FLURKEY

Cell Features and Adoption

2010-04-27T07:33:00.000-05:00

Article available at Hippo Media.

The proliferation of cell phones and high speed mobile networking doesn't necessarily mean we know how to use all the features on our amazing little mobile devices. The list of features is staggering and can include: GPS, camera, video, a myriad of games, video conferencing and we haven't even mentioned the number of applications and plug ins available.

So, with all that technology hanging on a belt...what features on a cell phone are actually used?

89 percent Phone calls
56 percent Clock/alarm
52 percent Text messaging
52 percent Camera
40 percent Calendar/agenda/organizer
28 percent Email
19 percent Emergencies Only
18 percent Instant messaging/Blackberry messenger
18 percent MP3’s /music/ videos
18 percent Picture/ video messaging
15 percent Web browsing
14 percent GPS or mapping services
14 Downloading (games, ring tones, etc)
13 percent Search
11 percent Facebook mobile
5 percent Contests/promotions
4 percent Subscriptions/alerts
3 percent Twitter mobile

Source: Delvinia’s 2009-2010 study of Canadian mobile behaviours conducted through AskingCanadians.

For advertisers, this means a couple things. First, and foremost, your message has to be plain, simple and understandable. Second, we should expect your existing and potential customers to find information about you with the least number of hoops to jump through.

So, assuming Canadian proclivities (excluding three-down football and polar bear swims) can find some commonality in other ares, we can assume that most people use their cell phones as...well...cell phones. Certainly the numbers of people sending messages by SMS is increasing and the numbers of individuals surfing the web on a small screen is increasing at similar rates as mobile hi-speed; however, only a scant few actually take advantage of all the "bells and whistles" on their mobile device.

"Bond...James Bond"

2010-03-17T11:28:00.004-05:00

I'll admit to knowing a few things I shouldn't. I'll also tell you the knowledge was gained at some personal expense. For example, I know you cannot drive a car through a haystack. I know for a fact, though, that you can drive a car half-way through a haystack. I know the chances of breaking a leg from slipping on ice while wearing dress shoes are exponentially higher once your wife tells you to "be careful on the ice with those shoes". I have also, in a bizarre blur, managed to nail a piece of wood to my own leg.

I chalk some of this up to the fact that I am blessed (or cursed) with two different chromosomes. Because I have both "X" and "Y" chromosomes, I believe it creates an inherent conflict that just couldn't exist in the "XX" configuration popular with some of our species. Individuals with two of the same type of chromosome do not seem to have the same proclivity for innovation (…?) found in those that have two unmatched genetic tags. That said, it terrifies me to think of the types of knowledge I might gather if I had two of the obviously deviant "Y" chromosomes...and none of the common sense laden, coupon-clipping, we-need-to-make-a-list "X" chromosomes.

For the record, there is a condition where individuals carry 47 chromosomes and not 46; the extra chromosome is a "Y". The condition is knows as 47 XYY and was initially known as the "criminal karyotype": the name was later dismissed on lack of actual proof but there exists a theory that the extra male chromosome in each cell is responsible for increased aggression and criminal behavior. It is also known that humans can be born with 3 “Y’s” (or 47 YYY Syndrome). I do not know of any predominant symptoms, nor did I bother to look, but I can assume these people have never lost an argument to your garden-variety, run-of-the-mill “XY”.

After extensively researching humans who carry two “X” chromosomes (I married one…and am partly responsible for the arrival of two more), there are some items around us that reflect a strong “XY” influence. I’m not talking about the obvious things like camouflage tuxedos, the beer helmet or a riding mower that does the quarter mile in 14 seconds. I notice the little things. Things that would have started with three (maybe four) “XY” humans around a fire and there would be an application of alcohol to spur the creative process. The creative peak is very easy to spot among “XY’s”. It happens when one of the individuals burps…and says, “Hey…you guys…I-gotta-great-idea!”

At this moment is where we find the creative energy required to come up a bicycle that is also a treadmill. The website (if you need to go farther?) is HERE. The short story includes walking, or running, on a treadmill to move the gears that drive the wheels on the bike. This is clearly a retaliatory stance from an “XY” contingent that have “simply had it up to HERE” with the stationary bike lobby and needed to develop a counter position.

I also offer The Baby Mop and Urinal Goal as fine examples of “XY” thinking. It follows another inherent need for the “XY” to multi-task. For the “XX” reading this, consider watching television with an “XY”…it’s not about watching what’s on TV…it’s about watching what ELSE is on TV. If the darling newborn is spending inordinate amount of time on the floor, let’s see if we can improve on that. And the Urinal Goal? Well, some of us can’t believe it has taken this long to develop a way for “XY’s” to bet on sports in the washroom.

