For anyone who does not think REAL change is happening right now, you are looking in the wrong places or you are not awake. A major shift in conscientiousness is taking place before our eyes, and for the first time in human history people around the world are joining together and taking action.

A perfect example of this, is Kony 2012. This has become the most successful online campaign in the history of the internet and went viral faster then any other video…EVER. The video sheds some light on the massive global atrocities of the LRA, but really it is about something much bigger. If the global community can work together towards bringing Joseph Kony and the LRA down, then we can use it as a spring board towards massive change and eventually world piece. For the first time ever, we have the tools and human awareness to do this.

We are truly seeing a new generation of justice and peace. The world we have always wanted is coming.
Get Ready!

HOW YOU CAN HELP
Get in touch with Ink Monstr, who is the official print partner for Colorado Kony 2012, and/or Denver Awareness on April 20th.
Time: 6pm
Where: Commons Park
** Help spread the word by putting up posters across Denver and give a global voice by acting locally

Not in Denver?
Do your part and take action HERE
Cover the Night and get involved on April 20th:

Get involved in Denver with Denver Awareness

KONY 2012 (part 1) :: I hoped you have watched this video, because the powers that be seem to have taken it off the web.

KONY 2012 (part 2) :: follow up and the amazing progress that has already happened around the world

Defy Bags
American Made. Durable. Custom.
Defy uses old military canvas, parachute material, rubber, and more, to bring you a collection of bags and accessories that are stylish and built to last. Coming out of Chicago, IL Defy Bags focuses on the highest quality craftsmenship and the reuse of our existing resources.
I want a bag and a lifestyle like that. For more information and to purchase some of their products go to: Defy Bags

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- Rustin Sage Coburn

As  you have probably noticed over the last four to five months a small group of contributing writers have started to fill this blog up with their creative ideas, and slowly breath life back into the voice of what DVLP was… and is.  The core of what DVLP (a Colorado clothing company that saw international success for 5 plus years) stood for was this; “a continuous journey about enjoying life, having fun, and giving back to our community and planet through creative activations.”

How do you live a better life that makes you happy, makes the people around you happy, and supports a healthy planet earth? My post on the Blue Movement a few months back touches on these ideas as a more structured concept… and a global movement. DVLP continued to search for methods of building a positive community of creative people that could make a difference on this planet. The clothing was our platform to reach people, and while the brand had to close its doors in early 2011, the voice and ideas still live on… and that is why, Ches, Abella, Tyler, and myself enjoy filling this blog with our inspirations, findings and thoughts.

Perhaps some day this journey of ideas will once again formulate into a product like clothing, or something else creative. Until then, thank you very much for reading our blog and actively caring about how you live your life.

- Rustin Sage Coburn

NEXT WEEK:
While contemplating the meaning behind all of this I began to research the value of working together versus working alone. What other documentation and studies were out there? What are the most efficient and sustainable ways to be productive and make a positive difference?
Next week I will explore these ideas in more depth and share a little more about what I have learned.

“You’re not your job. You’re not how much money you have in the bank. You’re not the car you drive. You’re not the contents of your wallet. You’re not your fucking khakis. You’re the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world. ”

Ok, so maybe Tyler Durden’s soap box is a bit too tall for me to stand on, but what he’s getting at here truly resonates with me– as I’m sure it does for many of you. The notion is: Don’t let your social status or your possessions dictate who you are.
However, Tyler’s last sentence here implies we cannot do this because we are no better than anyone else. I beg to differ. I strive to do better and be better every day. And in many instances, I believe we can be better by possessing less.

A while back I was geeking out on Mashable(a website that covers digital culture, social media, and technology news) and ran across an article titled 4 Big Trends for the Future of Sustainable Tech. The whole article is awesome and I highly recommend the quick read, but #3 on the list really caught my attention. The concept is “Micro-Living,” and the idea behind it is that we can reduce, or do away with, much of the material goods we accumulate in our lives.

Think of a goldfish in a bowl. If you put a tiny goldfish in a big bowl, it will fatten up and grow to the size of it’s environment.
If you put a perfectly content human in a big space, they find themselves yearning for “things.” They will seek to fill that space– unnecessarily.

Simplicity is sometime the most difficult thing to accomplish. Living a simple life, or building a simple structure….can be a lifetime exercise, but sometimes everything seems to flow together into a perfectly simple idea or creation.  Tonight I stumbled upon this bridge built in The Netherlands. It exemplifies mankind’s ability to create a simple and efficient structure that blends into its surroundings, yet still serves a purpose.

People often attempt the improbable of walking on water. We have often walked underwater in a pool or ocean, but to walk below water without getting wet or wearing a diving suit was nearly impossible until now. Designed by RO&AD Architects of the Netherlands and Belgium, this pedestrian bridge is an access route to the Fort de Roovere, part of the 17th century defense structures. The concept and execution is so unique that from afar, it is really non-existent. All that you see is a marked line in the landscape but it appears flat and it doesn’t interrupt the views of the area.

Only when looking and standing parallel to it, can you experience the depth and unique experience of walking under water, all without a drop of water on your clothing. uilt with Accsys Technology, Accoya wood undergoes a nontoxic proprietary modification process called acetylation that prevents fungal decay from the exposure of water and moisture while increasing its structural stability. While this water walkway is simple in concept, it is quite complex in its execution.

