Don't ask. I just think the video is funny. It's an SNL spoof of Dora the Explorer. And if you are familiar with what Dora the Explorer is then this will definitley give you a chuckle. You might even learn something.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Footbo Is For Footie Lovers
With the EURO Championships in full bloom over in Austria and Swizterland, it only seemed fittng that I introduce you to a social networking site
Footbo.com, a new social community network for football fans from all around the world has launched, providing users with access to team and player profiles, blogs of other users as well as football personalities, predictions and much more…
Created for and by supporters of the game, Footbo.com is the online international network entirely dedicated to football. This niche platform has been designed to enable world-wide interaction between those sharing an interest in the beautiful game, and has initially been launched in English, German and Spanish.
Upon joining the site, users can personalise their profile page by identifying their favourite teams and players, and can choose their top 11 players. From that point on, the world of Footbo will be at their fingertips. The latest news and content, updates on fixtures and results, game predictions and player gradings, and groups and fan clubs are all part of the Footbo set-up.
Each team and player has a Wikipedia style profile, which can be edited and added to by users of Footbo, where the option exists to integrate pictures and videos into the body of the text profile. Why only read about a great winning goal, when the possibility exists to watch it as well?!
Also, Footbo enables its users keep updated on the thoughts and views of football analysts such as Rafi Honigstein, Guillem Balague and Gabriele Marcotti in such a way as to enable every fan the opportunity to interact with those professionally involved in the world of football.
Providing data on most of the leagues around the world, this site has something for every football fan and more. The only thing that’s left to make the community flourish is for football fans to visit www.footbo.com and to sign up!
Footbo.com, a new social community network for football fans from all around the world has launched, providing users with access to team and player profiles, blogs of other users as well as football personalities, predictions and much more…
Created for and by supporters of the game, Footbo.com is the online international network entirely dedicated to football. This niche platform has been designed to enable world-wide interaction between those sharing an interest in the beautiful game, and has initially been launched in English, German and Spanish.
Upon joining the site, users can personalise their profile page by identifying their favourite teams and players, and can choose their top 11 players. From that point on, the world of Footbo will be at their fingertips. The latest news and content, updates on fixtures and results, game predictions and player gradings, and groups and fan clubs are all part of the Footbo set-up.
Each team and player has a Wikipedia style profile, which can be edited and added to by users of Footbo, where the option exists to integrate pictures and videos into the body of the text profile. Why only read about a great winning goal, when the possibility exists to watch it as well?!
Also, Footbo enables its users keep updated on the thoughts and views of football analysts such as Rafi Honigstein, Guillem Balague and Gabriele Marcotti in such a way as to enable every fan the opportunity to interact with those professionally involved in the world of football.
Providing data on most of the leagues around the world, this site has something for every football fan and more. The only thing that’s left to make the community flourish is for football fans to visit www.footbo.com and to sign up!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Africa or Bust
With the world focusing on South Africa in two summers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, lets be mindful not to forget about neighboring Botswana. Often overlooked, Botswana is stepping up it's game by hosting one of the FP7 Training Workshops.
The FP7 Workshops are organized by IST-Africa Initiative, which is supported by the European Commission under the IST Programme of Framework Programme 6.
IST-Africa 2008 is the third in an Annual Conference Series which will bring together delegates from commercial, government & research organisations across Africa and from Europe, to bridge the Digital Divide by sharing knowledge, experience, lessons learnt and good practice.
Why is this important, because it's good to know that Botswana is bettering itself and getting involved in the digital space. That, and it's so random that you might just learn something about a country you didn't think existed.
The FP7 Workshops are organized by IST-Africa Initiative, which is supported by the European Commission under the IST Programme of Framework Programme 6.
IST-Africa 2008 is the third in an Annual Conference Series which will bring together delegates from commercial, government & research organisations across Africa and from Europe, to bridge the Digital Divide by sharing knowledge, experience, lessons learnt and good practice.
