Internet Killed the Video Star - Thursday

Losing your grip. faith. cool.

Sounds like you might need a new mantra.

click here.

Americano Misto, please.

In an episode Sex in the City, Carrie tells the Russian that she sometimes needs a little milk with her coffee... which I thought was a very poetic way of saying: tone it down.

For me, I like cream (or milk) in my coffee. Literally and figuratively.

By way of fun stats...the average Canadian drinks 2.2 cups a day with 80% taking a little cream with it.

delightful poster. click here for more about it.

All Fired Up

Listening to Arcade Fire for me, is one of those incredible Canadian musical moments of magic. I feel it in my chest and pulsing through me, with my eyes wide open.

The music is very anthemic and monumental, which is why it comes as no surprise that Spike Jonze has used their gorgeous song, Wake Up, to accompany the lead trailer for his upcoming movie, based on the children's classic storybook by Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are.

Enjoy... and when you are finished, you must absolutely click here for a special treat.

Nike presents Onwards by James Jarvis

Very quietly beautiful animated story.

No product placement...I hope to see more of James' work.

Onwards from akqa on Vimeo.

click here for more about the video.

Happy Weekend

gorgeous vodka bottle design.

almost doesn't need the soda and ice.

Internet Killed the Video Star - Thursday

I love Band of Horses (so honest, beautiful and soulful sounding) and athletes (so fit, daring and talented).

And, together in a video. Magic.

Yeah Earth.

Dear Earth,

Today is your special day. I suppose it is a day of thanks and celebration for you, but I have to admit, I feel like I am barely showing up to the party.

I think of you often and want to do my best for you all the time, but I am embarrased to say that I get lazy and forgetful, and I let you down. You give give give, and I take take take.

It isn't enough for me to say I think I do better than others... what good does that thin veil of a statement do for you? nothing.

My promise to you Earth is that I am going to do my best to honour you and to be thankful for all the wonderful beautiful things that you are. I am going to support you and be mindful.

Today, I am going to start by making a few 30 day commitments.

1. use a travel mug
2. compost
3. no styrofoam lunch containers

And today, I am going to start with a free cup of coffee from Starbucks when I bring in my travel mug.

Sorry I am such a shelp. I will try to do better.

I love you Earth,

xo

Omegle - Oh My!!

Don't talk to strangers.

Really. Its creepy.
But if you can't resist, click here to start a conversation with a real live stranger.

I am skeptical as to how this works...to start you have to initiate a conversation by saying Hi, but it seems wierd that a conversation doesn't ever get initiated by someone saying hi to you. This may not be a conversation with a real stranger, but either with a robot or someone just paid to sit and wait and have a chat... which I guess is a conversation with a stranger...hmm

BTW - these guys are strangers. But they looked nice and I would chat if they said Hi.

Seattle, Chicago, Vancouver, New Orleans, Malmo

Fast Company released its 2009 cities of the year list.

Cities were selected based on their environmental and community innitiatives, their ability to keep their city safe while setting it up for long term growth and success.

I am very excited for Seattle, this year's winner. I find it to be a small city in a big town.

Nestled in the rainforests of the West Coast Seattle is home to creative innovative industries (Starbucks, Amazon, Boeing, Microsoft). I have been very lucky to get to know this city very well over the past 7 years.

I am so proud to say that I have visited 4 on the list and hopefully 5 by year's end....as per the title of this column.

And I would be remissed not to give a big congratulations to my hometown Vancouver and my soulmate city Chicago.

Click here to read FastCompany's article.

Speaking of Kleenex

Happy Sunday.


I am impressed with brands that have somehow managed to bump the original items name out of vernacular for their brand name.... for example: Saran Wrap (plastic wrap), Kleenex (tissue), Scotch Tape (clear tape), Post-It Notes (well...they did invent the category so we'll give them that one), linoleum, Band-Aid and Zipper.

Often enough they were the category definers - first in, so to speak. But I love how synomous their terms have become.... I mean really, who would ask for a medical gauze adhesive instead of a Band-Aid?

Some brand are close, such as Starbucks is for coffee, Heinz for ketchup. Both are ubiquitous and category owners - but they aren't the 'noun' that trandscends the total platform across all markets to own the product as a name.

Get out the Kleenex - Part 1

Every once in a while something magical happens.

I believe they are magical because they are authentic, true, aspirational and meaningful.

They rare moments that have a way of making us pause in our busy day, reflect.... and when things are this amazing, people want to share.



at present - this video of Susan Boyle has been see 19Million times since last Saturday.

The most viewed video is 7 minutes long, and with some simple math that equates to 253 years of consistant viewing should one person have watched it that many times.

1 week people!!! in 1 week the amount of time around the world spent watching this video is 253 years!!!!

It is a beautiful and surprizing story... click here to watch the video. click here to read a very good Huffington Post article on why this story means so much to many.

Get out the Kleenex - Part 2

I love hugs and I think I'd love lion hugs even more.
This is beautiful because its real, it touches the human spirit and it is authentic.

Internet Killed the Video Star - Thursdays

This is the impossible cool.
Sex, desire, aspiration, confidence all wrapped up a laced-haze of amazement.
Come on... all the cool kids are doing it. Jump in.



I am a NIKE girl. Their olympic ad brought me to tears last year.
But what makes Adidas a contender for my love is that they zag'd when they usually zig.

Culture is the hero, not the athlete within.

Sure, Beckham has a cameo... but he's not playing footie.
Katy Perry, Missy Elliot, Russell Simmons are at the party.
Adidas created an anthem for a cultral celebration... a celebration of optimism, aspiration, hope and newness.

Technocolor landscape therapy.

Need a break.

Just click here and meditate.

Happy Easter - Release the Goo

One might have thought I gave this site up for Lent... I gave up cookies.

But nothing gets me more inspired to write or in the Easter mood than these wicked awesome Cadbury Easter Egg ads.
Edgy, fun, simple...and apply to all audiences.

Here are 3 12:sec ads strung together:


This is the idea that keeps on giving... essentially just borrowing from a 1001 ways to die book.


I also love love love that they are little 10sec spots - perfect for on-line, perfect for cinema, perfect for people to create their own, perfect for television.... by 1 30:second spot and negotiate to have 3 of the spots run between different ads.

Check out details on the Canadian campaign - even the flash count down is keeping in character.
http://www.cadburycremeegg.ca/