B U M P E R C R O P

How I lost 87 lbs in 31 days

2011-02-01T23:04:00.000-08:00

It has been 31 days and I have just lost 1/3 my body weight.

Actually, it's an update to the riveting account of my recycling challenge started in my previous post which weighed in (harhar) at the 18 day mark. I know, I know. It's hard hitting news and it's hard to contain yourselves. But wait! There's more!

We've now sent 87.5 lbs into recycling or reuse in just one month - about 1/3 my body weight (yes, I am large). That includes over 49 lbs of recyclables and 38 lbs (45%) of food waste and other compostable items. We've composted for some time, but if I wasn't counting, I would not have known it added up to that much.

The exciting highlights:
- 38 lbs (17 kg) compost, to the back yard
- 20.5 lbs (9.3 kg) of paper, box & corrugated cardboard
- 6.8 lbs (3 kg) of aluminum and steel food cans
- 8.4 lbs (3.8 kg) returnables (now worth a whopping $3.70)
- almost 2.5 lbs of loose bag plastic.

Because we have a bigger sample, it's getting easier to project out for the year ... we'll be closer to the 1,000 lb mark. If the proportion holds, that will include about 450 lbs of compost into my back yard, though I assume that proportion will grow as we get into the spring and summer with more seasonal, fresh foods. Hey, when 20lb bags of it cost $10 at Home Depot, I'll take it.

Last year, I had to empty my two backyard bins in order to move them, so I spread my compost out and buried it in an unfinished part of my 'garden' (dirt patch). Something started to grow - weeds, I thought, because I'm good at that. But they looked familiar, so I actually watered them. With little effort, a few months of sun, and some random luck, I ended up with about 80 lbs of spaghetti squash that took over my yard. Some seeds had survived my composter. Those and a half dozen tomato plants which also popped up in between.

I'm not yet into weighing the actual garbage portion of my waste yet. I can see that as a necessary evil to figure out how we can challenge ourselves to put out less trash and more recycling and compost. Hmmm. We'll see about after February ...

Watching my Waste Line

2011-01-19T00:22:00.000-08:00

Ok. So I do NOT have a lot of time on my hands but, after the holidays I noticed how much crap, garbage and recycling was flowing OUT of the house. Makes one think more about what comes INTO the house. How much was it?

I was somewhat inspired by Jen, Rhyannon and Grant from The Clean Bin Project (this is their blog ... the project is also now a film). I am also a little OCD when it comes to statistics. And recycling. And what we waste outside the home.

SO, starting on January 1, I started quantifying how much was going into weekly recyling. It only added a few minutes to the sorting process with a small 5kg kitchen scale.

Full disclosure: I started from scratch; I did not count any pre-January 1 backlog such as Christmas wrapping leftovers (but see the bottom re: Hasbro!). Home includes 2 adults, one monster child, a large farting dog, and a small sickly cat.

Here are the grimy results to date (18 days):
- 21 lbs (9.7 kg) compost, to the back yard
- 10.5 lbs (4.75 kg) of paper, box & corrugated cardboard
- 6 lbs (2.75 kg) of hard plastic and jugs
- 3.8 lbs (1.75 kg) returnables (also worth $1.45)
- 3.8 lbs (1.75 kg) of aluminum and steel food cans
- almost 1.5 lbs of loose bag plastic ... actually, a lot by volume.

Diverted from landfill in just 18 days ... over 47 lbs. I projected that out for a year at that rate (I know, it's early) and it could amass to between 850 - 1000 lbs. I hate to think we are generating 2-3 lbs of recycling alone PER DAY on average even though almost half is compost ... and we still put out trashbags. Must be room for improvement ...

Sometimes I feel a little disgusted, with our little single-use habit. To paraphrase Andrew Winston from his awesome book, "Green Recovery" ... all that plastic is made from oil that we get from people who do not like us very much. And it lingers.

I remember a photo of a trade show my dad helped put together back in the 70s or 80s for the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture. It was a booth that showed how much a family of four ate in a year. I recall the multiple sides of beef, knowing they were for illustration, but it was funny thinking of those hanging in our basement gathering flies. And the stacks and stacks of boxes and cans.