Why is this important, because it's good to know that Botswana is bettering itself and getting involved in the digital space. That, and it's so random that you might just learn something about a country you didn't think existed.
iCantStandTheseNames
Apple's genius made it famous. Every one's copying it. It's the "i" phenomenon and it's taking over company/product naming.
iStockphoto. A stereo PC headset I'm currently staring at from from a company called iBloks. There are even companies such as LinkSafe which specialize as i-name brokers because "The power of an i-name is that it stands for you". The list is infinite. But the coup de grâce for me is Specialty's iFood, which is nothing more than an adult Lunchable (Which were amazing as a child by the way. I was always able to trade for quality items at lunch with a Lunchable in hand.)
I would love to sit in that meeting room with their product team and listen to the conversation just to hear what goes on before such a decision is made. Are they starving for fresh thought? Any thought for that matter? If they are they can pay me and I'll come up with a better name than iFood. "Would you like an iDrink with that sir?"
If you look at the photo, they've even stole Apple's dancing silhouette concept from their commercials. Mind boggling.
Where does it stop. Ford releases the new "iTruck"? Ralph Lauren unveils their new "iSuit"? No, because these companies are innovative and smart. They come up with their own ideas and blaze their own trials rather than jumping in line with the rest of the heard. Credit Apple with coming up with such a simple and amazing concept but other companies need to establish their own identities and not just steal anther's.
The way things are going I'm waiting for the first child to be named "iKid" or "iSon". The would be the end of creative thinking as we know it.
Has the world become lovers of thyself? I hope not. Just remember, when your fresh out of ideas and names like Specialty's, just add an "i" and you're off and running somewhere. In what direction is to be determined.
iStockphoto. A stereo PC headset I'm currently staring at from from a company called iBloks. There are even companies such as LinkSafe which specialize as i-name brokers because "The power of an i-name is that it stands for you". The list is infinite. But the coup de grâce for me is Specialty's iFood, which is nothing more than an adult Lunchable (Which were amazing as a child by the way. I was always able to trade for quality items at lunch with a Lunchable in hand.)
I would love to sit in that meeting room with their product team and listen to the conversation just to hear what goes on before such a decision is made. Are they starving for fresh thought? Any thought for that matter? If they are they can pay me and I'll come up with a better name than iFood. "Would you like an iDrink with that sir?"
If you look at the photo, they've even stole Apple's dancing silhouette concept from their commercials. Mind boggling.
Where does it stop. Ford releases the new "iTruck"? Ralph Lauren unveils their new "iSuit"? No, because these companies are innovative and smart. They come up with their own ideas and blaze their own trials rather than jumping in line with the rest of the heard. Credit Apple with coming up with such a simple and amazing concept but other companies need to establish their own identities and not just steal anther's.
The way things are going I'm waiting for the first child to be named "iKid" or "iSon". The would be the end of creative thinking as we know it.
Has the world become lovers of thyself? I hope not. Just remember, when your fresh out of ideas and names like Specialty's, just add an "i" and you're off and running somewhere. In what direction is to be determined.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
I Mean...
I'm just saying, check out the change in tone. I personally prefer tone #2. I think the news would be refreshing without the standard Ron Burgundy voices every night. We need bugs, in news rooms, STAT!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Minions We're Not
There are some questions I would like to ask the advertising industry elders: (Let's just do this numerically in no particular order)
1. "Did you really think an English major, with no prior advertising/marketing experience, was really going to get it right away?"
2. "Can you please point me in the direction of the e-commerce site where I can purchase 10-15 years of experience?"
3. "Ever heard of the expression, 'Attitude reflects leadership’?”
The reason I bring this up is because this last week at the iMedia Agency Summit, it became clear to me that the ad industry hates young people. I listened in on a panel where even Beethoven could hear the theme of gender bashing. It went along the lines of, "My/the 25 yr old media planner ___________! (Insert complaint here) This wasn't the first time I have heard this sort of talk. It's pretty commonplace to pass the buck in this industry and who better to take the brunt than the youth.
The panel had one participant that really rubbed me the wrong way. Let's call her "Ms. S". After listening to Ms. S ramble on about her problems with her young team it got me thinking: If her employees are so bad at what they do, why on earth did she hire them in the first place? That followed with the premonition that maybe she is just a shite educator and judge of talent. I mean it's just as viable a theory as saying all 25 and under employees are idiots.
