My moral philosophy is founded on the idea that there is an objective reality, and that man’s senses can perceive this objective reality. This faculty, which is man’s reason, is paramount above all else. He takes for evidence only his own experience, his own judgment, and that is why I do not hesitate to say, objectively, definitively, that “Caddyshack” is the year’s best movie.”
An amazing cartoon illustrating a Bill Watterson quote (he created Calvin & Hobbs). Worth reading the story below the cartoon. Excellent.
The only way to learn how to write and draw is by writing and drawing […] to persist in the face of continual rejection requires a deep love of the work itself, and learning that lesson kept me from ever taking Calvin and Hobbes for granted when the strip took off years later.”
Maybe that’s what real spirituality is like; you can’t tell who’s inside who anymore.”
This is the entirety of Joni Mitchell’s live show when she toured with Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorius, Michael Brecker, three phenomenally proficient musicians. (for a killer funky tune check out around 15:20).
Joni Mitchell’s talent is one any turd on the street could appreciate. Silky, smooth, gentle, lithe voice. Flitting, dodging and weaving lyrics driving some insightful point home. (21:20 for some examples).
Add to that Metheny’s guitar (there’s a killer solo around 3:50… a few of those quicky lines are so tasty it hurts) and Jaco’s bass (solo at 25:25 and amazing high-waisted headband grimaces throughout).
This is a stage so g’damn full of talent.
It’s easy to get people to know your name. It’s hard to be proficient.
Maybe what I mean more is: in a world of pageviews and post schedules and retweets where you’re literally rewarded for setting the bar as low as possible and speaking at the lowest common denominator to the widest possible audience, remember this stage, set your standard one notch higher, settle one bit deeper into the learner’s posture and the long term view and the awareness of true craft earnestly honed.
Or, as Wale puts it:
So fuck fame, fuck money
Fuck everything anyone can take from me
It ain’t hard to make money
We young n*ggas, we just tryna be legendary”
The rule says that in order for an individual to master any complex skill, be it brain surgery or playing the cello, she must put in 10,000 hours of focused practice. […] But what exactly are we learning when we’re beating our brains out all those years? […] What these masters were learning was to speak in their own voice. They were learning to act as themselves. In my opinion, this is the hardest thing in the world.”
Of all the things I’ve ever done in my life, [performing spoken word] was the one thing that felt the most natural… The music was more fun, like a thrill ride, but that felt like, ‘there I am.’”
Daniel Lanois on creativity, inspiration, making Joshua Tree, etc…. One of the best interviews i’ve heard. Interviewer, interviewee… they found the right moment in their careers to talk to each other. As a musician and designer and buisinesser-y guy, there’s so much to draw from here. Let me know if you make it to the water part.
Storydoing companies consciously convey their story through direct action…use their core story as an organizing principle for activities throughout the company.”
Attributes of a StoryDoing Company: