I love making the stuff, that’s sort of the core of it. I love creating the stuff. It’s so satisfying to get from the beginning to the end, from a shaky nothing idea to something that’s well formed and the audience really likes. It’s like a drug: You keep trying to do it again and again and again. I’ve learned from experience that if you work harder at it, and apply more energy and time to it, and more consistency, you get a better result. It comes from the work. I remember seeing this thing, a documentary about a Los Angeles coach [John Wooden], the guy who coached UCLA to huge wins, so they couldn’t be beat for three seasons. He’s a very legendary coach, but a very unassuming guy with thick glasses. They just won and won and won. They talked about the difference between him and, like, Bobby Knight and Vince Lombardi. He didn’t make winning speeches. He never made speeches about being winners and being the best, like, “This is our house,” that kind of horseshit. Never said it. He said that to focus on that, to win, win, win, is worthless. It just has no value. He’d address all his players in his little voice, “If you just listen to me, and you work on your fundamentals and you apply yourself to working on these skills, you’re probably going to be happy with the results.” I think about that all the time.
A great anthem to live by. Perfect for singing in the shower, too!
Our friend eli specializes in customizing the best cards & gifts. This is the label design she made for the coffee she got for her ex-ex-ex-ex-ex-BFF.
Vaklah Vru. Nakakalokaaaaaaaahhh!!!
If your mother tells you to do a thing, it is wrong to reply that you won’t. It is better and more becoming to intimate that you will do as she bids you, and then afterward act quietly in the matter according to the dictates of your best judgment.
Mark Twain, “Advice to Little Girls”
Illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky. via flavorwire
plays: 0
The soundtrack of my mornings. Jon Brion, you really do know how to pull heartstrings. I hope you never stop scoring sad movies and writing sad songs.
No self-respecting mother would dream of doing this nowadays, but an evil aunt might just try it! Read the copy here.
There’s something about the kids of rich Russians! Arina in Her Garage, Moscow, 2009. From a collection of portraits by photographer Anna Skladmann. See more here.
Sorry, I know this is so last April, but did you know if you were invited to the royal wedding and were unable to attend, you can actually count on receiving a slice of the cake in the mail? Check your mailbox, stat! Via edible geography.