A somewhat updated version made the rounds by viral email a while ago. They were from a photo essays by TIME called "What the world eats", featuring photos from Peter Menzel's book, "Hungry Planet". If you check it out, notice the ratio of packaging between the more processed foods we're accustomed to and that of the more basic and natural foods in other cultures.

Special kudos: HASBRO ... Hasbro has been ditching those plastic ties on toys (among other mega tons of package reduction). They switched to a very simple paper rattan (that I can toss into compost). You've helped reduce a lot of single-use waste we bring home ... and reduced opportunities for the same kids to learn cussin' from parents trying to open the G-- d--n things. Keep driving new standards to other producers.

Stay tuned. This is exciting stuff, no doubt.

Social Media and Crustaceans

2010-08-11T18:22:00.000-07:00

Received a tweet from the fresh New Brunswick lobster I was about to eat. More after the jump.

The tweet read as follows:

@ LOBSTER PLEAZE EAT DA CHIKEN.

Less Carbon, Less Fat: New Commute

2010-07-14T01:34:00.000-07:00

Began my new summer commute this past weekend ... in an effort to get fit, save money, and reduce carbon, I am biking to work 2-3 days each week. Yikes. Details after the jump.

Began my new summer commute this past weekend ... in an effort to get fit, save money, and reduce carbon, I am biking to work 2-3 days each week. Yikes.

It's a great 14 km ride each way. I leave the quiet 'burbs, cross a kilometre-long, 55m high bridge, loop out of industrial park through a bucolic little neighbourhood onto another kilometre-long bridge, onto an urban greenway along the SkyTrain route, whiz down a hill at 50km/h, through movie sets, big-box-sprawl and farmland to our new office.

I did an exploratory jaunt on the weekend ... padded with extra for getting lost and finding shortcuts ... followed by an actual trip to work on Monday. Talk about sore butt. And forgot my shoes so dorky me had runners on all day. At least I looked sporty.

Using very loose numbers based on my car's pedigree, some EPA numbers for fuel, eye-of-newt and based on at least 2 return trips per week, I should save about $20-25 per month in gas and 10kg of carbon a month. Hopefully, I will be able to reduce the effect of office donuts, too.

Here are a few scenes along the way (click for larger images):

The view from above ... Vancouver is north west of this Google map.

The beastly Alex Fraser Bridge. Six lanes of fun with 'sidewalks' cantilevered over each side. At 55m above the water (154m total height) and about a kilometre long, it's main span made it the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world until 1991. It is now the 2nd longest cable-stayed span in North America.

My own shot of the bridge, mid-span.
Obviously NOT rush hour.

Rush hour on the Fraser River.

The pub under the bridge burned down. Among other things, it was the setting for Jodie Foster in "The Accused".

Off the Alex Fraser onto the Annacis Channel Bridge. My destination is beyond the smoke stack, middle left.

The view to the right suddenly puts you in another world: The Queensborough island neighbourhood of New Westminster.

Dropping off the highway into that world.

It's a world of high prices, though. This beaut is 2200 square feet for $1.4 million (courtesy MLS). No lie. It's on a large development property.

This 1500 sq foot one below is an easy $400K (courtesy MLS). Note the elevated living ... the price you pay and lessons learned from living on a flood plain.

This type of development is now more common in the area.
(photo credit: Dennis Hurd)

Will have to remember this one for the return trip ...!

Out of the quiet neghbourhood, back onto another bridge, The Queensborough. Neighbouring the bridge is an ICBC salvage yard ... these people should have be riding their bikes!

I take a last look back at where I've been ...

After getting a little lost, found my way here ...

... a permanent, sprawling, multi-purpose film lot at Marine & Byrne on the way to my office. All the buildings are fake; plywood and 2x4's on the other side ... see the bottom photo. The lot is a setting for many shows and films including Smallville, Supernatural, etc. Current signage is for "Legacy" which could be anything ... the Tron sequel perhaps?

Finally arrive at my destination ... then head back again ... groan.

I return that afternoon with Campbell by car ... the business park and Foreshore Park are nice and flat for him to try his new bike ... it's getting hotter out when we run into ... a wall of sprinklers.

