June 28th, 2009 by Jason

Lyrics and Poems and Words, Oh My

I’ve always loved loved loved words. I love them on so many levels. I love reading, creative writing, wordplay, poems, song lyrics, etc. Its been quite a while since I’ve posted any word-creations other than inspiring articles/blog-posts, and I felt like changing it up. So here’s ‘Always Finish First’ a semi-wistful, ultimately-happy song I wrote to music that currently only exists in my head, but hey, enjoy. :)

2009 | Always Finish First

And there’s more!

Here’s some words regarding SpiritSentient’s Evolved Clothing. It touches on some of the key differences we like to focus on :)

173 web20 500x667 shirt addon back Lyrics and Poems and Words, Oh My

Biggerized versions here and here.

June 27th, 2009 by Jason

Cover Me

My love all things creative, artistic, inspired, etc. is well-known. As is my love for sharing. Combine the two, throw in some talented musicians… and you get this post. Enjoy :)

 cov alyssa Cover Me

Alyssa Bernal - Absolutely stunning covers, her style is very flowing, playful, honest… umm feminine :D

Recommended Youtube - I’m Yours [Jason Mraz], Please Don’t Leave Me [Pink], Love Story [Taylor Swift]

 cov cheese Cover Me

Richard Cheese - Creates fun/funny/skillful lounge version of pop/alt. songs. Many people have heard of this guy…

Recommended - Chop Suey! [System Of A Down], Naughty Girl [Beyonce], Smells Like Teen Spirit [Nirvana], What’s My Age Again? [Blink182]

 cov vika Cover Me

Viktoria (Vika) Yermolyeva - Gah… stunning classically trainted pianist takes on all the best hard-rock, prog, metal, and alternative you can imagine. Her adaptations are truly beautiful, she catches every nuance, every solo, every bridge from the original band and incorporates it into her tablature. Can’t say enough good things… Wow. (Great to show people who can’t appreciate the beauty of harder music until its translated to piano or something ;)

Recommended - Fade To Black [Metallica], One [Metallica], Nutshell [Alice In Chains], Raining Blood [Slayer]

 cov marie Cover Me

Marié Digby - Talented chick built some great recognition covering various songs she likes (Lil Wayne ‘My Life’ — so unexpected :D)

Recommended - Umbrella [Rhianna], My Life [The Game + Lil Wayne], What I’ve Done [Linkin Park], Love Hurts [Incubus]

 cov davidsides Cover Me

David Sides - Similar to Vika, David creates piano renditions of popular songs, but more in the vain of hip-hop and rnb.

Recommended - Superstar [Lupe Fiasco], Dead And Gone [T.I.], Closer [Ne-Yo], The Climb [Miley Cyrus]

 cov angie Cover Me

Angie Aresenault - Canadian, played in Montreal + Toronto (Cameron House!) recently… Love her Muse cover.

Recommended - Starlight [Muse], Human Stain [Kamelot]

 cov adammonroe Cover Me

Adam Monroe - More polyrhythm piano, with absolutely killer vocals… love that he tackled a Tool single.

Recommended - Vicarious [Tool], Message In A Bottle [Police], Everlong [Foo Fighters]

 cov andrewcarter Cover Me;

Andrew Carter - Solo cello covers. Hawtness and skills.

Recommended - Skeletons [Yeah Yeah Yeahs], Bruises [Chairlift], Scenic World [Beirut]

