Rodney Mullen - arguably the most skilled tech skater of all time - acquires his supernatural powers through the studies of mathematics, physics and the Bible. His unintelligible pressure flip combos are a hybrid of peerless intelligence and divine intervention.

I spent last Friday night sipping on import tall boys with Chris Kahle; a Vancouver based advertising creative, at his coal harbor apartment. We discussed the crème de la crème of the industry, interactive strategies, his obsessive-compulsive tendency to switch up his blog and where things are going with web 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0. He showed me his books - all of which are awesome - his weblog of runs timed and tracked by NIke+, and some of his recent artwork. It was interesting to see how his copywriting skills, art direction and conceptual ideas have progressed over the years.

I always enjoy conversing with creatives who get it - it keeps me inspired. You can follow Chris’ interests on Tumblr, Twitter and his blog. Check out his current book here and this site he built dedicated to Dan Wieden of Wieden + Kennedy.

In no particular order:

1. Dennis Brown
Whip Them Jah Jah

I first saw/heard this song on the Heartland Reggae DVD. The footage is classic, everyone is grooving with the rhythm while Dennis does his thing. Suddenly, some old man dressed in a Dixie hat and tattered clothes hops up on stage and starts to mash it up big time. It isn’t completely clear whether it was planned or not, yet everybody loves him and it makes the performance even more killer. Dennis continues to “Chant them down to the foundation” in this battle of the Dread versus Babylon…

2. Jacob Miller
Backyard Movements (Disco Mix)

In this brilliant rockers anthem, the ever enigmatic Jacob Miller urges the youth to live in harmony, declaring “All you do in the morning is to fuss and fight in the back yard. What you do in the night will make front page in the day light, so what you do is to do right and think of another day”. The larger than life singer later concludes; “To fuss and fight, my brothers, don’t you know were all one struggle, to fuss and fight, my sisters, don’t you know were all Jah children” This mix also features a horns section and equally dread second part; ‘Fussing and Fight’ featuring DJ U Brown’s protégé Little U Brown. Interestingly, the track is actually a remake of a lesser known, but elegant, version by The Mighty Threes.

3. Bob Marley
Keep On Skanking

Recorded and produced in 1971 by none other than Lee “Scratch” Perry, this Bob Marley gem largely flew under the radar. It documents an early point in both Marley and Perry’s musical careers, providing glimpses of what would later come from both. The music contains traits of Perry’s emerging style (distorted guitar riffs, creeping organ bursts, dubby echoing, and eerie sound effects flowing throughout) that would greatly impact his later wildly popular work from the Black Ark Studio. As for the theme of the song, Bob’s lyrics are based on hope and inspiration - a signature trait that would later catapult him into super stardom.

4. Don Carlos
Rives Of Babylon

Bunny ‘Striker’ Lee produced this dread version of a reggae classic at King Tubby’s studio in the Waterhouse district of Kingston, JA, in 1983. On the track, Don Carlos pay’s homage to Jah in true Rastaman style. The balance between Carlos’ smooth voice and producer Bunny Lee’s flying symbol dub style are a combination that takes this remake to the next iration.

5. Cornell Campbell
My Confession

When trying to assess Cornell Campbell’s musical career it’s very difficult to nail down his best work, simply because he has so much great material. Although his work is not widely known outside of Jamaica, the smooth singer is a true hero of reggae. He will always be known best for his beautiful crooning lovers rock releases as well as his more spiritual Rastafarian work, with tracks such as ‘I shall not remove’ and ‘They can’t get me out’. My Confession falls into the lovers’ rock category and is a perfect example of his touching falsetto voice. “Here in my direction, I can see your reflection, across the street across the way it flows, just like a mirror it seems to show… Heaven I’m praying, because if it shows too long I might not know where I am going”.

6. Congos
Children Crying

To many, this is one of the most seminal reggae tracks of all time. Recorded at Lee “Scratch” Perry’s world famous Black Ark Studio, it captures the essence of the scene in Jamaica, circa the mid ‘70s. The combination of Perry’s signature drumbeats and ethereal mixing abilities alongside the sublime harmonization’s of The Congos’ Cedric Myton transcend the genre.

