Brandon Leedy

"The Quiet World" - By: Jeffrey McDaniel

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:47:00 -0500

“In an effort to get people to look into each other’s eyes more, and also to appease the mutes, the government has decided to allot each person exactly one hundred and sixty-seven words, per day.

When the phone rings, I put it to my ear without saying hello. In the restaurant I point at chicken noodle soup. I am adjusting well to the new way.

Late at night, I call my long distance lover, proudly say I only used fifty-nine today. I saved the rest for you.

When she doesn’t respond, I know she’s used up all her words, so I slowly whisper I love you thirty-two and a third times. After that, we just sit on the line and listen to each other breathe.”

—

This rather modern poem was written in 1998, but it seems even more fitting and beautiful when read today.

Sometimes a situation deserves the many words we use to surround it. But sometimes I wonder if we just need to repeat the shorter words that mean a lot more. In either scenario, it really isn’t about the amount of words we say, it’s which ones we use that matters.

A fantastic talk by Bret Victor, “Inventing on...

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:18:41 -0500

A fantastic talk by Bret Victor, “Inventing on Principle.” I’ve watched it twice this weekend.

Made a “neato” logotype of my last name. Ha,...

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:02:51 -0500

Made a “neato” logotype of my last name. Ha, sometimes you just want to get something out of your system and then you get on a roll.

Picture from Friday morning as the fog was burning off.

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 20:59:58 -0500

Picture from Friday morning as the fog was burning off.

Photo

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:01:40 -0500

“Legacy of Letters” - By: Luca Barcelona

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:14:28 -0500

“Legacy of Letters” - By: Luca Barcelona

"How to Write" from David Ogilvy

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:09:00 -0500

I’m not usually the “tips & tricks” kinda guy, but these are succinct and come from a great source. So it wouldn’t hurt to take a few of these to heart.

People who think well, write well.

Woolly minded people write woolly memos, woolly letters and woolly speeches.

Good writing is not a natural gift. You have to learn to write well. Here are 10 hints:

1. Read the Roman-Raphaelson book on writing. Read it three times.

2. Write the way you talk. Naturally.

3. Use short words, short sentences and short paragraphs.

4. Never use jargon words like reconceptualize, demassification, attitudinally, judgmentally. They are hallmarks of a pretentious ass.

5. Never write more than two pages on any subject.

6. Check your quotations.

7. Never send a letter or a memo on the day you write it. Read it aloud the next morning — and then edit it.

8. If it is something important, get a colleague to improve it.

9. Before you send your letter or your memo, make sure it is crystal clear what you want the recipient to do.

10. If you want ACTION, don’t write. Go and tell the guy what you want.

"Soulless Careerists"

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:18:24 -0500

"Soulless Careerists":

Read this delightful article and figure out where you stand. If you are one of the soulless described, put a boot in your own face, start actually working and stop using people. If you know someone who is one of the soulless, put a boot in their face.

Amen.

Studio (via: tweedsandtales)

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:09:54 -0500

Studio

(via: tweedsandtales)

A classic burger joint, the Prime Burger is full of history and...

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:08:00 -0500

A classic burger joint, the Prime Burger is full of history and character, still moving right along in NYC (on 51st between Madison and 5th). I love stories like this, because it shows that doing good work and caring about your customers isn’t something that has to change with the times. Pair that with the decor and you’ve got a wonderful time-capsule of Americana.

(Via the always great, This Must Be The Place series)

"The Little Duck" - by Donald C. Babcock

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:22:35 -0500

Now we are ready to look at something pretty special.

It is a duck riding the ocean a hundred feet beyond the surf, and he cuddles in the swells. There is a big heaving in the Atlantic.

And he is part of it.
He can rest while the Atlantic heaves, because he rests in the Atlantic.
Probably he doesn’t know how large the ocean is.
And neither do you.
But he realises it.
And what does he do, I ask you.
He sits down in it.
He reposes in the immediate as if it were infinity – which it is.
That is religion, and the duck has it.

