Ferrari World Opens Soon

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi will be the world’s largest indoor theme park.
Opens November 4, 2010.
Admission - $60

The Main Attractions:
- Formula Rossa – The world’s fastest roller coaster reaching speeds of up to 150mph.
- Speed of Magic – A fantasy journey that lets you follow the adventures of a young boy as he travels through 4-D fantasy dreamscapes.
- Made in Maranello – A virtual trip behind the walls of the famous Ferrari factory in Maranello.
- V12 – An exciting flume ride to the heart of a 12 cylinders engine.
- G-Force – A thrilling tower ride that will let you experience the actual G-force of a Ferrari, in a seat inspired by the Ferrari Enzo.
- Scuderia Challenge – Experience the ultimate state-of-the-art racing simulations.
- Fiorano GT Challenge – The ultimate drag race.
- Galleria Ferrari – The ultimate display of Ferrari cars straight from Maranello and top collectors from around the world.
- Junior Grand Prix – Racing fun for kids in scaled-down Ferrari F1 racer

The Father and His Sons

A father had a family of sons who were always fighting. He had no luck trying to stop their arguments with words, so he decided to teach them a lesson. He told his sons to bring him a bunch of sticks. He took the sticks and gave them to his eldest son and asked him to break them. The eldest son tried with all his strength but was not able to do it. The other sons tried and were also unsuccessful. The father then separated the sticks and put one into each son's hand. He asked his sons again to try and break the sticks. They broke them easily. The father said, "My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite to assist each other, you will be like these sticks together; but if you are divided among yourselves, you will be broken as easily as a single stick."

an age old fable.

Runaway

A Short Film by Kanye West

The Audacity to Change the World

For many years, I have often questioned if I deserve what I am given or why I am blessed with so many wonderful opportunities. In light of the recent passing of a childhood friend, I have been very pensive and introspective about life, its meaning and its purpose. With amazing life experiences, from growing up on the south-side of Chicago to dinners with billionaires to visiting the free-trade zone between Haiti and the Dominican Republic to attending a top-twenty University, I have not only seen extreme wealthy and poverty, but also, extreme sadness and happiness.

With so many eye-opening experiences of both, struggle and 'the good life,' I will no longer ask myself such a useless and worn-out question. I am walking my own path while picking up very useful tools along the way and for that reason, I am blessed. For that reason, I will now ask myself, "What positive things will I do with all these opportunities, how will I continue serving others and thus, helping myself and most importantly, HOW WILL I HELP CHANGE THE WORLD?"

Do you think Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Mother Teresa, Maya Angelou, Hellen Keller, Winston Churchill, Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln and etc., just woke up one day with the power to change the world as teenagers, young adults and adults? Or do you think they began to ask the more important question, 'how can I help others with my passions? Teresa believed in Love, Ghandi believed in Peace and MLK believed in the Dream. Mandela once said, "there is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” Everyone believes in something amazing, whether YOU realize it or not. It is my hope and prayer that you continue to find and embrace your passions and purposes. Stop asking, 'why am I so blessed, why has my neighborhood become so bad and why does life oscillate so much,' and begin asking yourself the right questions, the questions that not only result in helping others, but also helping yourself.

Begin and continue using your passions to everyone's advantage. If you love painting, create pictures depicting the struggles of others. If you love children, begin volunteering at foster homes and after-school programs. If you love building cars, work to build more energy-efficient and nature-friendly vehicles. If you love something, embrace it! If you love something, use it! If you love something, say it! With the recent passing of yet another childhood friend, I have not only come to realize that life is very fragile, but that it is very important to be zest-ful. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, but today you can begin making a difference.

As for me, I plan on helping through movies, documentaries, food, photography, public speaking, mentoring and many other passions that will one day be discovered.

But enough about me, HOW WILL YOU HELP CHANGE THE WORLD?
Believe me, you have the power. Go forth.


One Life, You Decide™

TEDxMidwest Style

TED may be an acronym for Technology, Entertainment and Design, but it stands for much, much more. For many, it serves as a reminder to be idealistic in a seemingly pessimistic society.

About a week ago, I was given the opportunity to volunteer for the TEDxMidwest conference at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Of course, this was not my first encounter with TED - in fact, me and TED go way back. I first came across the website about two years ago and watched several inspirational videos from Steve Jobs' "How to Live Before You Die," to Graham Hill's "I'm a Weekday Vegetarian." Guaranteeing-ly, every video on the TED.com serves a purpose, from tickling a funny bone to turning a smile upside down with more serious videos on topics such as 'sex slavery, corruption, gay-bashing and etc.'

The 'x' next to TED signifies that it is an independently organized TED event. Although this was the first annual TEDxMidwest event, the organizers and supporting staff made sure that it was an extraordinary event. But that is not it. I was given the greatest opportunity to work behind stage and converse with all the great speakers and performers. Over the course of a day and a half, I talked to individuals with interesting careers: National Geographic Photographer, Ocean Defender, Expert of Deception, Behavioral Economist, Painter, World Expert on Negotiation and Peace, National Geographic Explorer, Visual Designer, Dinosaur Hunter, Urban Revitalization Strategist, Sustainable Architecture Builder, Rainforest Conservationist, Chocoloatier, Storyteller,Imaginist, Top Hacker Guru, Ocean Ambassador and Space Program Head.

