Man. Holy shit. Just like that.

So I’ve got a list of talented buddies, you know? Motherfuckers making music, guys coding up big web sites, building houses, making hats, making bindings, photographers, illustrators…and I’m so lucky to know them. Incredible people thinking up stuff and making it come to life.

Ryan Coulter falls directly into the latter. Indiana blood in his veins. Helicopter pilot. Industrial designer. Skateboarder. Fuckin’ World Champion Spy Hunter player!

He came into the shop tonight with a company in his pocket.

The last we spoke, he was “working on a little something” and was busy as hell. And today, a couple months, later he comes in and blows my mind with his new project, “Uncommon.”

He hands me a little coupon card with a scratch off promo code. Wham! Real company! Right there. I go to their website and my mind is compressed even further. Vin built this? What? No one tells me shit! I mean, what the hell isn’t Instrument working up?

Custom iPhone cases with yer own art!? Fun as hell.

We upload a little of this and a little of that, and man, the site works so well, and looks beautiful the whole time and not a minute later I’m inputting my address for delivery into a well-crafted E-commerce form. Incredible. (See above! I got orange, in a big way!)

And there’s Coulter, that Indiana Hoosier, just beaming behind me. A big ol’ toothy smile, all red-faced and just awesome.

“Working on a little something, Draplin…”

What is it with these iPhone cases?! My buddy Alex has worked on Griffin and now Speck. Arlie promotes Incase. Now this. I’m torn. I don’t know which one to use? I might just buy two more iPhones, just to enjoy all the kick-ass shit my friends make. What a goddamn world.

Coulter, you beast, I love ya. The DDC is very proud of you. And Vin. And all who make this fun stuff.

This one is in the works, as these words go to print.

Bravo, Coulter! Holy hell. Warn me next time, you fucker!

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GET IT GOING, PEOPLE: Get Uncommon! Make yer own iPhone case! Custom as hell. Do it. Just in time for the holi-daze!

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EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE UNICORN DART COMPANY: Everything. It all goes to hell right around 1990. No reason to click around past that year. My little opinion, and like I know anything? (Thank you, Ben Pieratt!)

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YOU THINK YOU MAKE COOL STUFF, RIGHT?: Then don’t click this link: FWIS, people!

Every time I hit that site up, my stock goes down a couple points. So much great stuff! I’m gonna go make a sandwich and try to forget that I’m on my way out, and should more or less just crawl off into the woods to die. Be careful in there. Much respect, FWIS!

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ON THE PLAYER:

01. Richmond Fontaine - Lost Son
02. Lifter Puller - Half Dead And Dynamite
03. Flaming Lips - Clouds Taste Metallic (Loud!)