I like the little duck.
He doesn’t know much.
But he has religion.

I saw this poem in a Buddhist documentary and I really enjoyed it. Religion is not always dogma, sometimes it can just be the presence of mind to know where you are and trusting that it is where you need to be.

"Thoreau, when he spent two years on Walden Pond to live simply, wrote, “Most men, even in..."

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:43:00 -0500

“

Thoreau, when he spent two years on Walden Pond to live simply, wrote,

“Most men, even in this comparatively free country, through mere ignorance and mistake, are so occupied with the factitious cares and superfluously course labors of life that its finer fruits cannot be plucked by them…He has no time to be anything but a machine.”

Thoreau had to abandon work and friends to live simply, but he was not against it. He just had no choice at the time, given the technology at hand. I think we–and information workers like programmers, designers and writers especially–are capable right now of living a fantastic life that marries the wild vitality that Thoreau experienced at Walden with the better parts of civilized living.

”

- via: Happiness Takes (A Little) Magic | The Wirecutter

“Nemeses” (featuring John Roderick of The Long...

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:27:58 -0500

“Nemeses” (featuring John Roderick of The Long Winters) by Jonathan Coulton.

This came up on shuffle recently and it’s just so catchy, I can’t get it out of my head. Clever as heck too.

Plus, the guest artist on the track is the awesome John Roderick from the band, The Long Winters, who are responsible for one of my favorite songs of all time.

Just watch. It’s good to not be so cynical about our...

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:01:06 -0500

Just watch. It’s good to not be so cynical about our professions for a while. We get to do something wonderful, we get to create.

“Wilson Miner - When We Build” (via @wiseacre)

Photo

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:19:12 -0500

Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co. So cool.

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:58:44 -0500

Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co.

So cool.

Golden Rule. Bingo. via:lorenmaring

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:27:00 -0500

Golden Rule.

Bingo.

via:lorenmaring

This is a great little mini-doc with restaurant genius, Mr.Chow...

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:03:43 -0500

This is a great little mini-doc with restaurant genius, Mr.Chow on striving for perfection and succeeding.

His advice? “Every detail is a universe.” …and even then, you may only get a chance at a masterpiece. Sounds like a chance worth taking to me.

(via The Fox Is Black)

I just found this video posted by Scout Books, showing their...

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:27:00 -0500

I just found this video posted by Scout Books, showing their process in today’s most common fashion: well-shot video of the machines dancing around to a delightful indie soundtrack. I love these videos, but I love this video especially because I’ve used this company before! Story time…

Back in May of 2011, when my best-friend/design-comrade Kyle Koch and I were gathering the final touches on our joint thesis, we knew we want to make a little thank-you/swag item for those who came to see and critique our work. Being designers who both take a lot of notes, and Field Notes fans to the core, we wanted to make our own little notebooks.

Our main criteria was that the books be “as environmentally friendly and American-made as possible.” So we were delighted when we found Scout Books. Scout fit both of our criteria, being that they are printed in Portland and are 100% recycled. They also had a really streamlined process for getting our design on the books. Not to mention, Scout had an affordable price for our modest collegiate budget.

In the end, the books not only looked great (see photo below), but we had plenty to pass out to critics, potential employers, and friends. In fact, I think we both still have some left over. But they’re durable little guys full of grid paper, so we’re glad to have a few still in need of some use! Should the chance arise, I’d order from Scout again, so be sure to check them out if you’re in the market.

Oh man, Mast Brothers Chocolate… this is one of the first...

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:07:00 -0500

Oh man, Mast Brothers Chocolate… this is one of the first places I would visit if I ever get Home-Alone-2’d to New York City. American made, fine quality chocolate from Brooklyn. Can’t beat that.

Wanna see them in action? Check out this mini-doc and bask in their awesome beards: