Internet Killed the Video Star Thursday - (RED)

Love this. Love (RED). Love the inspired concept of creative consumerism and aligning something for yourself with something for someone in need. Win Win.
I am trying not to be biased...but I think Starbucks has a winner with this one, if not only because it has the total scope of distribution to deliver this message in a meaningful way daily.
Plus, the GingerSnap Latte is beyond!

Watch the video. Check out JoinRED. And Happy Thanksgiving to our American friends.

Swedish for Common-Sense.

Ikea 4-ever, but not 4 everything.

I love Ikea. I do.

I love the store, the design, the names, the $0.50 hotdogs.

But I bought an expedit book case yesterday and they were short 12 little wooden dowels. Common sense would tell me... put more in there just in case.

Buzz kill. My books are homeless.

Here are some other non-Ikea non-wooden dowel missing cool design options.

Thank you.

Depression 2009: What would it look like?

"The New Depression would be largely invisible because people would experience loss privately, not publicly."

Recession, Depression... it's all so, well, depressing.

But aren't you curious. What does it all mean?

The Boston Globe wrote this article entitled Depression:2009, what would it look like? (thanks to Vicki L for sending) .
It is an incredibly thorough look at the hypothesized outcome. It's a bit of a long read, but worth it.

By way of interest, did you know?

• early last month, the English bookstore chain Waterstone's reported a 200 percent increase in the sales of books on keeping chickens.

Naked Face or New Christmas Card?

This is a series called Naked Faces.

They look like magical children out of a Narnia fantasy story.

Click here for the artist's website and here for other pics.

New York Times Magazine article: Multi-Screen Mad Men

Today's NY Times Mag article is a must read for anybody in the ad/marketing/branding/idea machine business.

I feel smart again. I feel inspired again. And I feel that although it may sound complicated, it is simple again.

Lately I feel as though my tires have been spinning 100mph, but in the mud. Getting an idea unstuck and gaining traction has been difficult, and AAA is not picking up.

This article in this week's New York Times Magazine has reminded me that marketing, advertising, entertaining, selling (whatever you want to call it) is at its purest always a creative process...and this is my preach to those in the industry, it does require magic and faith (formulas run out of gas). However, even with a great magic, faith-a-plenty idea, the mediums by which it is delivered has suffered from a lack of creativity. When delivered through relevant little layers, selectfully targetted, but all born from the same idea, a beautiful symphony takes place. People feel inspired through the discovery of a message, and one that feels like it has just come along at the perfect time for 'you'.

I also liked the collaborative idea generation that took place as the panel was each delivered a 'problem' to 'solve'.

I love my job, but it's refreshing to find moments that expand your thinking beyond your day to day. I so desperately needed tobe remembered that we can market and speak differently, and this article helped cleared the cob-webs.

Related links:

Barbarian Group

some of their work

AKQA

The Land of Lotus Awards... and too many drinks.

Another reason why I miss living in Vancouver.
A big congrats to my former alma-matter TBWA/Vancouver for winning best of show.

So simple, perfect and delightful.
























Click here to see all of the winners.

And click here to see another fave.

But this one is a tad too similar to this one and not quite as brilliant... which won a Lotus 5 year ago.
(note you have to go into her print section and scroll to find Oasis.)

OPI'nail polish: Your Villa or Mine.

Is OPI the perfect brand?

1. Product is awesome. good quality, lasts and looks good (even if I do it).
2. Clever catchy names. every season they pick a theme. France, Chicago, Holiday and the names follow suit.

Lincoln Park after Dark
Yes I can-can.
No, I am not really a waitress.
Russian Navy

3. Market lockup (or distribution)
There are currently more than 9,000 day spas and 50,000 mani/pedi places in the United States and 1,300 days spas and approximately 4,000 mani/pedi in Canada, and the number of day spas has grown an average of 20 percent annually for the past eight years.

Rare is the outlet that doesn't have OPI products.

What's more....
Manis and Pedis are a $6 Billion/year industry (US figures).

According to industry data, Americans today spend an average of $200 per person per year on hair care and nail care in salons.

Average price of manicure: $20
Average frequency: 23% of respondants visit a mini of 1 within a 6 month timeframe.
Why they return: cheap, cheerful, affordable luxury (HELLO!!! very recession friendly!!!)

This simple math will make you think about ditching your inventions for the next zipper and start thinking about getting nich on a mass opportunity.

US figure estimation:
50,000 nail shops x approx.100 bottles of colors x go through each color 20x//year = 100,000,000 bottles a year.

estimate that each salon purchases each bottle for approx. $4 wholesale:
$400,000,000 US revenue per year!!! Not including for personal sales.

Amazing Grace!! (that's probably a color...)

Read more by clicking here and here .

Internet Killed the Video Star

It's Thursday. Check out Kanye's new vid for Heartless.
This was filmed and then animated cell by cell by 65 animators.
He is my favourite artist... but must say, the smoking shocks me a bit.


Heartless from kwest on Vimeo.

The Impossible Cool

This site is smart, sharp, simple and just like the title says its The Impossible Cool.

It is filled with slick pics and stunning quotes.

“There is nothing more frightful than imagination without taste.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The meaning of Obama's Victory.

Read this.
It is an articulated perspective of Obama's victory and the months that lie ahead.

Internet Killed the Video Star

Yep, its Thursday again.
This is a rap battle with an 19th century Shakespearean-esque voice over.
It's worth watching to the end for the pay off.



Again, thanks Laura.

one percent

99% wrong can be overshadowed by the 1% that is right.
It just all depends on where that 1% comes from.

Bangin' Bond.

I love the pic with the smoking gun and red background.
























She is so fierce. I wish I was this sexy and confident every day.I also wish I was a Bond girl. Which is up there with wishing I was a world-class snowboarder.







Click here for a list of BGs

Click here for more photography from Miles Aldrige.

Click here to read about the next Bond flick, Quantum of Solace.

FACT
There are 21 Bond films and the franchise has grossed over $4Billion USD. Adjusting for inflation 1965's Thunderball with Sean Connery was the biggest box office success. source

Quantum of Solace opens November 14th and will be the 22nd installment.

And for the record, Denise Richards was the lamest BG ever. A real Bond Girl doesn't have her own reality television show later in life.

I love Sundays in 6 sentences.

I have a head cold today. It's likely because I have been travelling too much and eating too many mini Mars bars.

Outside the sun is shining and it's a crisp fall day. Inside I plan on making a Thai coconut curry and feeling optmistic about the week.

It is very special week personally and for the globe. There is an American election, I have 300 emails to get through and a trip to Los Angeles to look forward to.

THIS IS A DRAFT submission... I am going to work through a series of 6 sentences and will post to that site when when it feels right. http://sixsentences.blogspot.com/