Not a problem ... as crazy man proceeds to run the entire block three times.

We both slept very soundly that night.

Dragon Boat Wedding: Exclusive Pix

2010-06-27T17:06:00.000-07:00

That's right, you'll see them here first, folks.

On Saturday, June 26, the Ritchie Bros. Auctionauts dragon boat team paddled one of their own and his lovely bride [understatement] to their reception at the UBC Boathouse. More after the jump.

There was no way we could out-do the bride, but we dressed in our best whites with black construction paper bow ties. After a brief paddle upstream and some bubbly, it was time to deliver them to the waiting throngs of paparazzi and eager cheek-pinchers.

Below the pix is the tribute we read you in the boat.

We wish Dino and Jennifer well from the bottom of our blades. May the race course rise up to meet you.

Marriage is Like a Never-Ending Dragon Boat Festival

Like marriage, a dragon boat festival is a series of challenges that will reward you and test you as individual paddlers and as a team.

Like marriage, dragon boat takes a lot of commitment, teamwork, rhythm, and concentration to get to the start line. The good thing is, sometimes you get to practice on the way to the start line.

Like marriage, there is a lot of jockeying, noise and details to cover on race day. At the start line, officials will often try to tell you what’s good for you.

Like marriage, once you hear the horn that shouts, “Go”, the race-day thrill takes over. Sometimes it’s frantic. Sometimes it’s controlled. Every time, you will have to get your boat up out of the water quickly and moving ahead on a straight course.

Like marriage, timing is everything. You will have to work together, synchronized over the entire course. If one of you falls behind, the other must bring them along. If one of you tires, the other must inspire them to keep going. When your timing clicks, your boat will surge cleanly through the water. That’s when medals are won.

Like marriage, there will be obstacles. There will be weather and waves. You will get swamped. You will get cut off. You will have good races and last places. You must paddle through.

Thankfully, there is always a beer garden between races.

Like marriage, no matter how you start, how you race, or where you place, know this: the rest of the team in your boat is there to give you strength. The team in your boat and your faith is there to keep you on a straight line. The team in your boat is there to work with you to get you to each finish line you face.

And, like marriage – like this marriage – the crowds along the shore go wild!

Marketing & Sustainability Challenge

2010-06-17T14:59:00.000-07:00

Back on Earth Day, I challenged our marketing group (Burnaby BC, Lincoln NE, Breda NLD) to a marketing and upcycling challenge. The intent was to not only engage the group on the amount of commercial and environmental waste that surrounds most marketing professionals but also to pique their creativity.

More after the jump.

The guidelines were fairly simple.

Design ... creative, unique
Utility ... serves a real need or purpose
Demand ... commercial viability and/or generates excess demand if given freely.
Scalable ... scalable in production (lots of waste, lots of upcycling products, few resources) and/or be really valuable one-offs (e.g. art).
Sustainable ... should have a long life and/or be recyclable itself; should not use or generate harmful materials in its own production or use.
Marketable ... how it would be marketed/sold/given ... to whom ... where ... and for how much.

Bonus Points were issued for:

Fit to Ritchie Bros. ... Ritchie Bros.-generated waste-to-value vs. general kinds of waste-to-value.
Fit to Marketing ... has utility/demand within marketing and/or real Ritchie Bros. customer group = bonus points.
Teamwork ... created/build/proposed as part of a Ritchie Bros. team.
Charity .. has a philanthropic component.

I solicited three fantastic judges to weigh in on the submissions including:

Amy Curry-Staschke, Head of Global Quality, Supplier Compliance and Community Legacies, lululemon athletica, Vancouver;
Leanne Strathdee, Director Communications & Marketing, Halifax Waterfront Development Corporation, Halifax; and
Megan Prine, Manager Community Relations, Expedia Inc, Seattle.

Earth Day Challenge Results

Top Man Top Hat

Lesley S. in our customer service group fashioned a top hat from returned mail for the sale of Dave Ritchie's megayacht, The Apoise, fastened together with the returned mail stickers. I showed Dave as he walked by; he actually walked off with it, but not before I snapped a picture for the judges.