And some one-offs that are really interesting…

 Cover Me Suleman Mirza - Stunning Michael Jackson Imitation. And here’s a second by the Dance Group Jabbawockeez. Thought it’d be appropriate given the legend’s recent passing.
 cs gary Cover Me Gary Jules - covering Tears For Fears Mad World
 cs scissor Cover Me Scissor Sisters - covering Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb
 cs panic Cover Me Panic! At The Disco - covering Third Eye Blind’s Slow Motion
 cs beth Cover Me Beth Orton - covering Five Stairstep’s Ooh Child
 cs bobmarley Cover Me Bob Marley - covering The Eagle’s Hotel California
 cs annie Cover Me Annie Lennox - covering Bob Marley’s Waiting In Vain
 cs ray Cover Me Ray Charles - covering the Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby
 cs smash Cover Me Smashing Pumpkins - covering Fleetwood Mac’s Landslide
 cs gnarls Cover Me Gnarls Barkley - covering Radiohead’s Reckoner
 cs bruce Cover Me Bruce Springsteen - covering Social Distortion’s Bad Luck
 cs cash Cover Me Johnny Cash - covering U2’s One

Mmm… I love covers. A beautiful variety of spins and takes on already well-done songs. Love to know if you have anything to share… Enjoy!

June 26th, 2009 by Jason

Human Beings Are Extremely Powerful

When I say you guys rock, I really mean it. :)

 9BF59BFC 009D B053 2B1CC794BF849611 1 Human Beings Are Extremely Powerful

Humanity is extremely powerful, individually and collectively. There are tales (documented or otherwise) from all over the world, of people doing incredible, mind-blowing things. Hermits in remote places, monks, record-breakers, small tribes… They walk across hot coals, punch through concrete or wood and so on. How do these people seem to manage these seemingly superhuman feats? Well, if you were to speak to any of them, a common thread may show itself: they each have very little pride and ego.

They don’t use their abilities simply to show off or for personal gain unless they can see that it helps others and the greater good. Often they also teach that we can all perform the feats they do as well. My brother just got back from an invitation from teachers at a temple in China to study Tai Chi Chuan with them. He also has an invitation to Japan to study Aikido on the horizon. There is love for students to come & learn amazing things. The thing is, a good portion of the population really lets themselves be held back/down by pride and ego, and since that is the main block to acquiring these skills, it’s important to transcend that first; sort of like learning to crawl before we walk, or walk before we run. Now, some people would have you believe that this process takes years of study or hard work, but actually one can transcend all these issues and crap in an instant (I’m a good example of this ;) ), as well as embrace a new way or form of personal power.

So if we say someone is cold, alone in a storm, and they wished to not feel miserable/uncomfortable, or they wish to manage their core temperature, or they want to manifest some miracle… this can actually be done! I’d recommend not becoming super-picky about how things happen - if a person can truly put aside ego, judgement & fear, and be open to learning, then all of a sudden maybe the wind dies, or maybe your hand goes numb. or maybe a car pulls up & offers you a ride. Anything can happpen and actually will if one is truly open to it. Still, everyone has their own path and time and focus, and of everyone who reads this only a certain portion will get it. They may understand it from the point of view of "The Secret" and "Law Of Attraction", they may get it through Christian Faith in miracles, or from a "We Are All One" connectedness, or even through a quantum physics understanding of the "Observer Effect" ,whatever the case, it was fun writing it.

Feel free to rock (cuz you guys rock) some feedback in the comments section. :D

June 24th, 2009 by Jason

The Art of Non-Conformity

This is just a short post, mainly to pimp out Chris Guillebeau’s website: The Art Of Non-Conformity. It’s awesome. Really awesome.

Chris is masterful at explaining how to live a life you love, often unconventionally, yet somehow practically and feasibly. He’s one of the most inspiring bloggers out there and his site’s been featured in all sorts of media publication (New York Times was a big one…)

He recently wrote an article called: All The Things You Don’t Need which I kind of wish I wrote, hehehe.

Highly recommended,
Wishing you all an awesome day.

June 15th, 2009 by Jason

Sharing is Fun

 hands colorfull Sharing is Fun
Buddhism can be summed up with the phrase, “we are all one”. That sentence may appear simple at face value, but it contains so many more layers.

Christianity can be boiled down to “love thy God, and love thy neighbor as thyself”. Just like above, this sentence embodies the majority of what Christianity is about. In the same way, this post has many layers.

Sharing is fun might sound like the punchline to a Dr. Seuss book but it’s so much more. Keep reading →