Without a doubt, there was something for everyone at this conference. It served as the exact thing I needed at the perfect time. With my upcoming move and start to my career, I feel like I am unstoppable. A few weeks ago, a good buddy of mine told me to start looking at life's path as a track with hurdles that I will definitely be able to get over if I prepare myself properly. There are no road blocks in life, only hurdles. Life is all based on how you view it.

I now have another goal to put on my bucketlist, another goal to strive for. One day, I would like to be a speaker at a TED event, and if I prepare myself properly, I will.

One Life, You Decide™

50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind, Reblogged

1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?
3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?
4. When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
5. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?
6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?
8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?
10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
11. You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distasteful and unjustified. What do you do?
12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
13. Would you break the law to save a loved one?
14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?
15. What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
16. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?
17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do? What’s holding you back?
18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?
19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
20. Do you push the elevator button more than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?
21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?
22. Why are you, you?
23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?
24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?
25. What are you most grateful for?
26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?
27. Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?
28. Has your greatest fear ever come true?
29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now?
30. What is your happiest childhood memory? What makes it so special?
31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?
32. If not now, then when?
33. If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?
34. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?
35. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?
36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?
38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
39. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?
40. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?
41. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?
42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?
43. What is the difference between being alive and truly living?
44. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?
45. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?
46. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?
48. What do you love? Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?
49. In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that?
50. Decisions are being made right now. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?
Reblogged from marcandangel.com

Influencers

Influencers is an upcoming documentary about the title itself. What does it mean to be an influencer, an innovator or a mentor in today's creative world? Be taught and then become the teacher.

Waiting for the End

Linkin Park

G.O.O.D. MUSIC Does the Cypher

The Year of 23: Now or Never

The Bucketlist
1) Run a 5K or 10K [✔]
2) Brew and drink a homemade wine[✔]
3) Volunteer at least 150 hours for a greater good
4) Hike to the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles [✔]
5) Journal daily[x]
6) Perform 23 selfless acts for complete strangers[23][✔]
➝At least one act must be to help someone (friend or stranger) achieve a big dream [✔]
7) Become CPR certified
8) Learn to play the piano and be able to play two songs well
9) Attend Day Glow LA 2010 [x - Event Not Scheduled in LA]
10) Solve a Rubik's Cube
11) Take a picture of myself daily[x]
12) Complete personal website & completely redesign Hopeful Dreams Today [✔]
13) Visit San Francisco [✔]
14) Sell a piece of artwork [✔]
15) Draft a chapter once a month (for upcoming book)[x]
16) Be a "Yes Man" for a week (exact dates will not be disclosed)[✔]
17) Attend a Lakers game[x]
18) Go skiing [✔]
19) Learn how to make sushi[✔]
20) Break a Guinness World Record
21) Be an extra in a film/short[✔]
22) Take a yoga or meditation class[✔]
23) Sleep under the stars[✔]

For every task I do not complete, I will add $20 to the One Life Brand Foundation.

First things first, thank you to everyone who emailed, called, texted or messaged me with suggestions for my 'Year of 23' list. Over the last few days, I received over 150 fantastic and daring suggestions. Today, I managed to scale the list down. In celebration of my 23rd birthday and with the help of friends, I have compiled the list above. For every year I have been alive, there is a goal I must complete by my 24th birthday. If you do not see your suggestion on this list, be sure to check out my previous post, Dreams & Goals, which is an extended bucketlist of goals I would like to complete in my lifetime. I would highly appreciate the support and inspiration from my readers to stay on track. 23 | History in the Making.

One Life

Wise Words from Jimmy Carter

"With unmatched economic power and military might. The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways. It is a crisis of confidence. It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will. We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose for our nation. The erosion of our confidence in the future is threatening to destroy the social and the political fabric of America.

The confidence that we have always had as a people is not simply some romantic dream or a proverb in a dusty book that we read just on the Fourth of July. It is the idea which founded our nation and has guided our development as a people. Confidence in the future has supported everything else - public institutions and private enterprise, our own families, and the very Constitution of the United States. Confidence has defined our course and has served as a link between generations. We’ve always believed in something called progress. We’ve always had a faith that the days of our children would be better than our own.

Our people are losing that faith, not only in government itself but in the ability as citizens to serve as the ultimate rulers and shapers of our democracy. As a people we know our past and we are proud of it. Our progress has been part of the living history of America, even the world. We always believed that we were part of a great movement of humanity itself called democracy, involved in the search for freedom; and that belief has always strengthened us in our purpose. But just as we are losing our confidence in the future, we are also beginning to close the door on our past.

In a nation that was proud of hard work, strong families, close-knit communities, and our faith in God, too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption. Human identity is no longer defined by what one does, but by what one owns. But we’ve discovered that owning things and consuming things does not satisfy our longing for meaning. We’ve learned that piling up material goods cannot fill the emptiness of lives which have no confidence or purpose."

-Jimmy Carter, Crisis of Confidence, 1979

Advertising: FedEx from USA to Brazil

I like this ad simply for its international aspect.

Louis Vuitton's The Big Apple

Although LA is my home, I love NYC. Very cool short on the history of 'The Big Apple.'