SUSO

Mr Keepy Uppy Does It Again

Over the weekend Dan Magness broke yet another world record by playing "keepy-uppy" 30 miles across London, visiting every Premier League stadium in the capital.  The Urban foot juggler left Fulham's Craven Cottage at 0800 GMT and finished at Tottenham Hotspur's White Hart Lane stadium at about 2145 GMT.

The plan is now to send the ball Dan used on a 10,000-mile overland journey to Johannesburg, South Africa.  On its journey, the football will be taken through Europe and 17 African countries to the opening of the World Cup in the South African city.In much the same vein as the Olympic Torch, the football - which organisers refer to as The Ball - is seen as a symbol of hope, promoting peace and unity.

The ball was hand-stitched in Africa by Alive & Kicking, a UK-based social enterprise that runs stitching factories in Kenya and Zambia.

The Winter Olympics Are Coming

... and if the games themselves are anything as good as the BBC's creative trailer we're in for a real treat.  Vancouver, 13th Feb, get it in the diary and reserve the sofa seat at home!

That Time Of Year

"Time to pack the bags and head for the hills ... destination Laax & The Brits 2010!"

With the best snowfalls in living memory right across Europe, you'd be a fool (a fool we tell you!) not to...

Now where's that piggy bank of mine...

Please Sir Can We Have Some More...

Here's to more quality big screen viewing in 2010... to film makers everywhere, "may your imagination run riot like Stark Enterprises and your creative juices flow like the falls of Avatar .... or something like that."

End Of Dayz

Our tech-savvy colleague here at the SUSO studio feels (a little) passionately about this one so it's over to him in his words...

"As of 6pm today (in Las Vegas), Google launched its bid for world domination, launching the Google Phone. Needless to say, it makes even the latest iPhone look like ‘Toys-R-Us’ (underpowered, slow, even dated...). Why is this new phone so special? Well, Apple’s reign of tyranny is over – I say this because Apple locks you into everything they use, telling you what to use, when and how.  We buy buy into it because it is “sexy”, because the marketing is effective and because the product design is at times breath-taking in its simplicity. But very soon the Apple fortress WILL crumble.

Why am I sure of this? One word: Android. Android is Googles ‘doomsday weapon’. It gives the consumer, and the supplier, something which Apple have long been unable and unwilling to give. Choice.  Apple never bargained on Android. It is 'open source' – this means anybody can program for it, and it means developments and changes are constantly being perfected. In essence, it opens up the development of the interface to one of the most powerful forces of progress in the modern world: capitalism; i.e. a competitive market. And as we all know, competition drives success, and progress. What does this mean for the user? One word: CHOICE. It won’t be long before the number of apps available on Android exceeds that of the iPhones and itunes is on the slide.

So, in Apple’s “Ragnarok” if you will, the final battle will be about exactly this: Style vs. the Power of CHOICE."

Ok Chris, Take a breath old friend.  Not really sure what that all means but it sounds terribly exciting!

Get the latest LIVE updates here from Vegas.

And one last thought from our geeky friend, "Remember, Google intergrates with everything. Even your life."

We'll take your word for it.

The Real Man From Atlantis

"A million metres in 12 months..."

On December 28, with 3 days to go, Giles Meyer swam the final 3000 meters in his bid to swim one million metres in 2009. That is the equivalent of 2.7km or 30 lengths of Tooting Bec Lido every single day of the year! Included in this total was his 21 mile night swim the length of Lake Windermere and back and his record breaking swim Germany to Denmark across the Baltic Sea.

In the process he raised significant funds for FARM Africa and also for Rainer, a charity helping disadvantaged youngsters.

The man is pure No Can't Do with finns.
 

Xmas Playtime

"Festive Fun"

In an age of high tech gaming it's always amazing how much fun can be derived from the simplest of competition.  Quality creativity really is timeless. Check out this game here. 

Get clubbin'! 312m the SUSO Studio goal to beat!

The Hoff Today, You Tomorrow?

Check it out here.

(Stick with it, it takes a minute or so to load.)

It's a genius bit of creative advertising (although for exactly what we're not really sure...) ....  the bottom line is you can have a lot of fun by dropping in your best profile shot and forwarding on to friends proclaiming your good self as the saviour of the world.  For us today, that mantel has to be reserved, for  'the Hoff'.

True Tube On The South Bank This Weekend

TrueTube have been on the road this summer and autumn helping young aspiring film makers, particularly those less able to gain access to equipment and expertise, to realise their creative goals.

However the overarching aim of the tour has been to offer disadvantaged young people from 16-25, an opportunity to become involved in social and community action using film as a tool for engagement.

The TrueVan (as it has become know), kitted out with 3 cameras, a video booth and editing equipment, has visited 24 youth groups and festivals across England over the course of 2009 where tutors have supported young people in making films about social, moral, community, political and environmental issues.

