Knife skills

The Japanese have the high end knife market cornered. Here's a cool photo spread of the process.

Also, as my friends have probably noticed, I've nearly abandoned up late thursdays recently. My only excuse is that I have re-prioritized (thanks Kipps for the terminology) a few things in my life (work, school, travel) and don't have the time. I'll definitely keep bringing random postings and thoughts here, but for my current lifestyle, I've found a new internet journal thingie that just seems to get me better. I'll be making many more updates over at my Tumblr. I've also started this sustainablity site with some quality peeps over at Sustainy. See you there!

Wicked animation

I've been super absent from up late thursday lately. A spell of traveling, the start of a couple new enterprises, including a new blog project and the start of school, have pulled me in many directions. I'm finally back home and getting things back under control.



Here's one of four amazing animation videos that won a contest sponsored by Radiohead and aniboom (a you tube for animation projects). This is so creepy, but still really fun and hopeful. I must say, I have no idea how dude created this crazy stuff. Head to aniboom to check out the other winners.

From Cool Hunting

Service and Transparency in a new Administration

I thought a lot about the Obama campaign (and wrote a little). This morning there has been a big to do about the shift of the white house web site. I couldn't care less about the graphical layout but I read a new post that was pretty interesting. Reading through, I'm sure it was no coincidence that they talk a bit boastfully about their new administration's approach to communication with the public. Early in the post I read,

Just like your new government, WhiteHouse.gov and the rest of the Administration's online programs will put citizens first. Our initial new media efforts will center around three priorities:

The three new priorities are:

1. Communication
2. Transparency
3. Participation

I must say, I am feeling pretty empowered by what they are saying. But also concerned. There is a fervor right now around Obama, government, change and service. While my current levels of enthusiasm have pushed me to add the whitehouse.gov site to my bookmarks (can we take a moment to think about how profound that action is in itself?), I'm also thinking long term.

Communication and participation are two-way streets and busy ones when operating effectively. I have faith in Obama and the administration right now, but on the flip side, I'm weighing my faith in myself and everyone else in that conversation. Simply put - are we, the people, ready to step up and engage with our leaders to guide and develop change the same way we would engage and guide the paths of our careers, our educations or our families? It's another managerial consideration, another responsibility on our collective plate. Are we going to make time? Are you?

The opportunities are there. An email from the campaign told us to submit ideas for a presidential briefing book prior to the inauguration.

We wanted to tell you about a new feature on Change.gov which lets you bring your ideas directly to the President.

It's called the Citizen's Briefing Book, and it's an online forum where you can share your ideas, and rate or offer comments on the ideas of others. The best-rated ones will rise to the top, and after the Inauguration, we'll print them out and gather them into a binder like the ones the President receives every day from experts and advisors. If you participate, your idea could be included in the Citizen's Briefing Book to be delivered to President Obama.

Now that Obama has taken office, we are given the chance to engage directly with the Office of Public Liaison.

We've all had an epic day. Now what are WE going to do with it?

In the company of a legend

From traveling the country in high school to my current spot in the Los Angeles Premiere League (linked in the column to the right), in my dubious soccer career I've been fortunate to have the chance to play with some talented people. Last night was on a different level though as I was matched up against Frank Leboeuf. If you don't plan on clicking through to wikipedia, he was the starting central defender on the 1998 world cup champion French national team and played 200 games for Chelsea, definitely the most decorated player I've ever played against.

We lost a very close game. Can't wait to play them again.

About the color of the moon

"It was like we was both back in older times and I was on horseback goin through the mountains of a night. Goin through this pass in the mountains. It was cold and snowin, hard ridin. Hard country. He rode past me and kept on goin. Never said nothin goin by. He just rode on past and he had his blanket wrapped around him and his head down and when he rode past I seen he was carryin fire in a horn the way people used to do and I could see the horn from the light inside of it. About the color of the moon. And in the dream I knew that he was goin on ahead and that he was fixin to make a fire somewhere out there in allthat dark and all that cold, and I knew that whenever I got there he would be there. Out there up ahead."

Weekend highlights

Friday night was spent at Hollywood Park race track. It was an awesome evening of $1 beer, $1 dogs and this guy. He was my lucky charm, every time I placed my bets with him, I won - to the tune of $75. Not a bad evening at all.

Then ran into this lookout on my hike. He was a little menacing up there. I was convinced that he was totally ready to make that leap if someone looked at him the wrong way.

And now the strangest of them all. This couple hired chefs and set up a table on the trail in Griffith Park. Mind you this was not a particularly scenic part of the park and there were smelly horses and people walking by every second. I think there was a little misfire on the execution, but I gotta give the guy credit for inspiration.

Word of the day

The "Goldilocks Zone" is the term astronomers use for a narrow band of space in the universe where the conditions exist for an Earth-like planet and therefore, Life. In other words, where conditions are "just right." More on how and why scientists are starting to postulate that may no longer be the case over at i09.

A 5-year plan

Some days I think we all feel a little like Dignan from Bottle Rocket (I know I do). The guy couldn't catch a break, with Mr. Henry, Kumar or even Anthony. But he was admirable for a couple things, including the healthy stockpile of devotion and faith he drew on to as he stumbled towards his dreams. Check out his 75-year plan for a good read. As I feel myself refocusing my future plans, it seems to resonate.

My Wes Anderson film ranking
1. Rushmore
2. Bottle Rocket
3. The Life Aquatic
4. The Royal Tenenbaums
5. The Darjeeling Limited (haven't seen this one, so it's last)