7. Johnny Clarke
Ride On Girl

Bunny “Striker” Lee does it again, this time with the Johnny Clarke side “Ride on Girl”, one of many unforgettable tracks created by the pair throughout the 1970s. “Ride on girl” is composed in Lee’s well known rockers and steppers style and grooves along an infectious rhythm all the while relating Clarke’s story of an unappreciative female friend who just can’t be satisfied no matter how hard he tries. With no other choice, he let’s her know its time to ride on. “I man needs peace, not war”.

8. Culture
Marcus Garvey (Down In Jamaica)

This exuberant and bouncy 12-inch release pays homage to Marcus Garvey, a true inspiration of the Rastafarian movement. Garvey was a visionary Jamaican man of African heritage who helped create, amongst many other things, the black star line - a ship line used to take Pan-Africans back to Africa to redeem the mother continent from its European colonizers. The Rastafarian’s regarded Marcus Garvey as a supernatural person. In the song, lead singer Joseph Hill retells: “Earths greatest prophet was born down in [-] St.Anne’s, JA”. Down in Jamaica was originally released on the ‘Cumbolo’ album produced by S. E. Pottinger, in 1979.

9. Desmond Dekker
007/Shanty Town

Desmond Dekker was an early ska and reggae star, who emerged in the mid to late ‘60s, alongside other artists such as; Toots and the Maytals, Prince Buster, and Jimmy Cliff. This alumni of greats were to reggae what Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, and Curtis Mayfield where to early R’n’B. In 1967, Dekker’s ‘rude boy’ anthem “007/Shanty Town” was released and went on to be a massive success. It burned up the charts in Jamaica and brought the genre to an international stage. Desmond’s rude boy image resonated deeply with the revolutionary minded Mods in the UK and the popularity of the song reached the top 15 on UK charts - a feat that had until then eluded all but a few Jamaican artists. It was later featured in the cult classic film The Harder They Come in 1973.

10. Sugar Minott
Oh Mr. DC

Rough and tough times are only made worse by Mr. DC (The District Constable) in this 1978 Ganja Anthem. Sugar Minott feel’s the pain as he pleads with the Constable, “The children dying fe hunger, and I man a suffer, so you’ve got to see its this collie that feed me. Fifty cents a stick and a dollar a quarter, that’s what keeps me alive, me and my two kids and wife… so just let me pass through and Jah will bless you”. The song was recorded over an earlier rhythm track from legendary producer Coxson Dodd at the famed Studio One. It went on to be a huge success in the early stages of Sugar’s career. He later became one of the most influential singers of dancehall in the 1980’s.

- Nigel Joseph

Auditory lessons on work ethic.

Track Listing:

Gangstarr - Work
El Da Sensi & Tame One - The Interview
Gangstarr - The ? Remainz
Choclair - Twenty One Years

Corner Café is an authentic greasy spoon run by an older Korean couple on Pemberton Avenue in North Vancouver. The menu is simple: all-day breakfast, burgers, sandwiches and coffee. Its interior has not been renovated since the ’40s. Eating there is like going back in time.

The coffee is delicious. It’s not too strong or too bitter, it’s just right. Served in the perfect size cup, simply add cream and/or sugar to your taste. Refills are free too!

I recommend the classic breakfast - a healthy serving of spiced potatoes, toast, four sausages and two eggs (sunny-side up of course).

Several Hollywood types have taken a liking to Corner Cafe’s charming aesthetic. It has appeared in several movies and television shows.

Every morning between eight and nine, the place fills up with retired men who meet to bullshit over coffee and toast. Today I joined them. Politics, economics, history and culture is what we bullshitted about.

This gem of a spot may quite possibly be the best and cheapest place for eats in the city. Today’s glorious breakfast, including coffee, set me back less than six bucks.