Picture This Bag

Denise F. created a series of bags (and a pillow) made from canvas test prints for stretch frames of our retro photos in our new Chilliwack BC auction facility.

Up To Our Neck

Denise also created this necklace from strips of old auction brocures, rolled and glued, accented with orange beads and a clasp.

Mobile Crane

Vicki C. in corporate communications was awarded a special mention for her functioning origami mobile, again, made from excess auction brochures.

And the winner is ...

... our Breda, the Netherlands marketing team who hit all the points perfectly with their Ritchie Relax (TM) Bean Bag Chair (Joop Fikkers Edition).

The award-winning chair is made from an obsolete vinyl 50th anniversay banner, old computer cords, and excess poly-wrap from returned mail (Dutch Post requires a wrapper - aarg!).

The limited-edition chair will be produced annually and auctioned in the Moerdijk auction. Proceeds will go to support local children with ADHD. Congratulations to the Breda office.

Check out these resources that provide, speak about or inspire upcycling:

TerraCycle
This collection of articles at Fast Company
ReRides Bags
Some home crafty things.

Dragon Boat Rocks

2010-05-26T08:17:00.000-07:00

Have been pushing the Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers dragon boat team (The Auctionauts) a little harder each week. They keep taking more and are getting better and better ... so I'll keep giving it. Great to have extra steers people ... time to get down in the boat again and work on more technique with some folks. More after the jump.

I have to say the location is very distracting. After practicing in Richmond for four years, I missed the False Creek venue at DragonZone. Other teams to race, ferries and yachts to dodge, booze cruises to moon. Last week we took out a 10-person Swift instead of one of the 20-person BuK or 616s.

After a first-of-year showing at Deep Cove, we're gathering steam for the Whister Dragon Boat Festival in July - and later Harrison and Kelowna.

Here is a bit of the scenery from the back. No, I was texting and steering, we had stopped, officer.

Why I Love @MarketingProfs and #mpb2b

2010-05-12T00:30:00.000-07:00

I wasn't going to explain my previous post because most people got it. It was a little twisted, yes, but I just couldn't do another Pollyanna piece on the event at twenty past midnight. An insider suggested later, "ef 'em [if they don't get it]". More after the jump.

It was the handful of skimmers that were the real p.i.t.a's. The office drive-by's were the most annoying (ok, so there was just one). "Hey! So I see you slammed MarketingProfs!?" they said, giggling, a glint of schadenfreude in their eyes. First, it was meant to be "ironical" (LOVE that word @schoolmarketer!). Second, no one reads my blog. If a blog fails in the forest ...

REGARDLESS, here's the White House Press Secretary version with a little Dick and Jane for added clarity:

The content and themes were great. They will help our business.
The presenters were great. Many were really great.
Luncheon keynotes were super cool and inspired me to take action *fist pump*.
Boston is a fun city but we still learned good.
Ann, Susanne and Brit did a super cool job and were groovy, too.
I would like the 2011 mpb2b to be on the west coast.
Coffee and dessert are important to me.

I hope that's better.

Why MarketingProfs and #mpb2b need to get their act together*

2010-05-09T23:58:00.000-07:00

The three of you who read this blog (hi, mom) know that when something seems too good to be true, I get cynical. More after the jump.

I’ve read thousands of tweets, posts and articles about how good last week’s MarketingProfs B2B Forum was. I was there – it was my third – and reading the comments made me wonder if I attended a different conference (which is entirely possible since I am so bad with directions).

Surely, among all the kudos, there was something that MarketingProfs was failing to pick up on. So I dug through my notes and came up with some recommendations for MarketingProfs organizers for #mpb2b 2011. Such as holding the next one in Vancouver, Seattle or Portland.

Main Themes = Economic Downturn

Were they trying to create the second great recession on purpose?

• Talk to customers, understand their needs, get their buy-in
• Talk to sales, understand their needs, get their buy-in.
• Do something. Test. Test again.
• Social media marketing is an extension of your existing marketing mix.
• Marketing is now publishing.
• Remember the foundations and deliver on all of the above.

Everyone knows that if you make marketers smarter, they will make their sales teams and customers happy and companies more profitable. More profitable companies means the economy will heat up again. You know where happy customers and a strong economy takes us, don’t you!? Nowhere to go but down again.