Along the way, I also found ads for an Inflatable Dart Board and a DVD Rewinder. The dart board is perfect for “XY’s” who enjoy a game of darts, aren’t very good and don’t want to play too long. I have no idea how many “XY’s” were required to burp before the spawn of the DVD Rewinder. It’s absolutely useless, will only end up in a junk drawer, “XX’s” will make a “tsk” noise and roll their eyes…and mine should be here in ten days.

To be fair, the combination of a blanket and a housecoat could only come from an individual with two of the same chromosomes. The initial thought of “who is actually going to buy this?”…has been surpassed by…“they sold how many???” In January, AdAge reported, “The quirky little blanket with sleeves has become the raiment of the zeitgeist, with more than 4 million units sold in just over three months and more than 200 parody videos on YouTube.” So, let’s score one for the “XX” bunch.

One final note for the “XX’s” reading along: while the creative peak is easy to spot, the point where the “XY” begins to burn on his creative jag typically happens in private. The process ends in a washroom and only after a substantial amount of “creative fluid” has been applied. The “XY” will, invariably, stand in front of the bathroom mirror…tilt his head to one side…and say, “Bond…James Bond”.

Nothing good happens after this.

Radio Trends - Kaiser Report

2010-01-22T11:27:00.001-06:00

The Kaiser Family Foundation's latest study indicates youth are using media more than ever before with some interesting math shown for radio consumption.

From the study:

radios are the most common type of media found in a young person’s bedroom.
94% of youth surveyed in 2009 said that they lived in homes with at least one radio
There are (on average) 2.5 radios in the home of an 8 to 18-year-old
75% of youth surveyed have a radio in their bedroom
55% of young people surveyed in 2009 listened to music over the radio in a typical day

48% who reported listening to music on an iPod/mp3 player
43% saying they listened to music on a computer (including Internet radio)
the average time spent listening to a radio was 56 minutes a day

The average amount of time that young people listen to music daily is 2 hours, 19 minutes.

iPod/mp3 player comprises the largest portion of the listening pie at 41 minutes.
Radio 32 minutes (tied with computer listening via iTunes/Internet radio).

While the report points to considerable access to radio, youth are less prone to investing time in listening to radio. It's interesting to note the proliferation of cell phones among young people and the amount of time spent consuming music on a phone. As the number of applications for smart phones only continues to grow, we can only assume more and more time will be spent using the devices. For radio, this means distribution has to match audience proclivities. While this generation has access to radio at home, in the car, etc., radio has a responsibility to deliver content to where the audience actually exists.

Music consumption, according to the study, remains on a growth curve. The methods of consumption and the devices used, continue to change and adapt. Broadband internet connection is assumed in the household and the expansion of hi-speed mobility connections means unbridled access to content wherever the user is located. Radio's toughest days may still be ahead.

In a presentation made by Gerd Leonhard, he offers:

Content is King...

Portability of Content is King Kong...

Service is Godzilla!

Radio needs to be where the consumer gathers...with content that is relevant and engaging. With the increased competition available through fast and portable internet connections, radio's franchise is still local...but has to take advantage of global distribution. Monetizing the effort will require proof among advertisers that the product is being used. To date, radio has been content to measure its performance internally (radio station to radio station). Perhaps what's required is a method to measure the audience and how they spend their time...and adjust content and delivery to fill the gaps.

The full Kaiser report is available HERE.

Country 630 - Manitoba Country

2010-01-19T19:23:00.004-06:00

A few years ago, I was fortunate to be involved with a rather interesting project that gathered some of Manitoba's most talented country writers and performers. The Country 630 "Hit Kickin' Country" CD was the culmination of a massive talent search. We selected ten incredible individuals to record original works under the watchful eye of Randy Hiebert.

Randy, at that point, was a locally reknowned guitar player and had cut his chops on a couple production projects. These days...Randy spends his time playing guitar for Howard and David Bellamy. Guitar players fascinate me. Good ones are hard to find...and GREAT ones are those rare souls who can own a room and make the hair on your arms stand on end. Randy is one of the great ones.

The CD was cut at John Hildebrand's studios in Winnipeg and released across Canada in the early 90's. We were pretty pleased when a few of our artists picked up national airplay. A flood that struck the Winnipeg area a few years later claimed the only copies I had of the project. I sent a quick email to Randy asking if he had a copy of the disc. He said, "No, I don't". And then he added, "...but I have the masters." Randy dug out the masters, reworked them, tweaked them...and fired them off to me. I can't thank him enough.

The songs below are the work of some amazing, talented performers and I'm really happy that I was able to collect and share the songs. A couple pieces have some special undertones as the artists were, as it turns out, a little larger than life. I have some favorites among the cuts below...it would be great to know yours.

