While creative people have always existed, the Internet has made it easier for the general public to discover and experience these individuals and their work via sites like YouTube, blogs, etc. If you have yet to experience Phil Hansen’s art, it's time. His Influence piece grabbed YouTube attention last year when he honored 30 individuals who have most impacted his life via his chest. This video was not only a beautiful tribute, but also posed an intriguing question:  Who has influenced your life?

Influence is an interesting word, because it is not bound by the positive or negative. In fact, Hansen gives Hitler one of the 30 spots which certainly raised a few eyebrows; however, it is obvious (as Hansen alludes) that Hitler has greatly “influenced” our world’s perspective of humanity and its capabilities.

Reeses had these great commercials for Peanut Butter Cups where one guy would be walking around with a chocolate bar and another would be cruising around with an open jar of peanut butter, and thanks to some Keystone Cop's kind of moment, they would slam into each other. The random collision would produce a chocolate/peanut butter fusion that we would forever after know as the Peanut Butter Cup. Thus proving, that the bringing together of two great things can produce an even greater third.

The transcendence of The Discovery Channel's Planet Earth series has already been mentioned here at rednoW. Likewise, the beauty and wonder of Sigor Rus music as been put before us.

But what do you get when you bring these two things together?

All I can really say about Dave Eggers' latest novel, entitled What is the What, is the following: this book is very, very important.

Don't get me wrong; I'd love to sit down and write a descriptive, appreciative, praise-filled review of What is the What. However, I think the reason I find myself struggling to do this reinforces my strong belief that Eggers' work speaks entirely for itself.