Long live mediocrity, I say. For future, motivation-less conferences, I would suggest mpb2b in Vancouver, Seattle or Portland.

Less Thought Leadership

Some comment posters thought the gurus and keynote speakers should have provided more keys to the kingdom, the truth, the answers, good and bad. I tend to agree – in fact, I expected them to go further, to come over and hand me my job on a platter. When did it become my job to take their inspiration and connect the dots to drive action within my own company? Or connect with other people (in person) and ask about their success stories? Sheesh. Me thinks thou asketh too much.

It’s exactly that expectation – that marketers have always had the ability to affect growth through our own actions – which I’m trying to keep under wraps. Too much work! I now have to go “Toyota” and bury all the slide decks and reports, then deny that I ever knew that social media could help us.

For future, innovation-less conferences, I would suggest mpb2b in Vancouver, Seattle or Portland.

Distracting Venue

Conferences should be held where there are little or no distractions, in windowless classrooms, and include your evening meal, entertainment, and a cot. Boston was a poor choice: all I heard were discussions about how nice the Seaport facility was, how great the weather was, and endless tips about the never-ending nightlife. So much chatter, who had time for education?

For future, distraction-less conferences, I would suggest mpb2b in Vancouver, Seattle or Portland.

Fewer Disasters

Just days before the conference started, a 10-foot diameter civic water main burst, spilling eight million gallons of water that was supposed to be my coffee. Boston city workers worked long hours to get it back up and running in days instead of weeks. They should be offered a free trip to Louisiana to show BP a thing or two. But it left coffee-addicted marketers jittery.

The fire alarm episode was an exception to my comment about distractions. After it was over, everyone actually ran IN to finish the forum and gather more insight, ignoring the weather and the rooftop pub less than 200m away. We all knew it was Holly from Deloitte who pulled the alarm, seeking a respite from the onslaught of constructive feedback in the video Hot Seat Lab.

For future, disaster-free conferences, I would suggest mpb2b in Vancouver, Seattle or Portland.

Less Service, More Surliness

All I saw was Ann, Susanne, and Britt smiling, talking to people, and getting things done. You need to leave at least something unorganized and unattended. Like the flight attendant on my Air Canada flight home. Attendees expect bad service. They need to hang their hat on something they didn’t like. You didn’t provide that balance of chaos at your conference.

You set a bad example – and too high a bar – for those of us who put on events or would host a future mpb2b conference – like Vancouver, Seattle or Portland.

More Dessert

This is serious. This is build-a-Betty-White-worthy-facebook-fan-page material.

Cheers to the sponsors for covering the lunch part … please just add $4.99 to next year’s registration fee and give me a red velvet cupcake and a coffee after lunch. To follow such excellent meals, you need a sugar fix.

For future, dessert-laden conferences, I would suggest mpb2b in Vancouver, Seattle or Portland.

Full disclosure: I’m an East Coast Canadian at heart but very proud of what my Pacific Northwest home has to offer. Like Vancouver, Seattle and Portland. And dessert.

*For those that may misinterpret this post, check my sources here and here.

Poetry night. Pass me a Malbec and a beret.

2010-01-28T23:24:00.000-08:00

Another strange diversion. Two poets that might not otherwised get referenced and mashed in one sitting. Enjoy 'Bluebird' by Charles Bukowski and 'The Rose That Grew From Concrete' - Tupac Shakur. More after the jump.

'Bluebird' appears in Bukowski's The Last Night of the Earth Poems. His own reading of his poem is featured in this video. Speaking of mashups, there's a great one of this poem by DJ Phil RestroSpector in this video with Harry Dean Stanton's narration mashed with music by Muse, All Angels, and Bob Dylan.

Tupac's book of poems, The Rose That Grew From Concrete, comprises over 70 works written before his fame as a rap artist. I first spotted it on a wall, actually, upstairs at Wolfgang Puck's Chinois in Las Vegas. I didn't come back downstairs for 20 minutes.

In both, I appreciate the struggle, knowing each is a survivor.