Now, I'm missing the cover art and, as a result, I'm short a few names; if you've stumbled across this post and can fill in a couple blanks for me...I'll happily update the information so the people responsible get the appropriate credit. Contact is as easy as filling in a comment box.

Thanks....and enjoy.

Cool Slick Country Dude (Brad Mazur)

Turn It Up (Chris Bigford)

No Way

She’s Still Mine (Chad Henry)

Crash Landing (Norbert Ducharme)

Getting’ Suspicious (Sandy Serle)

The Greatest Gift (Steve Bell)

What If It Was Love

Ride This Stage (Ron Karlowski)

The Way Love Goes (Sheila Drysdale)

Ford Synch at CES - There's An App For That!

2010-01-11T08:27:00.002-06:00

From the LA Times a couple days ago, reporters Alex Pham and Ken Bensinger provide a glimpse at one of the reasons Ford stock has improved over the last couple quarters. Ford stock was hovering around $1 not long ago...and now sits at over $11.

A while back, Flurkey took a look at consumer trends and proclivities toward connectivity and how it applies to vehicles (Cars-Gadgets-JD Power). No surprise that this year's Consumer Electronics Show has continued to connect devices, to phones, to cars to....well, anything. Following the article, a video tour through the new Ford Synch system.

CES: Ford's Sync puts apps into cars

The new version will let drivers catch up on Twitter, listen to Internet radio, check movie times and get free online maps with turn-by-turn directions. Reporting from Los Angeles and Las Vegas - Need a billion-dollar corporate turnaround? There's an app for that.

Hitching a ride with the fast-paced Internet and consumer electronics industry, Ford Motor Co. on Thursday unveiled new features for its Sync in-car technology designed to turbocharge the company's financial turnaround and create Ford's image as the Apple Inc. of the car industry.

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Ford Chief Executive Alan Mulally showed off how consumers could soon catch up on Twitter, listen to Internet radio, check movie times and get free maps with turn-by-turn directions, using Sync's voice commands or 8-inch color touch-screen in the dashboard, in Ford's spring lineup of cars.

"These are the features that set us apart," Mulally said in his keynote speech. Sporting a homespun look -- a red sweater vest, white Oxford shirt and khakis -- Mulally boasted that his Dearborn, Mich., company had already sold 1 million vehicles equipped with previous versions of Sync as of May, seven months earlier than the goal he announced last January in his first CES keynote speech.

This year, Ford gave outside developers a chance to integrate their mobile applications with Sync so drivers could use the car's controls to summon, for example, Pandora Internet radio. (The apps themselves sit on an iPhone or other smart phone.) Ford is also pairing up with companies such as AOL Inc.'s MapQuest and Google Inc. to wirelessly bring street directions and other information to its cars. And it expanded the number of voice commands recognized -- to well over 1,000 from about 100 when Sync was introduced nearly two years ago.

The company also introduced MyFord, which lets each driver of a shared car build a profile with personal preferences, such as cabin temperature and a customized home screen. The car would recognize the individual drivers, by either their personal key fobs or their voices, and automatically apply those settings. The technology is a key component of Ford's efforts to speed up its rebound and regain market share, which slipped from 25% in the early 1990s to 15.5% last year.

So far, Sync appears to be helping Ford with its turnaround. Cars equipped with Sync sell twice as fast as the same models without the technology, said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president for global product development. Of those who bought a car with Sync, about a third said the feature was important, if not crucial, to their decision to buy Ford, and 77% reported they would recommend the vehicle to a friend, Mulally said.

Ford's financial health also has improved. It turned a profit in the third quarter, and its market share in the U.S. rose more than a percentage point in 2009. Ford stock, which traded as low as $1 early last year, on Thursday climbed 29 cents, or 2.6%, to $11.66, the highest since March 14, 2005.

In-vehicle entertainment and information technology is becoming increasingly common in the industry, which is desperately seeking ways to entice buyers in a tight economy.

General Motors Corp. this week, for example, announced a new application that would let owners of its Chevrolet Volt use their smart phones to remotely control a number of settings, from unlocking the doors to starting up the car. The Volt, a plug-in hybrid, is set to come out this year. A similar feature is being implemented on Mercedes-Benz vehicles. "Many manufacturers have these kinds of systems," said Rebecca Lindland, director of the autos group for IHS Global Insight, a consulting firm based in Lexington, Mass. "But Sync has really broadened what their cars are capable of relative to the competition."

