Jul

3

Travel Tips for The Weekend

Post Category: Blog Posts, Completely Crazy, Videos 

If you’re travelling this weekend here’s a timely tip that will help speed up your trip. A new study by the Department of Travel suggests that most traffic congestion problems could be solved with a simple ‘Honk’ of your horn.

(click here if you can’t see the video)

Jul

1

I’m a “Chicken Killer”

Post Category: Family, Videos 

The other night we bought a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, much to my daughter Emily’s horror. We’ve had conversations with her before on this subject but this time Lisa grabbed the camera and got it on video.

The best part is when she calls us, as only a 4-year old can do, a “birdy-eater-head.” Watch this video that Lisa posted on her blog.

Jun

28

Dancing With The (Star Wars) Stars

Post Category: Blog Posts, Completely Crazy, Videos 

Chewbacca getting footloose with a sandman and Darth Vader dancing to Thriller.

On a Saturday, it doesn’t get better than that.

Jun

24

Ever Wish You Had Another Copy of Yourself?

Post Category: Authenticity, Blog Posts, Videos 

There is just so much going on in my life right now. I’ve got enough design work to keep me busy for a while - trust me, I’m not complaining - but don’t you ever just wish you had another copy of you that could help you out? Reminds me of this scene from Multiplicity (one of my favorite movies).

Although with my luck my clone would end up like #4.

Jun

7

Trippy “Alice In Wonderland” Video

Post Category: Blog Posts, Completely Crazy, Videos 

This is a very trippy music video for an electronic piece which is composed using sounds recorded from the Disney film ‘Alice In Wonderland’. As if the original movie wasn’t weird enough!


(click here if you can’t see the video)

Jun

6

Vacation Highlights Video

Post Category: Blog Posts, Family, Videos, photos 

We’ve been on vacation in Surf City, North Carolina all week with our good friends Paul & Jayme Lea and their kids. It has been fun and relaxing and very much needed after the drama of the last month (here and here).

Vacationing together can really test a friendship. There’s plenty of people I like that I probably would not be able to share a house with for a week. We’ve gotten to know Paul & Jayme and their kids over the last couple of years in Fort Wayne and have gotten to be good friends with them. They were even kind enough to open their house for us to stay at a couple of weekends last month while we’ve been staying in a hotel.

For me this week was an important time of just unplugging from the worries of life and just unwinding. You may have noticed that I wasn’t Twittering much and I even broke one of my cardinal rules of blogging (consistency) and didn’t post anything yesterday *gasp!* It’s been good for me to get away, spend time with friends, swim in the ocean and sleep in (at least until the kids wake us up).

But all good things come to an end. Even though I could easily stay here another couple of weeks, we will be leaving tomorrow to head back to Indianapolis and the real world we’ve been avoiding all week.

Here are some photos from this week

…and a highlights video I put together.


(click here if you can’t see the video)

May

16

Bill O’Reilly Explodes

Post Category: Authenticity, Completely Crazy, Videos 

I’m sorry if you’re an O’Reilly fan but this video is just too funny not to post. This is a video of Bill O’Reilly exploding on the set of Inside Edition. Can we say “Anger management” Bill? Also check out Steven Colbert’s take on Bill’s meltdown. Another reminder that damaging videos of yourself will ALWAYS find their way onto the Internet! :-)

Disclaimer: Offensive Language. Not suitable for office.


(click here if you can’t see the video)

May

16

Anyone Remember Airwolf?

Post Category: Culture, Movies & TV, Videos 

If you were a product of the 80s you’ll appreciate this. Steven Stull out of Atlanta, GA created a replica of the Airwolf helicopter from the 80s television show. I still remember watching that show as a kid and seeing this awesome helicopter flying through the air, guns blazing.

The helicopter was originally commissioned for a helicopter museum in Tennessee but the museum had to shut down. The Airwolf helicopter is now up for auction on eBay for any fans who want to add a full-scale replica to their show memorabilia.

For a trip down memory lane, here is the original intro to Airwolf.


(click here if you can’t see the video)

Did you watch Airwolf as a kid? What were your favorite TV shows of the 80s?

Update: @MLukaszewski reminded me that you can watch full episodes of Airwolf for free on Hulu.com!

May

15

2-year-old Singing The Lord’s Prayer

Post Category: Videos 

It seems my last couple of YouTube video posts have been about Asian kids doing some amazing things (Littlest Beatle, Japanese Guitar Phenomenon). In keeping with that trend watch this video of a cute little girl singing the Lord’s Prayer. I know, tough song for a kid to sing, huh? Did I mention she’s only 2 years old?


(click here if you can’t see the video)

What was the most amazing thing you ever did as a kid?

May

14

My _________ Sucks Because _________

Post Category: Authenticity, Blog Posts, Church, Church Leadership, Technology, Videos 

Church leaders blame their lack of growth on many things. If only we had more lights, a better sound system, more videos, a better band. Visiting churches like Granger or North Point leaves most Pastors repeating the tenth commandment to themselves (thou shall not covet…thou shall not covet…).

Worship leaders aren’t immune from the “if only…” game either.

Worship Pastor to Senior Pastor: “Pastor, we’re kind of running into a wall. My musicians (it sounds better if someone else is asking) are telling me that if we bought ______________ (new amp, processor, instrument or whatever) we could really take the sound and quality of our worship up another notch.”

As a designer and self-professed geek I’m constantly scanning the horizon for the latest plugin, font, software or upgrade to buy. I try to convince myself that I could be so much more productive with this or that tool.

I remember my Uncle (who is an amazing finish carpenter) telling me about the importance of using the right tool for the job. But he also reminded me that no amount of good tools will make up for bad workmanship. A poor workman always blames his tools.

I was reminded about making the most with what I’ve got when I watched this video at AlphaBlogDesigns yesterday. Bob Staake is an illustrator who creates amazing illustrations for clients like Sony, Target and Hallmark using only Photoshop 3.0! That’s right, the version that I learned on and used back in 1994! I thought I was pretty good in Photoshop CS3 but this guy makes me look like a hack.

Watching videos like that remind me that having the latest _________ or the greatest __________ is not an excuse. In our high-tech society where hundreds of new gadgets or upgrades come out ever day it can be easy to be swept up in the “If only I had…” game.

We can do so much if we only utilize and master what we already have.

Trust me, I’m as guilty of this as anyone.

What about you? What has your excuse been?

Fill in the blank: “If only I had ________ I could ________.”

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