Both books are available at fine book retailers on land or online.
____________________________________

BLUEBIRD - Charles Bukowski

there’s a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I’m too tough for him,
I say, stay in there, I’m not going
to let anybody see
you.

there’s a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I pour whiskey on him and inhale
cigarette smoke
and the whores and the bartenders
and the grocery clerks
never know that
he’s
in there.

there’s a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I’m too tough for him,
I say,
stay down, do you want to mess
me up?
you want to screw up the
works?
you want to blow my book sales in
Europe?

there’s a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I’m too clever, I only let him out
at night sometimes
when everybody’s asleep.
I say, I know that you’re there,
so don’t be sad.

then I put him back,
but he’s still singing a little
in there, I haven’t quite let him
die
and we sleep together like
that
with our
secret pact
and it’s nice enough to
make a man
weep, but I don’t
weep, do
you?
____________________________________

THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE - Tupac Shakur

Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete?
Proving nature's law is wrong it learned to walk with out having feet.
Funny it seems, but by keeping it's dreams, it learned to breathe fresh air.
Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared.

Best Therapy Ever

2010-01-15T22:08:00.000-08:00

This is a classic and one of my favourite MadTV skits with the awesome Bob Newhart.

And it really works. Kinda. Enough said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYLMTvxOaeE

Like the YouTube poster, I claim no rights to the video and I am happy to remove it if asked.

Hug Your Kids

2010-01-07T11:43:00.000-08:00

Just got off email after reconnecting with a colleague who had moved to South Africa with his family - discovered he just lost his 2-year old son suddenly in November. They'll be returning to Cape Town in the next few days.

Breaks your heart. Makes one stop and think what matters. Shuffles your priorities quite quickly. But was inspired with how he and his family is moving forward on their own terms in their own direction at their own speed.

So ... Hug your kids, spouse, friends, dog, cat.

Not just once. Keep it up.

No More Stones

2010-01-07T11:25:00.000-08:00

No more throwing stones at marketers (maybe a WTF now and then) ... up with positivity in 2010 and helping marketers celebrate their success.

Like this one ... an @GuyKawasaki post RT'd by @LorienHenson about why he is going to the winter Olympics in Vancouver. Kudos to Rethink on this work for Science World.

FAIL - Commercials #4

2010-01-03T02:24:00.000-08:00

OK. One more. Again. Glass house of marketing and I live there too.

Microsoft Windows 7
Premise: People with ideas come to test it out and "approve" their ideas.

FAIL #1. Contrived. The commercials almost jump the shark. They lose the authenticity just short of hammy high-fives and fist-pumps.

FAIL #2. Continuity and Sustainability. In a world of hyper-connectivity ... did you really have to fly people half way round the world for a 10 minutes check up? A $20 web cam and your own Live Meeting product, maybe? All those green house gases eat into your power savings mode and other important socially responsible initiatives.

FAIL - Commercials #3

2010-01-03T01:58:00.000-08:00

One more dig. Hoping I can throw a few rocks as I live in the glass house of marketing, too.

Toothbrushes
Premise: Mine is more scienc-ey than yours.

FAIL: Reality, Authenticity, Originality. This must be a multibillion dollar product ... the main selling feature of the brushes seems to be who has the most kick-ass futuristic science labs and the best looking people in lab coats. Man, who wouldn't want to work there and live like the Jetsons and just make wicked toothbrushes! Imagine the holiday parties.

Isn't there anything more creative? Is that really what the research is showing appeals to consumers? Isn't that the same research from men's razors (science labs and rocket ships)?

FAIL #2. I thought the last four models were supposed to start a "revolution"? And I was all ready with my placard and ski mask to storm city hall ...

FAIL #3. Environmental waste. Packaging and brushes. Can both of these be recyclable, returnable or cornplastic, please? Edible? ... clean while you crunch?

FAIL - Commercials #2

2010-01-03T01:46:00.000-08:00

Reminded as my favourite worst TV commercials were aired again. Hoping I can throw a few rocks as I live in the glass house of marketing, too.

Mascara
Premise: The product is better than others.
FAIL: Smoke and Mirrors. Who is doing all the eyelash measuring to prove that they are 60% longer and 11X the volume (Maybelline NY's claims)? What if I make one that is 100% longer and 20X the volume. Longer than what standard? Will women be able to open their eyes to see how visible longer they are? Can it be combined with Cialis(TM)?