At the same time, some wonder whether the added options would distract drivers from driving. Ford maintains that Sync's voice-command feature lets drivers keep their eyes on the road instead of fumbling with their phones. Ford also built in some safeguards, such as disabling the car's Wi-Fi connection once the car is shifted out of park so as not to encourage Web surfing while driving. It also said it would allow only applications that would not endanger drivers, so playing video games would be out.

Sync is strategic to Ford in another way, Lindland said. In five years, 57% of the car-buying public will be under 50 years old, she said. "That means there will be an awful lot of people out there multi-tasking while they're driving. That is the reality of people's lives, so why not be proactive and let people do those things as safely as possible?"

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Terrifc ADS

2010-01-07T21:54:00.005-06:00

Every now and then there's an ad you spot that cuts through the clutter...makes you stop what you're doing...and pay attention. As local television struggles to remain relevant while meeting conditions of license, we can expect that the expensive, inventive video ad will be relegated to viral video status. I'm anxious to see the investment that may (or may not) made for television commercials airing through this year's Super Bowl.

Here's a few from the past that caught my eye:

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A reminder to open our eyes and see...

2009-12-19T15:37:00.000-06:00

Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007.

The man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time approx. 2 thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.. After 3 minutes a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.

4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar: a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly.

45 minutes: The musician played continuously and only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

Somewhere...someone is hoping to be noticed.
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Domain Names...Choose Carefully

2009-12-12T07:39:00.009-06:00

There's a fantastic amount of information online about the value of a domain name, the preference of a *.com/*.net moniker, matching your domain to your business, etc. That said, it should surprise me to know there are sites out there that, innocently or otherwise, chose a virtual home with a less-than-fitting address.

After some extensive research (meaning a dear relative sent me an email), I've compiled a short list of sites that could have...possibly...perhaps...done a little homework before registering and loading up a site. If you need to find:

The name of an agent representing a specific celebrity, the company you're looking for is "Who Represents". The website is http://www.whorepresents.com/
An expert to field a question about programming/coding, one choice online is the "The Expert's Exchange. The website is http://www.expertsexchange.com/
A terrific pen for that distinguishing individual. You can browse through "Pen Island" online at http://www.penisland.com/
A professional to wander through the six inches between your ears, there's an website dedicated to connecting patients and therapists. The website is http://www.therapistfinder.com/
Someone to talk to at the Italian Power Generation Company (PowerGen). The website is http://www.powergenitalia.com/
Great ideas and artistic resources are your at "Speed of Art". The website is http://www.speedofart.com/
Vacation ideas in picturesque Lake Tahoe...visit http://www.gotahoe.com/
A great dentist, the domain is on the mark http://www.perfectsmiles.com/ - you get the sense they could have spent a little more time on the toll free mnemonic? 888-ANUSMILE.

Registering a domain is a lot like buying real estate. You need to do some homework, fiddle around with options and possibilities and, perhaps most importantly, ask the advice of a few people that have lived in the neighbourhood for awhile.

On the other hand, of course, it's entirely likely that the Pen Island folks understood that there may be additional traffic to their site because they know how search engines work. I would love to learn how many people hoping to find "Penis Land"....were actually converted to buying a pen?

And, for what it's worth, if I worked at PowerGen Italia...you'd be seeing that website on T-shirts and hoodies.

Accept Credit Cards on Your Phone!

2009-12-06T16:54:00.005-06:00

The article is taken from www.springwise.com

An entrepreneur may have the best product in the world, but if he or she doesn't accept credit cards, it can be a problem. That's something St. Louis glass artist Jim McKelvey learned the hard way, and it's also why he was inspired to create Square.

Cofounded with Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, Square lets small business owners begin accepting payment cards immediately without the contracts, expensive hardware, monthly fees or hidden costs that are typically required. Using Square's intuitive app and a small plastic device that plugs into a mobile phone's audio input jack, payment cards can be swiped and read anywhere. Customers can have receipts sent to them via email or mobile phone and then access them securely online; they can also use text messaging to authorize every payment in real-time. For those who create a Square account, meanwhile, there's faster transaction processing and the option of photo verification. Now in limited beta, Square will donate a penny from every transaction to the cause of the user's choice. It will be widely available in early 2010. The reader devices will likely be free, while the app will cost about USD 1, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.

Similar in many ways to ProcessAway, which we covered earlier this year, Square promises to open up a whole new world of opportunity for sellsumers and minipreneurs. One to get in on early?

Website: http://www.squareup.com/

Yellow Pages (Really?)

2009-09-10T21:52:00.005-05:00

I've been lucky enough to be around Brad Boechler for a few years now. The latest edition of MoodSwing Minute touches on an advertising medium that has, historically, driven other media types crazy. Like many other media vehicles...the worm has turned for the Yellow Pages.