The project culminates this weekend, Saturday from noon, in a large scale event at the BFI in London. Here the films produced during the project will be shown before a number of guest speakers including film and documentary makers, leading politicians and campaigners as well as the young film makers themselves.

The whole programme is youth led – with a steering group offering strategic advice and direction throughout. Get down and check it out. We'll see you there.
 

School Wars Are Here

The crew at Monorex have just announced a special "one off" School Wars art challenge taking place on the 23rd October @ The Village Underground, Shoreditch.  The event will host 16 schools from around the country and will run across a full working day (9am till 7pm)!  Something different to the average school day for sure!

Students that will be taking part will vary in age groups and will battle in school teams for a place in the grand final. The theme and challenge of this event will be loosely based around the Teenage Ninja Turtles, celebrating its anniversary and new game release "Smash Up".  Why not...? Fueling the teenage creativity SUSO will be on hand to keep all refreshed and fruity and scream encouragement as the competition heats up....

The Monorex crew will also take the opportunity to paint the large wall of fame out front of the venue - watch out for this as it is sure to look amazing!  For more information on the event and the Monorex crew check out the School Wars site here.

STREET FEST 2009

"A new breed of festival where the onus is on promoting and merging creative talents"

The UK's standout art street festival, STREET FEST showcases the talents of painters, architects, designers, illustrators, skaters and writers through live demos, screenings and shows. This niche festival pulls together design styles and crews from all over the world. 

If you're looking for something off the wall and very cool in London this weekend, conceived to inspire your own inner creativity, head along to the quirky and wonderful world that is STREET FEST this Saturday.  We'll see you there.

STREET FEST 2pm - 1am Saturday 3rd of October 2009 @ Hearne St car park, 7-11 Hearn St, Shoreditch, London, EC2 3LS.  Find out more about the gig here.

Festibelly 2009

Congratulations to 'Festibelly Folk Off' finalists Nick Jonah Davis, Off Ground Touch and particularly to the winner on the night Matt Holt.  A fine accoustic set from this guitar talent on the rise.  Your winning cheque from your fans here at SUSO on its way. 

Check out more of Matt's stuff at www.myspace.com/toytunes

For those that missed the Festibelly gig, don't make the same mistake next year.  We'll see you there.
 

SUSO & The Prince's Trust

The Prince’s Trust is world renowned for its commitment to helping to change lives. At SUSO we have a similar driving goal. Our aim is of course to encourage us all to drink more healthily but also to help us to tap into our inner imagination, creativity and determination as a means of overcoming life’s obstacles and achieving more in our lives.

At SUSO we promote a positive attitude of NO CAN’T DO. The Prince’s Trust has helped more than 600,000 young people into work and training since 1976 and supports over 100 more each working day.  This organisation and the people that work there, are a fantastic example of NO CAN’T DO in its purist most charitable form.

Given this synergy of thought and approach, SUSO is thrilled to be supporting The Palace To Palace
Sponsored cycling ride from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle on Sunday 27th September 2009, all in aid of The Prince’s Trust. This as the basis for future joint initiatives between SUSO and this most impressive of charities.

Given the clear basis for collaboration, SUSO’s sponsorship is aimed at helping to provide inspiration for anyone that wants to get involved with the event. Look out for stories on our Blog in the coming weeks built to fuel your energy and appetite ahead of the big day.  Click here for one we're all familiar with!

Of course the fundamental objective of the bike ride is to raise money for the charity through entrance fees and sponsorship. However, the incredible sights on the London to Windsor route make this a journey to remember. Add to this the personal fulfilment of cycling 45 miles and a sense of genuine achievement for those that complete the course is guaranteed. We look forward to seeing you there or here on line in the build up!

For more information on The Prince's Trust and to register for the Palace to Palace 2009 click here.
 

WIN with SUSO & SPECIAL BLEND

At SUSO we believe that when you harness your imagination, creativity and determination, there is nothing you can’t do. The past and the present are full of people who tap into these inner resources and adopt a NO CAN’T DO attitude, either in pursuit of greatness or merely to overcome life’s obstacles. Our site here at SUSO looks to shine a light on these people, for however brief a time, as a source of inspiration for each of us in our daily lives.

Today we want 'you' to share the most inspiring NO CAN’T DO stories you have encountered to further inspire us all. So, whatever your interest - sport, music or the arts - email us your favourite example of NO CAN’T DO achievement (your own or as you have witnessed it) and we will profile the best of
these here at suso.co.uk.

