youthfulness

Over the years, a few smart advertising groups have used some of our older counterparts to promote their brands.  why have these campaigns been successful?

(Boost Mobile, USA)

 Because they are different?  Because they make us laugh?

(Shreddies cereal, UK)

Or, maybe because they remind us that, even though we all age, we can still tap into the youthfulness of our hearts if we want to.

child survival is the new green

Increase life expectancy to control population growth?  

Hans Rosling opens our eyes to the perils of population growth and how we can remedy our current situation.

proudly irish

Laura Izibor

Ireland's newest source of bragging rights

http://www.lauraizibor.com/

life is beautiful

They say that bad luck and hard times are just a series of unfortunate circumstances.  They also say that those who have strong faith and conviction can choose to see happiness and light amidst times of turmoil and darkness.      In this context, some of us may be reminded of the Academy Award winning 1997 film "Life is Beautiful."

The film begins in pre-WWII Italy, where a young man, Guido, of little means falls in love with a beautiful, more well-to-do school teacher, Dora.  The couple have a son, and despite the disapproval of Dora's family, the family creates a beautiful life together.

And then WWII takes center stage and the family's world changes.  The family is taken to a concentration camp on the day of the young son's birthday.  Refusing to allow these horrible circumstances to bring unhappiness and despair to their otherwise beautiful life, Guido shields his son from the horror of the camps by making a game out of the circumstances.

(view enlarged format for enlarged subtitles)

More inspiring clips and commentary on this timeless film can be found at: http://www.miramax.com/lifeisbeautiful/

down under

Sounds from Australia. Courtesy of Aramis.

Check out http://annansiobhan.wordpress.com/ to read about 2 Irish gals who will travel and track their adventure Down Under.  Best of luck, ladies.

little boxes

Take a moment to admire this photo as you take in the lyrics and rhythm of this iconic song.

This still photograph of Malvina Reynolds offers an impact as timeless as the message contained in her song.  Together the picture and the lyrics ask us, the viewer, are we living our unique, authentic life?  

-for a biography on Malvina Reynolds, check out: 

http://www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/unitarians/reynolds.html

photos that make history

Jonathan Klein presents a powerful collection of photographs that have defined the history of our world.

Keeping in line with the essence of The Kaleidoscope Compass, take a moment now to ask yourself:

How do your photos define the history of your world?

concrete jungle?

Concrete jungle, where dreams are made of?

Alicia Keys shows us a softer side of New York City.

(photo courtesy of Jamie DeProspo)

world cup fever

World Cup fever is in the air.  Are you ready?

nature's patterns

Is one man's junk really another man's treasure? 

Having collected over 1000 plastic containers recovered from the sea, Emer Brady has reclaimed this rubbish and found a way it can offer a rich new purpose.  Using objects of waste to shadow the shape of the waves on which the trash once surfed, we are provoked to remember the effects of modern day consumerism and pollution. 

'My practice is concerned with the patterns that exist within nature. I am interested in their underlying sense of order juxtaposed by an element of chaos. Nature’s patterns are so familiar to us that we have become blind to them: they have become invisible.'

Check out more of Emer's work at:

 http://emerbrady.wordpress.com/

use images to inspire change

Pictures seal the deal on a winning story.  They add the richness and detail missing from a sea of words scattered across a page.  Watch and listen as Brian Skerry uses his images of our oceans to help inspire needed change.

john west

John West. 

If you ever get to see this story-telling artist

perform live before he makes it big,

 consider yourself lucky.

anything good on?

Today is Tuesday, May 25, 2010.  Another boring day, another tedious not-even-midway point to the work week.  Today's highlight will no doubt be mindless TV watching.  Has May 25th ever been an interesting day for anyone?    I wonder if May 25th ever offered anything interesting on TV or in the news in years past...

-1932 :Goofy, aka Dippy Dawg, 1st appears in 'Mickey's Revue' by Walt Disney-


-1977: Original "Star Wars" movie released-


-2001: 32-year-old Erik Weihenmayer, of Boulder, Colorado, becomes the first blind person to reach the summit of Mount Everest-

As it turns out, this has indeed been a memorable day in the past.  And Erik Weihenmayer most especially reminds me I should change my perspective and make this day of today memorable, too.

story telling

We can tell stories about art and images...and sometimes they can tell stories about us.  Listen as Raghava KK shares his perspective...