From MoodSwing Media's site...here's Brad's latest offering:

Is it Time We Shoot the Dog?

It is that time of the year again, yellow page renewals. Are the calls from their telemarketers are coming in fast and furious?With technology, consumers have turned to industry specific web sites and Google to get your address, phone number, information etc. I am finding that the “yellow page effect” with clients is similar to a growing kid finally letting go of a favorite blanket. They know that they should let it go but are unsure about life without it.

MSM opinion:

1.) Do not confuse yellow pages with advertising or marketing because its not.

2.) Depending on your industry, 70 – 85% (sometimes even higher) of potential customers have checked out your website prior to first contact. The web has changed how consumers shop.

3.) Yellow pages are demographically sensitive. For example, if your business depends on “older” consumers, they might be more likely to use it.

4.) Ask yourself, when was the last time you used the yellow pages?

5.) Alphabetical order is a thing of the past. Priority in your category or worse categories depends on expenditure.

6.) It isn’t cheap. Yellow page prices depend on size of ad, colour, URL search components and the number of books published in a city. It is expected that you would insert ads in all of them. In very short order you are spending many thousands of dollars annually and take a large chunk out of your “advertising budget”.

7.) Alternatives? Could you decrease your spend and choose advertising options that allow you to change creative and offers frequently to reflect current needs / wants of consumers and economic climate?

8.) Does your website reflect you and your business accurately? As mentioned, it is often the first point of contact. Permission Based Marketing through email to your existing customers can be very effective as long as it is used sparingly and offers real value. Traditional media is unfairly being condemned as “its best days are behind it.” TV, radio, local and regional newspaper, direct mail are still very effective especially when used in tandem with your site. I have used all on behalf of my clients at different times with strong results. The key is strategy, creative and budget with measurable / attainable objectives.

9.) I am sure that there are many businesses that use yellow pages with success and this item is not intended to simply slam the book, but rather just to illustrate that it isn’t the “must have” holy grail of marketing as maybe it once was.

A question: Is it time to loosen the grip on the blanket or just shoot the dog?

Brad's blog can be found HERE.

Exploiting Chaos – Trendhunter

2009-09-05T13:41:00.005-05:00

If you haven’t wandered through the pages of Trendhunter, it’s worth a look. It’s a collection of everything new and covers a very wide range of topics: technology, fashion, sex, culture, business, life, arts and the bizarre. Jeremy Gutsche is the brainchild behind the site that empowers an army of contributors to post whatever they find that is interesting and new.

Aside from the content on the site, the model is terrifically fascinating. Trendhunter.com boasts 8-10 million monthly visits, a catalogue of almost 50,000 trends (contributions) and a membership of nearly 30,000 hunters and gatherers all bent on keeping each other informed…and all are fine with the notion that we watch through the window.

For the interested, the site contains a wealth of information....

For the rest of the story...please CLICK HERE.

Heroes

2009-08-14T12:44:00.009-05:00

On a daily basis, there's usually a dozen reasons for me to get caught up in things that are completely out of my control. And, if I'm really honest with myself, the notion of "control" is a fleeting attempt at manipulating an environment that really could care less about my schedule, desires or gratifying my ego through external means. I need reminders to stay grounded and I need people in my life who inspire me to gather the courage to change what I can...and to humbly accept outcomes that don't fit with my plan.

If we look around...and pay attention...there are heroes walking among us. These people tend to set the bar a little higher than the rest of us and they quietly manage life's challenges with style, dignity and grace. It's nice having bona fide examples of people who have actually acted on those thoughts of, "I don't have to do this anymore" or, in some cases, "I can do this differently". When I first started playing golf, it was suggested to me that if I wanted to play better golf...play with better players; I'm sure the same is true for everything else.

One of those people is Joel Lamoureux. While his golf game, I'm sure, needs a little work...I watch, and I learn, as he tackles life's more meaningful challenges.

Joel's story is HERE.

Joel's blog is HERE.

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RHONDA - 3D Drawing Tool

2009-07-30T17:43:00.002-05:00

Every now and then...we see something that just fascinates us.

From the Rhonda Forever site:

The hands on the screen belong to James Paterson. He is using "Rhonda", a 3D drawing tool developed by Amit Pitaru circa 2003.

The first half of the video shows James doing a drawing start to finish. In the second part James is cycling through various previous drawings, created between 2004 and 2005.
For the last several years Rhonda has been shown in galleries, museums, festivals and conferences. We are excited to finally release this video online (about time!).

Even more exciting is that our good friends Zach Lieberman (openframeworks) and Zach Gage (synthpond) have just joined the Rhonda Team! With their help we're creating stable releases of Rhonda for various platforms.

They're signing up people for the home version...