Then, with winter approaching, we will enter you into a draw to WIN some of the latest backpacks and outerwear courtesy of our friends and snow experts at SPECIAL BLEND. We have a dozen pieces of gear to give away ranging from cool Ts to back packs, from snowboard jackets to cargo pants. Check out some of Special Blend's latest trickest gear here. And we have exclusive 'money can't buy' No Can't Do Ts for everyone who's story warrants a post on the SUSO site.

All you have to do is send us your stories, photos, videos or links (whatever you have to tell the tale) to nocantdo@suso.co.uk . Closing date for entry is the 14th December 2009 with the best stories to be showcased and credited here at SUSO through the Autumn. Winners will be announced on the 1st Jan 2010.

Bring on your inspiration. We can't wait to share it.
 

'Folk Off' Line Up Confirmed

Congratulations to soloists and bands - Laura Jayne, Samantha Whates, Nick Jonah Davis, 'Off Ground Touch' and Tom Bem - winners of the 'Folk Off' competition with Festibelly and SUSO. A fine set with a slightly mellower feel now promised after hours on the 29th from this talented crew... (this Saturday even!) . The overall victor to be announced on the night.

The entrants list was long and distinguished so others that didn't make the cut but that are also worthy of a special mention include - 'The Boy I Used To Be', Zoe Croune, Jennifer Concannon, Bryony Marie Fry and Graham McCullough. Tickets for the main show already winging their way out to you all in recognition of your efforts and creative talent.

For last minute event details head to www.festibelly.co.uk .
 

A World Of Opportunity

After a week of exam results - huge congratulations and respect from us all at SUSO if you nailed it.  But equally, huge respect if you didn't and decide now you want to come back stronger next time.  All the true greats have that kind of steely determination...

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

A quality piece of creativity inspired by experience.  2 tickets for the Festibelly music festival in the post to you Mr Ken Trounce.

"Last month I was involved in a terrible accident.  As I lay on the concrete, motionless, blood pouring from my head, the shriek of sirens filled the air. Carted off, the hospital was my home for a week. As I recovered on the ward, drowning out the pain with morphine, I nodded in and out of consciousness, I was carried to a comfortable place. I began visualising a scene, serene and peaceful. I sketched it out while laying in that bed, a memento of a reflective time."

Keep sending in your creative fruits at iamcreative@suso.co.uk .  The UK's up and coming and most intimate of festivals awaits the next lucky winners.

WIN Tickets to Festibelly 2009

"Creativity is doing something about the things only you can see. It's making the imagined real." 

Photo, video, film, song, art piece or otherwise ... send us a tale of your creation at iamcreative@suso.co.uk and if we like it we'll show it to the world .... then we'll send you a pair of tickets to Festibelly on the 29th August, courtesy of our good friends in Hampshire.

Winners to be announced and notified by 21st August 2009.  Find out more about Festibelly at www.festibelly.com
 

Free Running In Trafalgar Square

The Barclaycard World Freerun Champs come to London on the 15th August.  Trafalgar Square to be precise.  Apparently Nelson's Column makes one mean launch pad for these creative souls...

For tickets and more information check out http://www.worldfreerun.com or catch the action on BBC3 at 7pm next Saturday.  In the meantime, here's a taste of what we're in for.

Finding A Way In The UK

In the absence of waves and snow, you got to get creative.  Freestyle Mountain Boarding is that and more.  And with the World Freestyle Champs coming to the UK at the end of this month (29th & 30th August) at the Bugsboarding Mountainboard Centre in Gloucestershire, you've got the very best coming to show how it's done.  There's plenty of scope pre, post and during the event to give it a go for yourself - we'll see you there for a chilled one.

For more information on the event go to www.bugsboarding.co.uk . 

Amadou & Mariam At The Big Chill

"Ali Farka Touré, Alpha, Blondy, Anglique Kidjo, Baaba Maal, Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni ba, Boubacar Traoré, Césaria Évora, Coco Mbassi, Fela Kuti, Femi Kuti, Henri Dikongué, Khadja Nin, Khaled, Kojo Antwi, Lucky Dube, Magic System, Mamadou Diabate, Meiway, Miriam Makeba, Oumou Sangare, Salif Keita, Seun Kuti, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Vieux Farka Touré, Youssou Ndour ..."

The list of great African musical talent is ever increasing.  This weekend if you're heading to the Big Chill you'll be lucky enough to catch perhaps the best of them all - Amadou & Mariam, aka 'the blind couple from Mali".  Their 'afro-blues' fuse the traditional mali sound with rock guitars, violins, trumpets and the rest.... music that simply lifts you to a higher place (and in the case of this stop motion creative chap, quite literally...)

Living Is Winning

Recently premiered in the US, Ironman triathlete Andrew Johnston’s inspirational tale of how he literally embraced the pain in his 2 year battle against Leukaemia is now available to buy on DVD at www.livingiswinning.com .