Thud, Slurp, Kliong, Boom, Splonk, Ffizoom!

El Estratografico’s Flickr set Retronomatopeya, documents the simple yet creative language used in comic books to convey sound.

Devoted AP readers may remember a post from a couple months back titled Precision Fade, in which I described the characteristics of a good, reliable barber.

Like new clothes, toothpaste or food, haircuts are a regular part of the consumption process, and how one cuts/styles their hair says a lot about who they are. To keep one’s identity in tact, remaining selective with whom you left shorn your locks is essential.

Once, while navigating my way through the crisscrossed back roads of old Barcelona, I came across an intriguing barbershop. I knew from its old-world aesthetic, peach-colored interior, scattered assortment of outdated products and glowing containers of barbicide, that the middle-aged man inside with the clippers was the real deal and could be trusted. Tipsy off several tall-boy cans of Estrella, I walked in, smiled and waited for my turn. Ten minutes and 3 Euros later, the best haircut I’ve ever had was completed. An amazing feat considering neither of us could understand a lick of each other’s language.

There’s ad copy, and then there’s bitchin ad copy. Case in point, this sweet insertion for one easy piece (a ’70s one-piece suit). “Easy on and easy off, quick as a flick of her tongue. Sexy cool crinkle cloth for those hot nights to come.” Be sure to “show where your headed in the ultimate fashion climax”, you “walking turn-on”.

As predicted, it didn’t take long for a Japanese mega-corporation to jump on the rice-paddy art bandwagon. Few forms of creative expression remain unmolested for long nowadays.

The union you’re a part of is ripping you off! Join AFSCME. Not only will they get you higher wages, they’ll bust their balls for you doing all the shit work you take for granted like picking up garbage, pushing around old ladies, and making sure that your kids don’t drink piss out of water fountains.

If you’re into multi-cultural snack foods and not lactose intolerant, peep battle of the pseudo-milks. Curdle…curdle…curdle.

Don’t waste your parents’ money on art school. All you need to do to make it big is place a different banana on your windowsill each day, photograph it, and hock off the resulting documentation as an ingenious concept. Some critics will think your a has-been, others will praise your aptitude and faculty. Being an artist is easy!

The animals will save us!

Au Bon Gout.

Created by intermixing purple and yellow-leafed kodaimai rice with local green-leafed tsugaru-roaman variety, imaginative farmers in rural Japan grow mass scale rice paddy artworks in their fields.

According to Pink Tentacle, “In recent years, a growing number of local governments around Japan have started organizing rice paddy art projects as a way to attract tourists and educate people about rice farming.”

I’m surprised that a major Japanese brand has yet to integrate this unique practice into its marketing mix. I wonder how long it will be before we see a Toyota, Nissan, Nikon or Sony logo surface in a farmer’s field?

Although this year’s rice-growing season has only just begun, images of fresh rice paddy art have already begun to emerge. The photos after the jump are from the Yamagata prefecture town of Yonezawa.

Related Post: Rice Art of Inakadate Japan

Discovering that the sensuous Russian woman you’ve been talking dirty with and sending money to online is actually a man (part of one of the many disturbing Russian mafia rings making a fortune off of such scams) can be heartbreaking!

Creativity Online recently published the 2008 Creativity 50. Radiohead, Yugo Nakamura, Johnathan Harris and The Coen Brothers are among the innovative minds listed.

Redheads are commonly stereotyped with having fiery tempers and sharp tongues. During the Middle Ages, green eyes and red hair were thought to be characteristic of a witch, a werewolf or a vampire. Scary! Just like this website.

In the ’30s, London’s public pool scene was hopping. Overtime people got tired of swimming, attendance rates dropped and pools became uneconomical to run. Photographer Gigi Cifali’s “Absence of Water” series documents these once happening locations in their now eerie and decrepit states.

“All you have to do to look great this summer is keep it simple, tone down the accessories, lose the make-up, and be the most beautiful woman anybody’s ever seen, ever.” I Agree.