about his performance, and rightfully so. See for yourself:

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0Bn4m6dQbI

You can hear, and watch, more of Aleksandr Hrustevich at his YouTube Channel. Look for more of his inspirational performances for Tchaikovsky, Bach's "C Minor Passacaglia," etc.

I'm not sure if Aleksandr Hrustevich is related to this guy, who is also very much worth watching on the Bayan himself; and I'm not sure if Aleksandr Hrustevich is the same as this profile page (be sure to scroll down a bit) ... also available here in Russian. What I do know, however, is like many others, I found Aleksandr Hrustevich's performances very inspirational and moving.

Although different from a Bayan, this accordion performance also deserves a mention as it is equally inspirational & amazing. Be sure to check it out.

I'm always looking for inspirational material. If you come across any, please don't hesitate to share them with us in the comments. ▣

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Inspirational Monday Quotes

2009-11-23T12:48:00.008-06:00

It's been a while since I added any inspirational quotes, and given that it's Thanksgiving week, it's only appropriate.

I hope you enjoy the following 2 quotes as much as I have:

Photo from Flickr

There are many who are living far below their possibilities because they are continually handing over their individualities to others.
Do you want to be a power in the world? Then be yourself. Be true to the highest within your soul and then allow yourself to be governed by no customs or conventionalities or arbitrary man-made rules that are not founded on principle.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Quote & Photo from Zeenat's Blog

It is by going down into the abyss
that we recover the treasures of life. Where you stumble,there lies your treasure.

~Joseph Campbell~

Got inspirational quotes to share? Your comments are always welcome. ▣

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Autistic Basketball Player

2009-11-16T14:22:00.004-06:00

This kid never complained about being left off the roster showing us all that attitude is everything.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngzyhnkT_jY

Autistic basketball player Jason McElwain spent most of his high school days cheering his team on as a special ed. coach assistant / team manager. That is, until the final 4 minutes of his senior year final game. ▣

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Kinetic Sculpture: 714 Suspended Balls

2009-11-09T17:02:00.003-06:00

This video is a magnificent display of human ingenuity. 714 suspended balls are manipulated based on a specific angle, illustrating awesome depth, shapes in such a smooth and controlled manner. Simply great.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVhVClFMg6Y

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Parahawking: Paragliding with Hawks

2009-11-02T19:12:00.005-06:00

Parahawking is paragliding while specially-trained birds of prey swarm all around you; including vultures, eagles, falcons but predominantly with hawks. It’s available in Nepal courtesy of a bird rescue group called Himalayan Raptor Rescue. The video is amazing. I cannot imagine the feeling. It must be truly inspirational and exhilarating.

Birds of prey have a natural instinct to conserve energy wherever and whenever possible. During a flight, a bird will burn more energy than it would if it was just sitting in a tree, this means it has to eat to replace the used energy. Sometimes birds will travel long distances to find food. To conserve energy whilst flying, birds of prey use thermals. Thermals are rising currents of warm air that are created by the sun heating the ground. Birds can gain height and travel long distances without flapping their wings by using thermals. Paragliders also use thermals when they are flying and will often use wild birds to guide them to where the thermals are. Our trained birds are no different, they will find the thermals in order to stay aloft and conserve energy whilst flying. We as paragliders harness their ability to conserve energy by following them as we fly.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06jhjML8ZE4

Our birds need to be rewarded for guiding us into the thermals. During the flight the passenger will place small morsels of meat onto his gloved hand, the birds will come and gently land on the hand to take the food, and then gracefully fly away to find the next thermal. A perfect symbiotic relationship

[via urlesque] ▣

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