FAIL #2: Any other made-up name that someone assumes no one will question and will purchase like sheep. Microdermabrasions? Really? Do we need that word?

FAIL - Commercials #1

2010-01-03T01:36:00.000-08:00

Reminded tonight as my favourite worst TV commercials were aired again. Hoping I can throw a few rocks as I live in the glass house of marketing, too.

Mcdonalds Happy Meal
Premise: While unpacking the groceries from their recent shopping trip, a loving mother reveals the same nutrition she just bought comes in her daughter's happy meal as she, too, unpacks her precious gifts.

FAIL: Reality and Writing. Yes, it's a convenience meal, but she just bought all that exact same good stuff for her as part of her grocery list ... apples, milk ... and she couldn't wait to get home and take five minutes to cut it up for her? It didn't dawn on her that the happy meal was the same price as the entire bag of apples ... again, that she just bought.

FAIL #2: Girl toys and boy toys. Pink and blue. So 1950s.

Transformer Car Ads

2010-01-02T14:57:00.000-08:00

Great competitive re-attack circa 2006-08. When seen in order, the reaction to the initial ads demonstrates that while the sizzle can get people watching videos and talking about your products, there has to be some value to drive a sale. Even consumer generated content that was inspired by the ads are about other cars.

Citroen, with the theme "Alive with Technology".
Citroen C4 #1 (nice Vancouver skyline).
Citroen C4 #2
Citroen C4 #3

Chevrolet, with the theme "Get Real".
Chevrolet Aveo (love the parts flying off).

Inspired parodies, where "the competition" performs just as well.
Yugo
Fiat UNO
Old Citoen 2CV

Chilly Start to 2010 - Polar Bear Plunge at White Rock, BC

2010-01-02T12:46:00.000-08:00

Did my first Polar Bear Swim at the Pier in White Rock, British Columbia. More after the jump.

Ignored the signs that this was a crazy idea ... heavy rainfall warning for the Lower Mainland, 70 km/h winds that had raised swells on the water to 3-4 feet, and a rescue boat with well-insulated first-responders.

The air and water temps were about 7C (45F). Actually didn't feel too bad. There were a couple of hundred people there so my screams and squeals were drowned out. Once in, though there was major gasping for air and major shrinkage. It was an "invigorating" start to the year.

I got a little certificate and Tourism White Rock prepared this video (for additional proof, I am at about 1:01 on the right). Will be back in 2011.

Semiamoo Bay was a little windy and choppy. Difficulty picturing it as it usually is in the summer.

Post-dip. Chattering teeth.

The Social Media 'No' Feeling

2009-12-12T01:01:00.000-08:00

I admit it, I like to troll LinkedIn and Twitter for interesting finds and conversations.

Usually the Q&A of LinkedIn is full of insipid questions like, "Best way to download the internet?" or "What's the size of the market for salt?" I try so hard not to write back with a little toungue in cheek sarcasm ...

This evening was interesting for a couple of reasons. While reviewing questions, I found either a kindred spirit ... or someone who smokes up while they post. This Californian was complaining about Spanish on packaging labels as 'linguistically insulting". Was thinking of a serious response ... until I checked out who he was: no connections, and his only other question, posted around the same time, referred to the viability of plaxiglass-covered cities, a vision proposed by Hugh Hefner in a 45-year old issue of Playboy. My oh my.

The funniest part was that people - like me - had posted responses. So I posted a "relax, we live with French by law" response. Threw in a link to some Canadian jokes and the words, "eh!" and "aboot".

Then I find the titles creative. I am not sure what an "Experienced 'Trust' Building Enthusiast" is (the internal quotes on 'Trust' are his). Looks like similated 'trust' ... like 'bacon bits'. And an "Experienced Enthusiast" for whatever activity, sounds like a hobby. Experienced fly-tying enthusiast, experienced piano playing enthusiast, etc.

Back to the ocean of the absurd ...

Iron Giant Project

2009-12-08T21:55:00.000-08:00

Came across an amazing art project over at Iron Giant Project blog. Several artists have submitted their art work inspired by the art of the overlooked 1999 Brad Bird film via The Labyrinth.

