Adam Sadowsky and OKGo's Rube Goldberg Machine of Awesome

How can one gigantic Rube Goldberg Machine and a 3 minute 45 second music video teach us about the intricacies of life?

-The small stuff may stink, but it is absolutely essential.

-While planning is important, so is flexibility.

A Rube Goldberg Machine

-Life can be messy. And difficult. But the ending is always worth it.

-This, too, shall pass.

Why am I posting this TED video that is basically a glorified music video? Not only because I believe that there is much to be learned from their experience, but also because I have never seen such an intricate music video in my life (If you have, please post a link in the comments!), and I do believe that video art is still art. This OKGo video is indeed art to me. Plus, not only can I watch this video over and over without catching each intricacy - I also get a little emotional at the end when I realize that the team needed 85 takes to get the job done. They must have been so elated and relieved!

Adam Sadowsky engineers an OKGo music video:

Looking forward to hearing what you think!

xox
Farren

Farren Square's TED Tuesday: The world needs all kinds of minds

Temple Grandin: The world needs all kinds of minds

"Temple Grandin, diagnosed with autism as a child, talks about how her mind works -- sharing her ability to "think in pictures," which helps her solve problems that neurotypical brains might miss. She makes the case that the world needs people on the autism spectrum: visual thinkers, pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and all kinds of smart geeky kids."

This TED Video has become very popular recently and, in my opinion, speaks for itself:




xox
Farren Square

TED Tuesday - Simplicity Sells

This hilarious TED talk highlights a key message to all who work in design. Simplicity sells. Whether you design furniture, websites, or sell on Etsy - limit the hoops your customers have to jump through, and you'll gain life-long supporters. Plus I can't resist a TED Talk that features parody songs!

"New York Times columnist David Pogue takes aim at technology’s worst interface-design offenders, and provides encouraging examples of products that get it right. To funny things up, he bursts into song:"



I think this is a TED Talk celebrating the fact that I am getting my new iPhone Today! I have been waiting a long time to upgrade, and it is finally time, Yeehaw! Good bye, really terrible cheap cellphone, hello Personal Electronic Organizer!

Here are a few of my favourite *simple* iPhone cases & sleeves...



A gorgeous show-stopping customizable wooden iPhone Sleeve from GreenHouseFX.Etsy.com









A very cute tongue-in-cheek Vegan Leather iPhone Sleeve from
Squirrellicious.Etsy.com







An incredible and impossibly adorable felt Monster iPhone Sleeve from Kelsey @ Appleblossom21.Etsy.com

And a bright and cheery well-crafted yellow knit iPhone Sleeve from AmandaFenniak.Etsy.com




xox
Farren Square

Don't fear growth and change.

Susan Savage-Rumbaugh's work with bonobo apes, which can understand spoken language and learn tasks by watching, forces the audience to rethink how much of what a species can do is determined by biology -- and how much by cultural exposure.

Go, Monkeys, Go!

The sexual, extremely social Bonobo apes are amongst the most empathetic and egalitarian species in the world. They use their sensuality for communication as well as conflict resolution. I'm actually not sure what species of primates featured in this photo, but I found it myself in one of over 600 National Geographic Magazines I had "inherited" at one point. An incredible photo, that toothy grin says it all.

This is one of my most favourite TED Talks that I have ever seen. Starting around 5:30 onwards literally causes my jaw to drop. How anyone could watch this video and deny evolutionary science astounds me. Why do people get so offended by the ability to admit that as a species, we are here through growth and change? An incredible story of sharing culture, tools, and language with another species:

TED Talk: As the Crow Flies

If birds bother you, stay away from this TED Talk. That means you, Robyn. But honestly, even though this video is a bit of a departure from the inspiring and creatively astounding videos I normally choose, I think this video has an amazing message of the value of an inquisitive mind. As Joshua Klein states, we focus on the endangered animals around us, the ones who struggle to survive, and feel empathy. But what of the animals around us who are growing and adapting in the same manner as human beings. Yes, I am talking about Crows.

Hacker and writer Joshua Klein is fascinated by crows. (Notice the gleam of intelligence in their little black eyes?) After a long amateur study of corvid behavior, he's come up with an elegant machine that may form a new bond between animal and human.

Giant crocheted Raccoon Mario rug

If anything has ever inspired me to re-learn how to crochet, this is it. This is beautiful:



Learn More Here.