$30 MILLION for Google Lunar X Project

2009-07-30T12:31:00.008-05:00

There's a contest going on that could, potentially, carve up the terra firma in a field near you. As part of it's insanely popular Google Earth application, Google now allows you to view, tour and fly around the Moon. For the "so inclined", there's a contest afoot that offers a rather substantial prize and all you have to do is shoot and transmit a couple pictures.

From the Lunar X Project site:

The Google Lunar X PRIZE is a $30 million international competition to safely land a robot on the surface of the Moon, travel 500 meters over the lunar surface, and send images and data back to the Earth. Teams must be at least 90% privately funded and must be registered to compete by December 31, 2010. The first team to land on the Moon and complete the mission objectives will be awarded $20 million; the full first prize is available until December 31, 2012. After that date, the first prize will drop to $15 million. The second team to do so will be awarded $5 million. Another $5 million will awarded in bonus prizes. The final deadline for winning the prize is December 31, 2014.

There were 21 teams (2 have dropped out) vying for the $20 million first prize. Registration happens with only a few clicks and you can throw your name in the hat HERE. Among the teams remaining are official sounding names like "EuroLuna", "Odyssey Moon" and "LunaTrex". The logos and artwork are, for lack of a better term, sterile and resemble exisiting NASA branding. I believe an opportunity exists.

I'm looking for volunteers to join the ACME ROCKET COMPANY entrance into the Lunar X contest. To the right, you'll see a detailed drawing of the original ACME rocket based on the inner machinations of one Wile E. Coyote. Though his travels to the moon are few...his experience with munitions and rocket travel are legendary.

While on the moon...we'll continue the search for Alludium Phosdex...the Shaving Cream Atom.

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Enjoy.

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Brass Monkeys, Balls and Big Wigs

2009-07-15T21:47:00.011-05:00

You've heard the expression, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey". I always assumed the origin of the saying involved the gelding of an actual monkey. Before we get to the soprano simian...a few other choice colloquialisms and how they got here from there.

In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. One's image was either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted (artists know hands and arms are more difficult to paint). Arms and legs are 'limbs,' therefore painting them would cost the buyer more. Hence the expression, 'Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg.'

As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year (May and October). Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs.. Wealthy men could afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn't wash the wigs, so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term 'big wig.' Today we often use the term 'here comes the Big Wig' because someone appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.

In the late 1700's, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair. Commonly, a long wide board folded down from the wall, and was used for dining. The 'head of the household' always sat in the chair while everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Occasionally a guest, who was
usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair during a meal. To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge. They called the one sitting in the chair the 'chair man.' Today in business, we use the expression or title 'Chairman' or 'Chairman of the Board.'

Personal hygiene left much room for improvement. As a result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to stare at another woman's face she was told, 'mind your own bee's wax.' Should the woman
smile, the wax would crack, hence the term 'crack a smile'. In addition, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt . . .and 'lose face.'

Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the 'Ace of Spades.' To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead. Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren't 'playing with a full deck.'

Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered important.. Since there were no telephones, TV's or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs, and bars. They were told to 'go sip some ale' and listen to people's conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were dispatched at different times. 'You go sip here' and 'You go sip there.' The two words 'go sip' were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and, thus we have the term 'gossip.'

At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized containers. A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on the customers and keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention and remember who was drinking in 'pints' and who was drinking in 'quarts,' hence the term 'minding your'P's and Q's '

In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon. However, how to prevent them from rolling about the deck? The best storage method devised was a square-based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem...how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a 'Monkey' with 16 round indentations. However, if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make 'Brass Monkeys'. Brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled; consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannonballs would come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, 'Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.'

Heineken Has Terrific Ads!!!

2009-07-13T16:36:00.004-05:00

It used to be the best beer ads were consistently put forward by Budweiser and Miller. Lately, though, there's been a run of terrific ads from European labels. The Stella Artois ads are great...and Heineken ads are just plain wonderful.

Enjoy!!!

Twitter and Facebook Make History

2009-07-10T14:41:00.005-05:00

As a bit of a follow-up to a post on the 3 Wins site "Should Your Non-Profit Use Facebook"...I was sent the link to a dynamite presentation from Clay Shirky that draws lines between traditional media and the historical significance of applications like Facebook and Twitter. The video can be found on the TED site.

Should Your Non-Profit Be On Facebook?

2009-07-09T01:36:00.010-05:00

The numbers on Facebook...from 3 Wins Consulting:

A quick “one-pager” released by iStrategyLabs shows some seemingly innocuous statistics about the proliferation of Facebook in the United States. Before we tear into the math, let’s set a couple benchmarks (US Census Bureau) to establish some perspective:

there are about 307 million people in the US.
49% are male (approx. 151 million).
51% are female (approx. 156 million).

