A few of my favorite finds in the month of October:
Top favorite: This cycad, won by a friend in a triathlon and graciously given to me! In his honor, I've named it John. Here's some info about this special plant, provided by Protos, an organization working hard to keep it around.
"About two hours drive from Fort Portal, Uganda, lie the Mpanga Falls. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty that happens also to be home to one of the rarest plants on Earth, the critically endangered Encephalartos whitelockii, or more manageably, the Mpanga Falls Cycad.
Cycads are an ancient variety of plant that have survived for over 250 million years, making them older than the dinosaurs! The Mpanga Falls Cycad is one of the largest species of cycads, and the Mpanga Falls are the only place in the world where this species occurs in the wild. Following construction of a hydropower plant in 2011, and encroachment from neighboring cattle farming communities, the Mpanga Falls Cycad's natural habitat has become increasingly threatened."
Favorite video: A special one for creatives (ahem...that's you) about The Gap that exists between our taste and skills and the perseverance it takes to keep creating, based on a quote from Ira Glass.
I think it was in the time of spring 2012, when I came across David Shiyang Liu's lovely piece of work about Ira Glass. It was the most inspiring and motivating video I had ever seen in my life. I watched it over and over again, listened to Ira Glass' voice, and told myself, that I am not the only person who is constantly disappointed about the gap between one's taste and one's skills. Later in 2012, I decided to do my own filmed version of Ira's interview - using my own language to tell his message. It took me about a year from concept to upload. I made it for myself and for anybody who is in doubt about his/her creative career. I also think that Ira Glass' message isn't only limited to the creative industry. It can be applied to everyone who starts out in a new environment and is willing to improve. THANK YOU Ira Glass, whom I've never met in real life, but who had such a big influence on my development. Thank you for telling beginners what nobody else does. David Shiyang Liu for the video that inspired me to start the project. You all should watch his awesome kineticTypo-version here: http://vimeo.com/24715531 The people from current.tv who originally recorded the interview with Ira Glass. See the relevant part here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI23U7U2aUY The people from Magic Lantern who gave DSLR videography a new dimension (I chose this project to be a test run with the RAW plugin)! Steven Sasseville for painting the "taste" painting for me. Pedro Sousa for his advice and working his ass off at the "creative work" chalkboard. Wolfgang Kraus for letting me borrow his sound equipment. Kai Löhnert for working out on his birthday in the "fight" take. Wolfgang Hendrik Schnabel for giving me the museum-like atmosphere and his silhouette in the painting takes. Hermiyas Ötztürk for his hairy "good enough" hand. Orange Hive Studio for light equipment and location. Mima and Heinz Sax-Schmitz for the location of the "ambitions" take and finding me the "finish 1 story" typewriter. Joyce Chen (https://vimeo.com/clownmori), Soufiane Mabrouki (http://vimeo.com/user21466567), Damien Tsenkoff (https://www.behance.net/damtsnkff), Nikita Samutin (www.baselinedesign.ru) and Andrej Mikula (http://amara.org/en/profiles/profile/65015/) for taking the time and patience to create Chinese, Arabic, French, Russian and Slovak subtitles and dissolving language barriers to make even more people understand Ira's words. A SPECIAL THANK YOU Solveig Gold for being the most patient and supporting person in my life. She appears in a lot of scenes in this video. Jutta and Uwe Sax for several pieces of equipment and their support.
Favorite article: You know those bus drivers who make your day just because of their cheery spirit? I love those people. It keeps my faith in humanity alive. And so here is a great ode to them: In Praise of Small Kindnesses.
Favorite recipe: Broiled Tilapia with Thai Coconut Curry Sauce. With too many goodbyes this year, I used this recipe to celebrate the news that my best friend will be staying in Uganda!
Favorite new song: I've been playing this one over and over. Josephine by RITUAL.
Favorite quote:
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.””
Favorite comedic relief: The President had a few things to say to a now presidential contender. Politics and jokes - always a great combination.
Favorite new word: Allocution - a formal speech giving advice or warning. Spotted in the book Leo the African.
Photo by Lindsey Platt
Favorite product: My only souvenir from our Barcelona trip - this shirt, designed and made in Barcelona.