If you get bored with life ever, then do NOT read this post….it is not for you…

time is but a perception of reality

A few months back I posted a short vision on “How to Slow Down Time“, and today I would like to add a Part 2…. although keep in mind that none of what I am writing about is scientifically proven, or backed up by any “Real Authority”, “Professional Establishment”, or anything else that you might find in-between exclamation marks. It is purely my thoughts and experimentation with life. To be clear, my main focus with this exploration is to learn how to have more time, thus creating true freedom

On the last post I asked if it was possible to actually slow down time, and what this might mean. Time is maybe the most valuable thing we have to offer and gain, and yet why do we continually waste it? I was reminded of this again when watching the movie In Time…. I recommend it.

Why can we not be present and live for the moment upon us? All these wonderful digital devices, social media, messaging tools, etc can disconnect us even more. Have you ever seen a group of friends out at a bar all sitting around a table fixated on their phones? Caught up in what has happened, what other people are doing, or what we might do in the future. So silly when you think about it…. but I have done this myself. Why?

Why can’t we live for right now? What is getting in our way? I ask these questions because there is something deep inside our lack of ability to be present that I believe to be the key to slowing down time.
If you have the courage, I challenge you to the following exercise. Start with one hour a day and build from there:

• Do not worry about any future responsibilities, difficulties in your life, things that make you anxious, fears you may have, anger, frustrations, sadness, or negativity of any sort.
• Do not look at your watch or phone or any electronic device.
• Completely engage yourself in what you are doing or who you are with.
• Think about your own breath, and how blessed you are to have everything that you have.

What do you think? How did time pass for you?

- Rustin Coburn

Today I would like to talk a little about how we can help leave a positive footprint on our planet when building new structures. As humans it is in our very nature to consume. We want to have nice things, to built a life, to own a home… and who am I to disagree.  I think we are going to keep acting like humans, but if we can shift our mindset and put our efforts towards better options we will start to create a better world.  And perhaps decrease our impacts on this planet enough to survive and live on a vibrant happy planet.

Below are some helpful things to consider and hopefully implement before building a house or office.

• Choose Efficient Appliances powered by Energy from Renewable Resources.  Choosing efficient appliances, air conditioners and computers can make a big difference in energy use and carbon emissions from power plants.
• Do Not Use Rainforest Timber.  Our rainforest are dimensioning at a shockingly rapid rate. Click the link to learn about other timber options.
• Reduce & Recycle Construction Waste. Packaging, new material scraps and old materials and debris all constitute potentially recoverable materials.
• Breath Healthily with low V.O.C. in your home. Having clean and pure air is important to healthy living for all of us.
• Grow Food Forest Using Permaculture. Food forests take the idea of growing food like it would naturally grow in the forest, but they are designed and managed ecosystems that are very rich in biodiversity and productivity.

Thank you for your time.

- Rustin Coburn

Today was the first day of 2012…although you will be reading this on Jan 2nd, the first Monday of a brand new year. I spent today contemplating this last year of life and how so much has changed and shifted.
There were a lot of wise words and truth to Tyler’s last post…. and I will say that for me 2011 was the beggest year of change I have ever experienced.

The year cumulated in a wild 10,000 person party in the heart of Denver last night. The night started on a wild adventure with my friend Ryan Lorenz.
The tattered streets of a windblown Denver, sneaking into the  Decadence party with VIP arm bands, the visual lights of a party made for the moon, and the throbbing mobs of anticipation.

Backstage with Abella, looking over the pulsating crowds, I began to realize that my entire night… and maybe entire life… was rushing from one place to another to get things done. Schedules, rules, deadlines, expectations, accomplishments, failures, meetings, dates, adventures. While I have deeply enjoyed and learned from all of it, the simple truth is that this moment is what we live for. We keep trying to get some where…where is that? When maybe all we really need to do, is be present and in tune with the vibrations of the world….and the vibrations of ourselves.

The night ended with a four hour conversation with Abella and Ryan in the small warmth of my car, parked in an alley lot. The after parties raged on, but all we needed was a little warmth, three bottles of water and good conversation. The moments when you get to be in tune with yourself and the people around you are rare. Ask those difficult questions.
Listen.
Really listen to what is said….instead of waiting for your turn to talk.
This entire planet is made up of magnetic vibrations all the way down to the composition of an atom. If we want to find a better way to live….
Happy.
Sustainable.

Let go of the anger and the fear. What is it there for? Stop for a moment and feel what is around you. No one is judging you but yourself. So stop and just be.
It sounds crazy I know, but just try listening to the vibrations around you and make some positive change out of it.

There was something different in the air today in Denver. A genuine happiness. A present moment.
Welcome 2012… lets see what you got!

- Rustin Coburn

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!
Over the last month the US has spent over $40 billion on Holiday Shopping.
We are not gonna stop shopping, but I thought it would be cool to show some inspiring Videos from American Made Manufacturers.
Find more at FUCK YEAH MADE IN USA
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Pointer Brand from Cumberland Marketing on Vimeo.

Defy Bags: Old Materials. New Ideas. from Jerry Rig on Vimeo.

Tellason from Vertical Online on Vimeo.