Now, here’s the math on Facebook over the last six months:

January 4, 2009 there were 42 million Facebook users in the US.
July 4, 2009 there were 72 million Facebook users in the US.
An increase of 30 million users in 6 months.
This means every day…165,000 people signed up…about 40 people every hour.

According to the numbers shown, 20% of Americans are....

Click HERE to see the rest of the story.

Stop Motion Magic

2009-07-04T07:56:00.006-05:00

I'm absolutely fascinated with animation, claymation and stop-motion. I've horsed around with a camera, a huge SD drive and different players...but I get the sense success in the medium requires an attention span greater than that of your average squirrel.

Here's a couple videos from folks that got it right.

Never Give Up

2009-07-03T10:51:00.007-05:00

A dynamite post from Gary Potter on the 3 Wins Consulting site.

Never Give Up
We all struggle with the process of managing unexpected changes in life. Recent challenges in my world have me looking back to material that has been meaningful and introspective. What follows is taken from the wonderful work “Never Give Up” by Joyce Meyer: A farmer once took an egg from an...

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Is Your Non-Profit Cause Distinct?

2009-06-30T15:37:00.007-05:00

First shown at 3 Wins Consulting.

Separating yourself from the flock of charitable organizations is becoming more and more difficult. When we say “flock”…just how many is that?

Here’s the math on American charity groups from the National Center for Charitable Statistics:

960,000 public charities
115,000 private foundations
450,000 other nonprofits (Chambers of Commerce, Civic Leagues, etc.)
380,000 religious groups
And the grand total shows about 1.8 MILLION charity groups.

What did those charities earn?

2007 total revenues for nonprofits was $1.4 TRILLION
2007 total expenses for nonprofits was $1.3 TRILLION
2007 charities reported total assets worth $2.6 TRILLION

Where did the money come from?

22% from contribution
67% from program revenues
11% came from “other”…like special event income
individual contributions amounted to $229 BILLION
foundations gave $45 BILLION

The numbers are impressive…and more than a little scary. Now let’s adjust for reality by applying the “80/20” rule; let’s assume that the top 20 charities gather 80% of the revenue. This would show 360,000 organizations gathering about $1.12 TRILLION…and the remaining $280 BILLION shared among 1.45 MILLION charities. Or, to put it another way, the big ones get $3 MILLION…the little ones get $200,000. To go further, this also means we should expect 1,200,000 charitable organizations will earn less than $50,000 this year.

Before you start picking out a tall building with roof access…there’s some great news buried in those numbers. Take another look at the revenue sources (89% from contribution/program and 11% from individual contribution). The competition will be for the 89% of contributed and program dollars. The real opportunity lies with the 11% that falls under “other income”.

If you fall in the group earning less than $50,000/year, separating yourself from the herd is relatively simple. Focus on your constituents. If your cause doesn’t hold the mental real estate that maybe the United Way, or Heart and Stroke does…attach yourself to an event or activity that does have universal appeal. It will likely mean a lesser individual contribution but the base expands exponentially. If the event is appealing and your cause(s) are relevant, the tendency to engage increases and keep in mind that it’s far easier to gather one dollar from 50,000 people than it is to gather 50,000 dollars from one person.

Maybe it’s time to break away from the herd?

Failure Is An Option

2009-06-16T14:48:00.005-05:00

First shown at 3 Wins Consulting.

Sometimes the difference between success and failure is a very fine line. Seth Godin refers to that odd little point in time when a project stalls or slows...as a "Dip".

We offer a few simple but remarkable observations from the book:

"The most common response to the Dip is to play it safe. To do ordinary work, blameless work, work that's beyond reproach. When faced with the Dip, most people suck it up and try to average their way to success."

"It's human nature to quit when it hurts. But it's that reflex that creates scarcity. The challenge is simple: Quitting when you hit the Dip is a bad idea. If the journey you started was worth doing, then quitting when you hit the Dip just wastes the time you've already invested. Quit in the Dip often enough and you'll find yourself becoming a serial quitter, starting many things but accomplishing little. Simple: If you can't make it through the Dip, don't start."

"... the real success goes to those who obsess. The focus that leads you through the Dip to the other side is rewarded by a marketplace in search of the best in the world. A woodpecker can tap twenty times on a thousand trees and get nowhere, but stay busy. Or he can tap twenty-thousand times on one tree and get dinner."

"The next time you're tempted to vilify a particularly obnoxious customer or agency or search engine, realize that this failed interaction is the best thing that's happened to you all day long. Without it, you'd be easily replaceable. The Dip is your very best friend."

