Subliminally Yours...

When I was a kid, my mom had a book in the house called Subliminal Seduction. A book about subliminal advertising that had glossy photos in the middle of the book showing how an ice cube in a whiskey advertisement spelled out the word "SEX", how the camel's hump on the pack of Camel cigarettes looks like a breast. It was a mentally titillating book.
Whether or not it works, whether or not it's intentionally placed there by corporate giants looking to brainwash the masses, or just bored artists and graphic designers is for the experts to discuss doesn't matter to me. Hidden images exist, and I love finding them. It's like the grown up version of "spot the 10 hidden images" on the back of Highlights magazines when I was a child. Google "subliminal" to get yourself started. Then you'll be searching every ad for hidden meanings, messages and images. Just like me. (Can you spot the hidden image in the above image? Look really closely, and if you need a hint, the picture at the bottom of the post.)

Distinguished Beards

Recently, I heard about friend's teenage son being told by a stranger to shave his facial hair. When his mother told the woman to mind her own business, the stranger shot back "I'm only trying to help the boy be all that he can be!" What is this? The army?? Since when did facial hair make someone be LESS than great?

And so what if the beard doesn't suit the face? Teenagers have little to no decision making power in their life - let them have choice over their hair! Color it purple, grow it long, shave it off... It's HAIR, it'll grow back, or can be cut. Chill.

The history behind beards and religious affiliations behind beards are fascinating, but I'm not here to philosophize. The history behind beards is long and storied (playoff beards being one of the most common reasons men today grow them) There are so many beards to choose from: fu man chu, Van Dyke, goatee, soul patch, full beard, neck beards... I don't care, they're all awesome. And after I went searching for a list of the most awesome beards in history, I couldn't find the list on the whole of the internet. So started my quest. I want awesome beards, and I want them now. So I've been busy compiling a list of awesome men in history ... who have beards. Add to the list! Rate them! I need your comments!! (By the way, I know there's awesome mustachio'd men in history too, but this is just for the beards...)

Sigmund Freud
Abraham Lincoln
Confucious
Ernest Hemmingway
Vincent Van Gogh
John Lennon
Jerry Garcia
Charles Darwin
Brigham Young
Cat Stevens
Chuck Norris
Kimbo Slice
Blackbeard the Pirate!
ZZ Top
Salman Rushdie
Grizzly Adams
Leonardo Davinci
Ned Kelly
Brian Blessed
Robert E Lee
Moses
Al Borland
Bob Ross
Bam Bam Bigelow
Thomas Swann
Kenny Rogers
Michael Gross
Johann Strauss II
Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani
Col. Sanders
Sebastian Cabot
Jesus Christ
Santa Claus!

This list is far from complete. Add your two cents! Your pictures! Your own beards! I have a desire to complete the internets best bearded list!

Logo Design Update

No, I haven't forgotten my logo project. I've been diligently working on it betwixt real work and relaxing and wasting time on the internet. I've been about to post part deux to my time waster series, but I've been too busy wasting time.

BUT just to keep you all updated on the logo design, here is contact sheet #2. Enjoy - and please send your own suggestions or thoughts (keeping in mind, this is being designed by committee). I hope you enjoy the progression...