‘Living Is Winning’ is a story of strength, determination, family and friendship with moments that will make you laugh and many more that will make you cry. One of sport’s amazing stories - here’s the trailer.
 

'Folk Off' With Festibelly & SUSO

This year in advance of Festibelly 2009, Lymington's intimate but pumping music festival, the organisers are presenting 'Festibelly Folk Off', a competition to find 5 of the best acoustic artists to perform at the main event on 29th August.  The winners to be voted for by the fans plus 2 performers from this years line up.  Interested?

The champ on the night will receive £300 worth of music equipment vouchers (courtesy of us at SUSO drinks looking to support the next stream of talent) and a guaranteed slot on the main bill for Festibelly 2010! 

To enter, just send a recording of your best acoustic performance (1 song as MP3) with relevant info and pics to: folkoff@festibelly.com  Deadline for all entrants is 3pm Sunday 16th August. The 5 finalists will be announced the following day, Monday 17th August.

For more information on the festival itself go to www.festibelly.com/

Another First From Tiësto

Tiësto is a man of “firsts”. The first DJ to sell out dates at the Brixton Academy, Alexandra Palace, the O2 Arena and now, tomorrow night the first DJ ever to have his own open air concert in Victoria Park. This the man who performed at the 2004 Olympics opening ceremony, and whose creativity knows no bounds in his remixing everyone from Britney Spears to the The Killers, from Justin Timberlake to Jose Gonzalez to Calvin Harris. Big lights, big noise, big Friday.

Tiësto live at Victoria Park (with Calvin Harris): Friday, 31 July 2009, 3pm – 11pm.  Here's a flavour of what awaits you.
 

TED Comes To Britain

700 delegates, tickets at over £2,500 a pop, applications vetted on line by a panel of judges assessing each individual's life goals and aspirations.  Speakers from the supersmart to the supersuccessful invited to inspire this 700 and the further 300,000 viewing the occasion on the internet worldwide.  Quite simply the TED Conference is an ideas festival aimed at changing the world.

Amongst this week's diverse mix of scientists, businessmen, musicians and intellectuals is our own Mr Stephen Fry.  If Bill Gates managed to upset a few boffins last time out with his 'mosquito plague' then the mind boggles at where our own Black Adder treasure, master of the ironic and the understated, will take us.  In his 18 minute window we entirely expect an inspirational and irreverent piece of 'yes you can' (or NO CAN'T DO) thinking.  We'll be watching.

Follow the action at www.ted.com/

Lightning Strikes London

The triple gold, triple world record holder Usain "Lightning" Bolt is in London this week ahead of the London Grand Prix in Crystal Palace on Friday.  With Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay both hitting form and scheduled to appear this is the place to be to see 'man in his jet boots' ... up close and in the flesh.  Question is, would either of them have beaten this fella? 

20 Years of Mike Blabac

The Art Of Skateboarding, Mike Blabac's first book documenting 20 year of skateboarding history goes on release this month. A visual feast from a legend of the world of skate photography, Blabac's 224 page work of art tracks his humble beginnings through to his status as one of the best cameramen around, famed for many for his work behind the lens on the Great Wall of China capturing Danny Way in full flight. This is a man who was intrigued by cameras and skateboarding from an early age, and who has gone on to apply his creativity in a way, that some 20 years on, visually takes the breath away.

Rumour has it there's a launch party on the 22nd July - (68-72 Redchurch Street but we didn't tell you!)

Keepy-Uppy Record Smashed!

Roy Castle will be cheering from the heavens with glee, for this is a record that every man dreams of. The previous world record, held by the Brazilian Martinho Eduardo Orige, was eclipsed by over four hours according to Guinness. Magness, the 'ginger freestyler', performed his kick-ups in a perspex box in Covent Garden. Thankfully he isn't a complete embarrassment like David Blaine, so the British public didn't feel the need to egg him, paintball him, or hover Big Mac Meals in front of him using a remote controlled helicopter. Check out his skills above. 

YouTube Symphony Orchestra

This film tells the story of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra.The Orchestra is made up of musicians who submitted videos of themselves playing a piece written for this event by Chinese composer Tan Dun. Selected by the YouTube community and several members of the world's most renowned orchestras, the YouTube Symphony Orchestra boasts over 96 professional and amateur musicians from 30+ countries and territories on six continents and represents 26 different instruments. Impressive.

Free Diving World Record

"Anything is possible if you can just set your mind to it." Sara Campbell. 

It has been the source of beautiful cinema (The Big Blue) and fierce competition for many years. The latest landmark came earlier this month when Sara Campbell held her breath for 3 minutes 36 seconds and propelled herself vertically into Dean’s Blue Hole, a 202M deep walled depression in the sea floor. Check the video out here.