"The Dip" should be required reading for every non-profit. If you're stalled on fundraising, discouraged by the lack of people to stick their hands in the air to volunteer or head up committees...stay with it. There's every likelihood your original ideas are sound but they may need some adjustment or updating to become current and relevant.

Non-Profit Strategy

2009-06-15T09:52:00.011-05:00

First shown at 3 Wins Consulting.

First, let’s figure out what we’re talking about when we say "strategy".

Strategy is “an organized pattern of behavior toward an end". The word is a derivative of two Greek words: "stratos" and "ago" which mean "army" and "leading", respectively. A strategy provides the overall means to overcome an obstacle, the means to reach benchmarks along the way and the positioning and posturing of resources. So developing a strategy is not the same as developing a plan.

Strategy and plans exist in two different worlds. A plan assumes a controlled environment without variables like competition, for example. Strategy assumes an uncontrolled environment where the variables are considered. A strategy is flexible; a plan is rigid. A strategy can shift but a plan is based on a specific set of circumstances. Strategy is the art…planning is the science. Strategy is knowing how to make a picture emerge from a canvas…planning is where you buy the paint.

Let’s say your group wants to become the nation’s most recognized authority in supporting left-handed golfers. You devise a strategy that includes media, sponsorship, manufacturers, web, print, radio and several notable spokespeople to endorse your message. Phil Mickelson and Mike Weir are in and Callaway Golf wants to profile their irons and drivers. Prior to launch, Phil and Mike pull out and start their own cause and take Callaway with them. Does your strategy change? Perhaps not. Do your plans change? Definitely.

For non-profits, a strategy must include a few things for the group to remain viable. A variety of revenue streams allows the group to weather tough economies and capitalize on good times. Through tougher times, we expect competition to increase and the non-profit has to position itself accordingly to gather favorable attention from clients, sponsors and patrons. This might mean an increase in web activity or forging partnerships with other non-profits to gain resources and mass.

So your organization (if it is to be strong, healthy and relevant) should weigh all possible risks and scenarios when setting your strategy and mitigate the ebbs and flows with the biggest base of supporters possible. And it shouldn't rest on the whims of a couple lefties.

Blue Angels Ride Along - Terrific!

2009-06-12T16:21:00.014-05:00

I just had to share this...click "Close To Play" at the bottom of the ad box.

Blue Angels Online

Cars – Gadgets – J.D. Power

2009-06-08T10:23:00.002-05:00

According to J.D. Power, we want gadgets in our cars. When we’re looking at vehicles, we consider a number of criteria: safety, fuel economy, performance, comfort, color, warranty, dealer reputation, and price. Trumping the list of features we prefer…is entertainment and connectivity.

I come from a place where a car owner would brag about having a 454 with a 4 barrel, hi-speed rear end, Hurst shift kit, chrome everywhere and pulling a quarter in 10 flat. That same guy is now talking about a car that gets 40 mpg, has 5.1 surround, backup cameras, Bluetooth, side-curtain airbags, iPod connection, GPS and a DVD player. “So…what’s in the dash?” has replaced “What’s under the hood?”

Among the toys we’re looking for...killer sound ranks the highest. GPS is also high, but interest wanes when the price of the option is revealed. Two-thirds of us want to use a portable music player through the vehicles speakers and 30% of us also want to connect a smart phone through the audio system. 70% of us want Bluetooth in the cars and among the vehicles out there now with Bluetooth…only half the owners actually use it.

Aside from the toys, bells and whistles...fuel economy "should" be a vital consideration for anyone buying a new car. Right? Maybe not. J.D. Power also shows the vehicles with the biggest gains month over month (May 08 vs. May 09) are full-size sedans, SUV’s and vans. Domestics outperformed imports when comparing sales from May 2008 to May 2009 and the list of vehicles with the biggest gains include:

Lincoln Town Car (up 103%)
Chevrolet Express (up 11%)
Cadillac Escalade (up 21%)
Buick Enclave (up 40%)
GMC Yukon (up 43%)
Pontiac G8 (up 70%)

When you look at the list, it becomes clear we’re a pretty funny bunch. Even though we KNOW gas prices are going to rise again…and even though we KNOW there might be a better choice for the planet…there’s just NO WAY we can pass up a smokin’ hot price on an Escalade.

So, I’m not alone: there are, apparently, a few of us caught deciding between “what we’ve always wanted” and “what we should probably do”. Regardless, I’m glad to hear any story about the auto industry that includes the word “gain”. I’m also happy that there’s some public preference for buying domestic vehicles…especially since we bought the companies.

On another note, I’d appreciate a little help finding a 72 Cutlass 442 convertible…with factory surround, GPS and Bluetooth.