CBrajkovich Ramblings

I stumbled onto this musician (he’s part of a metal band, Logistic Slaughter) by accident when I saw an original Reddit post (and more) about his confrontations with his mother. I was curious until I heard the abuse she was reaping on him (here’s the video that I couldn’t listen to). Honestly, if you’re a parent, this is how NOT to treat your kids. Don’t ever do this no matter how frustrated you might be because they don’t fit your image of a good kid. Each kid is different and has different aspirations. It’s their lives, not yours (you have your own). Yes, warn them about life because that is a caring act. Just don’t criticize to the point of dehumanizing them, because it’s flat out wrong. Treat others as you want to be treated, no matter what age they are. Everyone deserves to be treated like a human being.

We’ve all been down both sides of the path of worrying/wanting the best for someone versus your own feelings about their actions. It’s not uncommon that someone you care for may not see things in the same light as you. That’s what makes us all so uniquely us, and that should never be taken away.

Being an artistic person is not something to ridicule, demean, or negate. It’s their dream and it should never be ripped away from them so callously. Embrace the fact that they have different motivations than you. It’s not easy to be a unique individual, and that individualism should be treasured. Not everyone is going to want to focus on money. That’s not a bad thing because frankly our obsession with money is destroying us. I’ve been on both sides of the fence, and I would have done anything to have been able to follow my dreams when I was younger. That’s why I’m doing it now before it’s too late. If your loved ones don’t understand you, then it’s their problem and not yours. Too many people sacrifice too much and our empty society is the direct result of all of these useless sacrifices.

Our world needs more creative people to regain the balance that it lost. It will make us all better people and will even help save our planet. Seriously! This isn’t liberal talk. It’s flat out humane talk. Support an artist. If they’re doing what comes naturally to them, then you will also benefit from that support in amazing ways.

Creatives: Don’t ever let anyone, including adults, derail your dreams. They’re too important because they are what makes you special. We need your gifts, so keep nurturing them.

p.s. Further investigation shows that this guitarist, Mike Ashton, is indeed getting a lot of sympathy and even some sincere interest from people who might help the band. I sincerely hope it happens, because it would be the perfect outcome after his mother’s horrid rants. Check out his Youtube channel because he really is good (not surprising as his one of their lead guitarists). Hang in there, Mike, and keep on making your magic.

Ha ha. This is the perfect way to start your weekend. Do you feel great? Well, he definitely does! Maybe I need to go eat a Nutrigrain bar?

And then there’s this one: Eat It Don’t Tweet It -> more Key of Awesome here

– Courtesy of @rands (check out his blog here). He sends out some awesome thoughts, doesn’t he?

Walk Off The Earth made a huge splash with their song Somebody That I Used To Know. I have been in love with their stuff, and they are starting to release even more amazing music. Each one of them are incredible in their own right, and this time Gianni and Sarah have a new rendition of the song called Love Sponge (by Buju Banton). It’s a fun-filled, lighthearted song that fits a warm summer day walking hand-in-hand with your love. Give it a listen and then let Gianni and Sarah know what you think. I know that I’ve got a smile on my face!

Yep, they’re back and getting better and better (if that’s even possible with such an incredible start). And don’t forget to check out Walk Off The Earth’s new song, Little Boxes.

I’ve covered Whitestone Motion Pictures before (check them out, because they do amazing creations), but this video and story needs to be shared to send a wish for Billy and Ron. Be forewarned because you will cry when you read the story. But the main thing to share is the happiness that their friends, Billy and Ron, managed to come out of a dire situation with their lives, however changed they are. And with this new journey, best friends Billy and Nicolas have rechristened their music collaboration as Brothers Bright in commemoration of this new life they were handed.

