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It’s always a treat to be introduced to new music through a striking video. The clip for Angry Young Man by Get Well Soon explores the ugly side of the relationship between people and the natural world, as seen through the eyes of children.

Director Anthony Atanasio is a successful commercial director with a masterful visual style. I came across his nightmarish experimental short film, The Persistence of Memory and had to share it.

Every year since 1949, a mysterious visitor has paid tribute to Edgar Allen Poe by leaving a bottle of cognac and roses at his tomb on his birthday. This week marks the first time in 61 years that nobody came,

Here is a fascinating read on Moscow’s estimated 35,000 stray dogs. One grouping has taken up life in the subway system, where a select few have actually learned to ride trains.

Few people would doubt that David Blaine is one of the finest illusionists ever. It’s when he started playing with reality that his stunts went to a whole other level. Here he discusses how he held his breath under water for 17 minutes.

Here is to remembering the life of Joe “The Great” Rollino, a Coney Island sideshow strongman who just passed away at the age of 104, after being struck by a car near his home. He was clearly a remarkable human being.

MIXTAPE 03: IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN

A friend of mine is something of a hardcore conspiracy theorist. He recently shared this list of 33 conspiracy theories that turned out to be true.

Gavin Castelton does a rather wowing one man band live-looping version of Peter Gabriel’s hit single, Sledgehammer.

Here is the fascinating story of how two men who were wrongly labeled terrorists and imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay were reunited with a guard who befriended them. Their story was recounted in Michael Winterbottom’s brilliant film, Road to Guantanamo.

The people of Haiti need as much help as possible after an earthquake struck at the heart of their nation. The images of loss and suffering are heart wrenching. Here is a list of reputable NGOs who can immediately put your donation to good use. This is one of those moments in history where the world must do more than just sit back and watch events on a television. Lets be good to one another.

My friend and very talented editor, Damion Clayton shared with me this wonderful project that he just completed for Lego. The short film is an inspiring tale about incomplete creative ideas that finally click together.

The special FX and animation gurus at London’s Moving Picture Company have created a free data-calculator application for the iphone. This tool is super helpful for filmmakers both in production and post.

MIXTAPE 02: BETWEEN THE THINKING AND THE SAYING

10 Minute Tales is a short film series created by the Sky1 network. Deep & Crisp & Even is a highly stylized, quirky, dialogueless love story from the series, directed by Brett Foraker. You can see his brilliant commercial work here.

Pentagram offers up some design psychotherapy by asking the question, “What type are you?” The password answer is “character.”

What if you and everyone in your town all received mysterious hand written letters and nobody had a clue where they were coming from? The Mysterious Letter project plans to write a letter to everyone on the planet. I hope they have lots of ink and strong wrists.

WFMU Radio has launched the Free Music Archive, a wonderful curated collection of music that spans many genres and can be downloaded at no cost. Additionally, these songs have been made available in an arrangement inspired by the Creative Commons licensing movement and are pre-cleared for most uses.

In this digital age, who knows what will become of album packaging. Sleevage is a wonderful archive of sorts that is dedicated to becoming the most comprehensive online resource for record artwork. Below is the LP cover for the first cassette I ever bought with my own money. Between the sleeve cover and the video for Hot For Teacher, Van Halen was most certainly my introduction to sex, drugs and rock & roll at a very young age.

MIX TAPE 01: SAD SONGS IN MY SWEET HEART

This is the first in an ongoing series of short mixes. I’ve been listening to all of these songs on repeat lately.

Convincing the world that the human impact on climate change is the most urgent issue of our times is not enough. Politicians and citizens alike must be moved to actively participate in adjusting how we live and how we pass policy. With sponsorship from the WWF, sculptor Mark Coreth has put together this brilliant public installation of a melting polar bear to inspire us.

Sometimes I fantasize about what a great dictator I’d make; I probably shouldn’t admit that in public. Every power-hungry person needs a good uniform and that’s exactly what label Social Suicide has put forth, a collection called Dictators of Fashion.

(via Made In England)

Jay-Z has launched 2010 with a mind blowing music video for the track On To The Next One. The promo was directed by British video wiz Sam Brown, the creative force behind the clip for Foo Fighter’s The Pretender clip, also a marvel.

Swedish fashion label Whyred commissioned a rather surreal short film, La Vitesse Et La Pierre which is composed entirely of still images. The project reminds me of Chris Marker’s La Jetee.

The New York City Health Department is hosting a design contest for condom packaging. Entries are due January 22nd.

This film shows the many steps involved in the construction process of the official Jabulani 2010 FIFA World Cup game ball.

(via kottke)