Now she may right in that her employees are not all they're cracked up to be and can't handle their workloads. But that doesn't mean all young professionals in the ad industry are as such. The problem with people like this is that their drivel has a trickledown effect. Because of my age, I am then perceived as though I have no idea what’s going on and my thoughts revolve around tequila shots and porn, not strategic deliberation.
A typical conversation I have with people at industry events starts with me introducing myself and telling them where I work. This usually follows with, "Oh, so you’re a Durham-ite eh!" or "Ahh, so you're one of Durham's minions!" My inner monologue instant replies with, "Go f*@# yourself buddy!" I'm not going to name names here, but to one person in particular, "Chris Cornell called me and he wants his look back mate. This is iMedia. Not Lollapalooza."
This whole age bias needs to stop in my opinion. Yes, I am younger. No, I don't possess the experience you have. How can I when you are 10-15 years my senior. Yes, I do enjoy a drink or two during the week or on weekends. You're a bleeping hypocrite if you say you did otherwise at that age. No, I do not know everything about this industry and how to properly execute certain things, but I am willing to learn as much as I can under your tutelage. If you are unhappy with your employees, maybe you should look at yourself and your inability to hire those capable of doing the job you require. Maybe you are not a good educator. Maybe you should consider one's pedigree before having them sign on the line that is dotted.
All in all, it's about the individual, not the masses. Stop generalizing and have a chat with me before you feel the need to do the grandma move, of pulling my cheeks, by calling me “minion or “–ite”.
I'm not an intern. I have a degree. Check it at the door.
1. "Did you really think an English major, with no prior advertising/marketing experience, was really going to get it right away?"
2. "Can you please point me in the direction of the e-commerce site where I can purchase 10-15 years of experience?"
3. "Ever heard of the expression, 'Attitude reflects leadership’?”
The reason I bring this up is because this last week at the iMedia Agency Summit, it became clear to me that the ad industry hates young people. I listened in on a panel where even Beethoven could hear the theme of gender bashing. It went along the lines of, "My/the 25 yr old media planner ___________! (Insert complaint here) This wasn't the first time I have heard this sort of talk. It's pretty commonplace to pass the buck in this industry and who better to take the brunt than the youth.
The panel had one participant that really rubbed me the wrong way. Let's call her "Ms. S". After listening to Ms. S ramble on about her problems with her young team it got me thinking: If her employees are so bad at what they do, why on earth did she hire them in the first place? That followed with the premonition that maybe she is just a shite educator and judge of talent. I mean it's just as viable a theory as saying all 25 and under employees are idiots.
Now she may right in that her employees are not all they're cracked up to be and can't handle their workloads. But that doesn't mean all young professionals in the ad industry are as such. The problem with people like this is that their drivel has a trickledown effect. Because of my age, I am then perceived as though I have no idea what’s going on and my thoughts revolve around tequila shots and porn, not strategic deliberation.
A typical conversation I have with people at industry events starts with me introducing myself and telling them where I work. This usually follows with, "Oh, so you’re a Durham-ite eh!" or "Ahh, so you're one of Durham's minions!" My inner monologue instant replies with, "Go f*@# yourself buddy!" I'm not going to name names here, but to one person in particular, "Chris Cornell called me and he wants his look back mate. This is iMedia. Not Lollapalooza."
This whole age bias needs to stop in my opinion. Yes, I am younger. No, I don't possess the experience you have. How can I when you are 10-15 years my senior. Yes, I do enjoy a drink or two during the week or on weekends. You're a bleeping hypocrite if you say you did otherwise at that age. No, I do not know everything about this industry and how to properly execute certain things, but I am willing to learn as much as I can under your tutelage. If you are unhappy with your employees, maybe you should look at yourself and your inability to hire those capable of doing the job you require. Maybe you are not a good educator. Maybe you should consider one's pedigree before having them sign on the line that is dotted.
All in all, it's about the individual, not the masses. Stop generalizing and have a chat with me before you feel the need to do the grandma move, of pulling my cheeks, by calling me “minion or “–ite”.
I'm not an intern. I have a degree. Check it at the door.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