The story of being a victim of a drunk driver is always there, lurking like a storm yet to unleash its full fury on unsuspecting souls. I’ll admit that I am not fond of alcohol for my own personal reasons. To each their own, though it’s most definitely not for me. If you can handle it responsibly, well, then it’s up to you. I’m glad that this story had a happy outcome in that they are still alive. I wish them the best on their journey towards recovery – hopefully full recovery. The fact that Billy is persevering through some extreme challenges is a credit to his own strength and belief. He didn’t give up, but faced his fears head on. That is a testament to him as well as his loved ones. Bravo, Billy! And I hope that your friend Ron also gets back the life he wants as well.

To support Billy’s journey, check out the Brothers Bright release on iTunes. And let’s send a wish of health and happiness to Bill and Ron. Stay strong, guys!

And how is this for a novel concept on interaction: Buying with a promise and not money? The Generous Store is a sweet shop that isn’t only full of chocolate. The only way that you could purchase these tasty treats was to make whatever promise you chose to buy. It could range from making breakfast in bed for your sweetheart to many other sweet ideas that spread the love. All you have to do is make the promise to your partner of choice and then do the deed.

As Anthon Berg believes, “You can never be too generous”. Judging by all of the good deeds delivered, a lot of other people feel the same way. A pretty sweet idea whose time is always here.

– Once more, from Creativity Online

If you want a refreshing take on social interaction, then here’s a pretty awesome lesson from Kotex and Smoyz Creative: Inspiration Day. Kotex took the interests of 50 women and used their Pinterest boards to create a personalized gift. All they had to do was re-pin the invitation to receive the gift, and the sharing took off from there.

Nothing more than interacting with one another by sharing interests, and the gift just kept on giving across so many social media platforms. 50 gifts generated almost 700,000 impressions. The world that is breaking free from its constraints is all about sharing and caring. When you reach out to someone, the answer you’re looking for just might be waiting at the other end. That’s a beautiful and heartwarming thought, isn’t it? More proof that our strengths can also lie in our emotions when used in the right way. And more potential for social to become a beautifully inspirational wave to ride on together.

Just as Kotex says: Feel free to express yourself in your own unique way.

– Thanks Creativity Online for sharing a beautiful campaign.

The brush stroke of an artist is a unique signature of style. It’s as individual as a fingerprint, which is why there’s a science in studying a person’s movements with a device. Riccardo Guardo shows us a narrative of artists with their brushes as they complete chinese calligraphy. Each image gives you an introduction to that artist with a glimpse of their work style. Are they careful? Are they inquisitive? Are they bold? The movement within creation is as important as the final product. To see an individual work is to be invited into their world during those specific moments of creation. And it shows that we all have a special combination of talents, imaginations, and desires that create those special one-of-a-kind endeavors.

Check out more of Riccardo’s work on Behance, where you’ll encounter a wonderful explosion of color and shapes that wrap the senses in whimsy and emotion.

– Thanks Behance for showcasing another wonderful artist

I don’t know if you’ve heard about this, but OMG, this is exciting. The famous manga, Akira, is going to be made into a live action movie directed by Fabian Dubois! What you’re seeing is the teaser. If you’re a manga and anime enthusiast, then you’re quite aware of this post-apocalyptic masterpiece based around Tokyo after a nuclear blast, with a “hero” named Akira who has superhuman powers (telekinesis).

And to think that this is a fan-made project that seems to be beating the pants off of a big production WB movie that is in limbo due to an overblown budget. Independent, once again, proving that it has the chops to create some incredible pieces of work. Can’t wait to see where this project goes!

Keep tabs on this movie via their Facebook page. Thanks again, Vimeo, for showcasing independent filmmakers!

This spooky little dance called The Master’s Voice comes courtesy of Brazilian-born filmmaker Guilherme Marcondes and an incredible cast of artists, and is a teaser for a new project. And by looking at his past credits and creations, it’s going to be another pretty amazing adventure full of atmosphere, whimsy, and history. You can also find Guilherme at Hornet, Inc. making some award-winning shorts, including the opening sequence to Bunraku and the short Tyger. Can’t wait to see the final project!

Enjoy another haunting moment, thanks to Parka Blogs.