I have to admit, I've seen the film dozens of times. My son loves it ... has robots and explosions balanced with some nice liberal anti-war and self-worth messaging. Always loved the artwork and styling.

My faves include this first one by Raúl Hernández, whose other art is over here and the lower one by animator Brennan Bova whose blog is over here. Check them out and support the artists behind the work.

BTW, happy to remove if you guys want, speaking of my copyright infringement post, below :-)

Copyright Infringement Part II

2009-12-08T21:25:00.000-08:00

Mr. Shum has been quite cooperative and has changed the image on his web sites and in the manual.

Copyright Infringement - Stolen Logo

2009-11-21T12:55:00.000-08:00

Seems an enterprising young intra-preneur from Australia, Tyrone Shum, thought it was ok to steal our dragon boat team's logo (designed by hand, by me) and make it the cover of his (meh!) dragon boat manual. While offered for free, it's tied to his other many online ~~vultures~~ ventures. He promised removal months ago. More after the jump.

Compare for yourself (mine on the left). Not a cooincidence, nor is it possibly from any other source; I still have the InDesign files in which I created the fist as a shape/drawing from a selection of proaganda artwork, created the paddle shape/drawing by tracing a picture of a Grey Owl for dimension, placed star over the blade for a 'propaganda' feel, and the colour is our corporate orange.

Tyrone Shum's book is offered on his dragonglobe.com e-commerce site with online offers like "Join DBVs newsletter and get a FREE report 'The Dragonboat Quickstart' and the RIDICULOUS informercial-esque "You Can Be Reading One of The Most Talked About and Downloaded Dragon Boat PDF's In History Within 30 Seconds.. FREE! Take Action Today!" He's building himself as an online "expert" by simply building lists and traffic.

What makes it frustrating is that Tyrone Shum is in the business of, as one of his colleagues puts it "making money online by telling people how they make money online." Feels opportunistic, and I mean the definition that gives you the 'no' feeling ... like the folks that sold wide-eyed panhandlers crappy goods on the way to the Gold Rush. He can add stealing copyrighted materials as one free way to save money ... not sure where he gets a lot of the other images on the site.

As a respected business leader, one would assume he would understand the need to protect one's intellectual property, identity and brand.

I'm also supportive of sharing best practices and helping fellow dragon boaters learn and grow - that's what makes the sport exciting. But I am NOT for supporting the ultimate financial gain or spam list building on a microsite for Tyrone Shum at the expense of another person's effort, work, and intellectual property.

Update: I've contacted Tyrone Shum directly today to let him now about the legal advice I've received and actions that will be taken to protect own my work and brand. I let the online community at dragonboatwest.net know as well in case they are buying things there (unlikely).

Stealing is one thing. Stealing from dragon boat paddlers, another. Stealing a paddler's source of dragon boat festival beer is death penalty material.

Feel free to tweet Tyrone Shum at @tyroneshum

Wicked, Wicked Design

2009-11-17T23:45:00.000-08:00

A post over at Monoscope (home of wicked design) includes a design for "Pepper Fly" (ground pepper pressed into a fly shape - great for soup!) by AHead Creative's designers, Balance Wu and Chin Yang ... which is where I digress to more of their designs:

AHead is master of the edible chopstick with a dubious name (Chokie) and an even more dubious description: "Chokie, 90% Cookie Chopsticks [LK: what's the other 10%?] ... After had a solid meal, people are always can't find a place to clean eco-chopstick. It's not only can be full with hunger satisfied but also environmental protection.Let's eat the chopstick too after had a meal!"

Also check out their "TakeBreak" ("Decorate Stick for Crack of the Wall").

Chris Jordan's 'Running the Numbers'

2009-11-17T23:22:00.000-08:00

Came across this artist in another person's post. Chris Jordan depicts everyday American statistics in ways we can easily grasp. It's once we grasp the meaning with the photos that they really hit home. Fascinating to look at.

Up and Running

2009-11-17T22:54:00.000-08:00

Welcome. I'm sure this will eventualy be the home of some great bedtime reading.