Meet Michael Vladeck

Hey friends, please check out this video from my friend Michael... pretty amazing.

Recently he was asked to make and submit a video  about who he is and what he does professionally - for a spot on a national talk show. Last thursday, Oprah herself was shown only five submissions and Michael's was one of those... check it out!

The learner!

I know you remember the learner from the past couple years, so here is the official shirt!

Champagne

The champagne of beers, straight from the source In milwaukee!

I'm in milwaukee. Here's a quote for you

This aint the country I grew up in, that's for sure. -bob, commenting on his job as beer distributor and how no major breweries are American owned. Milwaukee, WI.

The Theory of 10,000 hours... true?

Read this a couple days ago in David Brooks column/blog. Great blog. 

The following isn't political, just an interesting theory. I wonder how true this is?

DAVID BROOKS:Gail, you know one thing I didn’t get a chance to get into in that column was the theory of 10,000 hours: The idea is that it takes 10,000 hours to get really good at anything, whether it is playing tennis or playing the violin or writing journalism.

I’m actually a big believer in that idea, because it underlines the way I think we learn, by subconsciously absorbing situations in our heads and melding them, again, below the level of awareness, into templates of reality.

Thomas Campbell - New Website

I have mentioned him many times on this blog, but one of my favorite artists is Thomas Campbell... I love his paintings, prints, doodles, and movies.  He's whimsical, fun, mellow, and inventive.

So, check it out, he just launched his first real website... http://www.thomascampbell-art.com/

I was super fortunate and bought a print/painting from a gallery in LA a couple years ago, and lo and behold, the same edition (but different paint job) is on his website and the value has more than doubled. I won't be selling it, but it's nice to know! Check out the site and enjoy.

Cr8tive Recreations

When it's time to retire the Sperry's for the summer, where do you turn???

If you're up for something different, try a pair of cr8tive recreations... Check out the new colors and designs here.

Lyric of the Day

"American Dream" by Switchfoot

When success is equated with excess
The ambition for excess wrecks us
As top of the mind becomes the bottom line 
When success is equated with excess

If your time ain't been nothing for money 
I start to feel really bad for you, honey 
Maybe honey, put your money where your mouth's been running 
If your time ain't been nothing but money

I want out of this machine
It doesn't feel like freedom

This ain't my American dream
I want to live and die for bigger things 
I'm tired of fighting for just me 
This ain't my American dream

When success is equated with excess
When we're fighting for the Beamer, the Lexus 
As the heart and soul breath in the company goals 
Where success is equated with excess

'Cause baby's always talkin' 'bout a ring 
And talk has always been the cheapest thing 
Is it true would you do what I want you to 
If I show up with the right amount of bling?

Like a puppet on a monetary string
Maybe we've been caught singing
Red, white, blue, and green
But that ain't my America,
That ain't my American dream

monday's quote of the day

 "In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."

-MLK JR.

obama on letterman...

RAJ MAHAL

Just finished some skateboarding photos I shot of RAJ MAHAL... 

Here's one of my faves.  As always, click to enlarge.

Lake Michigan Family Reunion

Just got back from Lake Michigan, where we stayed in a lakeside house in South Haven with almost all of my Mom's side of the family... kind of like the Olexia family reunion. It was an incredible weekend full of seeing everyone, letting the good times roll, floating in the lake and pool, discussing everything from food to politics, and tasting almost every microbrew Michigan has to offer. It was 3 amazing days of relaxing, and it was really wonderful to see the family and thanks to Paul & Sally for everything... it was fantastic! I have a lot of photos to edit, but here is one of my favorite shots of the sunset...