Over the weekend, I picked up a little book called Technique for Producing Ideas by James Webb Young.  Originally published in 1939, Young outlines a 5-step technique based on his experience in the early days of Advertising.

I’ve always enjoyed old books about fundamental principles of what makes us who we are – especially when it comes to understanding creativity:

• Where do ideas come from?  
• How can you teach and spread ideas?  
• How do you nurture and encourage their growth?

This book echoes what I’ve often thought; that ideas are pulled from a mysterious place and brought to life through structured discipline.  Young talks about how ideas provide the soul to coummunications and “bring spirit and life” to advertistement.  This creative spark brings together the other-worldly connections of our concious & unconsious mind.

“Creativity is just connecting things.” ~ Steve Jobs

The Five Steps

The new Dr Seuss movie The Lorax comes out this weekend featuring music from The Polyphonic Spree

“In.. The Lorax, “Reach For The Sun” perfectly captures the imagination-bending tone of the Seuss classic about a boy (Zac Efron) who encounters the Lorax, a forest creature who protects the environment, while on a search the one thing he hopes will help him win the heart of his crush (Taylor Swift).” Entertainment Weekly

“You gotta be good… you gotta be strong”

Me and Tim Delaughter: Atlanta, GA 2/10/2012

The Polyphonic Spree is a 20 piece+  band from Dallas and I’m a big fan. As a teenager, I went to alot of  Tripping Daisy concerts. They  recorded some of the best indie/alternative music of the 90s and their live show always blew my mind. Their sound continued to grow bigger with each album.

That all came to end in 1999 with some unfortunate changes to the band.  In 2000, they reinvented themselves as the Polyphonic Spree and formed one of the largest rock band/choir/orchestras currently out there.  Their big sound (reminiscent of the Beach Boys) contains an underlying message of hope and optimism.  Their influence has already inspired bands such as Arcade Fire, Secret Machines, and others.

Funny Story

"Blown Away" at the 40 Watt in 2002 | Athens, GA

In the early 2000′s, I was in a rock band called “United” and we used to cover the song “Blown Away” by Tripping Daisy.  We usually played it at the end of our shows and it was always a crowd favorite.

In 2002, The Polpyhonic Spree  came to the southeast to play at the legendary 40 Watt in Athens, Georgia.

That night turned out be an amazing “everything comes full-circle” for me. We were invited to take the stage after the Spree show to play “Blown Away” to an audience filled with the guys from Tripping Daisy.

Those 4 minutes of my life passed quickly, but I remember seeing members of the ‘Spree  jumping up and down and sing along with me.  At the end of the song, Polyphonic Spree manager / Good Records guy, Chris Penn jumped on stage to sing with me and tackled me to the floor as we ended.

BTW: That’s my brother, Ryan Wood on the left playing Mark Pirro’s famous “Space Bass”.

“Don’t Throw Our Love Away”

• He reached teens with his music.
• He iterated and refined his content

Berry Gordy was a wizard at crafting media that spoke to people in a way that caught their attention.  It was a testament to his timing, vision, belief and making it all a reality.

“Gordy’s gift for identifying and bringing together musical talent, along with the careful management of his artists’ public image, made Motown initially a major national and then international success. Over the next decade, he signed such artists as The Supremes,Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Jimmy Ruffin, The Contours, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Commodores, The Velvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas, Stevie Wonderand The Jackson 5.”

“There was a day, there was a time…

In my hometown where I used to stay
The name of the place is Augusta, GA”

A while back, I found this Cuban Sandwich recipe – so I slow-roasted some pork on the Big Green Egg and made a one minute video to show how it turned out.

Pressed Pulled Pork Cubano

Pulled pork layered on a crunchy Italian baguette, topped with thinly sliced pickles, sliced ham, baby swiss cheese and a nice slather of Carolina mustard barbecue sauce on each half of bread.

Ingredients:

18 oz pulled pork shoulder

My Sandwich Close-Up

4 Kosher Style Dill Pickles, sliced into thin strips
8 slices baby swiss cheese
1 Semolina or Italian loaf
4 oz thinly sliced Prosciutto
½ cup Deli-Sliced Peperoncini
Tin foil

Roasted Red Pepper and Pickled Garlic Aioli:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup roasted red pepper strips, drained
8 cloves spicy pickled garlic
Kosher salt and ground black pepper

Aioli Procedure:
Place first three ingredients in food processor fitted with the blade attachment and process until well blended. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Directions:
Preheat grill or skillet to medium-high. Slice bread horizontally. Brush each half of loaves with roasted red pepper and pickled garlic aioli. Layer ingredients as follows on the bottom half of both loaves: Pulled pork, prosciutto, pickle slices, peperoncini, and cheese. Close sandwich, slice into four even portions and wrap each portion loosely with 12 inch sheet of tin foil. Place two sandwich packets on preheated grill or skillet and place a large heavy skillet on top and press down to evenly distribute weight and cook approximately 4 minutes until cheese has melted and bread is lightly brown and crunchy. Repeat for remaining sandwich packets. Remove from foil packets and serve immediately.

————

Loosely wrap the assembled sandwich in a double layer of foil and place on a grill over medium heat with a heavy paving brick or cast iron skillet on top to create a makeshift panini press.   After approximately 4-5 minutes remove weight, flip sandwich, rreturn weight and continue cooking on the other side another 4-5 minutes.  Remove from heat and gently remove the foil.  Slice and enjoy!

“Well!  A beautiful tomorrow – just a dream away.  That says we’re going places.. there’s progress ahead!”

By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond.
Where me and my true love were ever wont to gae
On the bonnie, bonnie banks O’ Loch Lomond.

Refrain:
O ye’ll tak’ the high road and I’ll tak’ the low road,
An’ I’ll be in Scotland afore ye;
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks O’ Loch Lomond.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rjgs3pj_38k]