Bob on big ideas

My attempt at a campaign math equation:
Big Idea x Integrated elements/budget + execution = Campaign.

The big idea, the unifying idea vs. a bundle of brilliant small ideas. This tossed idea salad can get a bit confusing. Some advertising guru's even seem to be contradicting one another. Here's some advice on the subject from two professionals I greatly admire:

1. "Screw the "big idea," you need a lot of small fucking brilliant ideas! Don't paralyze yourself trying to find a big idea, they usually end up pretty lame." - Brian Collins

An Article about Collins and his new agency, COLLINS:
http://www.mediabistro.com/unbeige/the_revolving_door/abort_clambake_brian_collins_launches_collins_with_the_martin_agency_70936.asp

2.An interview with R/GA CEO/COO Bob Greenberg.
http://creativity-online.com/work/view?seed=1dhV9Heh

lose weight and help the environment INSTANTLY

With all this talk about sustainability and obesity in America, the roads in cities across the U.S. are strating to look like a Critical Mass take over during rush hour. People are switching from ethanol fuel to adrenaline, getting exercise during their daily commute and goodwill from mother earth. In Portland, OR, an actual bike gang has locked their bikes together to have a secret meeting a bar. This is no ordinary gang though...this is a gang of liberal, earth-lovers. Don't tell Bush, he would want to bomb them. Interested in joining? Don't worry about having to cut anyones ear off, just head here for info: http://Critical-Mass.info. The funny thing is that when people do get into buying bikes, they don't accept just any ol' Huffy; these people spend a couple thousand dollars on their bikes. A friend of mine works in a shop,http://www.chrisking.com/, that sells bike parts and small pieces that I fail to notice, that cost several hundred dollars. Bikes range from the functional, to the bizarre. I found this guy in a parking lot. He was really cool and showed us how to get up on one of these 7ft. tall bad boys. Maybe I'll figure that out on my next trip to Portland. Or when I get over my fear of bikes... whichever comes first. Start taking bets.

african peanut soup

This morning I walked 19 blocks to get to Crema, a coffeehouse in Portland, OR where I am spring breaking. If I had not done this walk though, I think my friend Cameron would have kicked me out of his apartment. On my walk I saw a cooperative workers bike shop and was mistaken for someone else by a woman driving by.

Crema Cafe 2728 Ankeny st. Portland, OR
My trip thus far has been amazing though. Here are some things I have noticed:
1. The people living here couldn't be happier anywhere else. They don't talk about what's wrong with the city and how and when they are going to make their escape, they look for what is good and relish it.
2. I have yet to hear bad music. I want a running soundtrack of all the tunes I hear around this place.
3. Latte art! I will post a picture of the latte I got the other day, it's amazing. They use the foam to create a picture, typically some type of leaf.

Currently still working on my book, getting it printed is going to be an adventure...

packing

Packing for Portland/Seattle and think I may need to go shopping for a bigger luggage bag...
If you ever find yourself in my situation I'm going to share a secret with you...city-data.com. They will give you average temperature, rainfall, even a peek at how home sales have been in the past five years for that market. So, although knowing how much a home would cost you or how many people are in correctional institutions there won't help you pack clothes...it might remind you to bring your mace...

Also, it's official, I'm addicted to caffeine. I haven't had any all day and have a nasty headache. Boooo coffee.

katsucon '08

It is strange to think that prior to three weeks ago I was completely ignorant that this group of people even existed. Every year thousands of people worldwide create elaborate costumes based off of anime characters and dive into the fantasy world called Katsucon. Katsucon is an annual anime convention held in and around D.C. These actors if you will, put on their costumes and embody the character itself. These character impersonations are called cosplay. At these conventions, cosplay becomes theatrical with a cosplay masquerade when impersonators write short skits based off a cartoon and perform it.

I left with so many questions and a few theories...
I noticed that none of the anime impersonators were taking pictures. Why? Is this like the red carpet for them? On the red carpet, you'll never see a celebrity take out their camera and start snapping pics like a tourist. Does this cosplay make them feel like celebrities?

I have this theory that anime has a lot of philosophy/ancient Asian folklore in it (I could be wrong). If this is true what has happened to these philosophies since anime has become so westernized?

How has anime become westernized? One video that helped me in seeing the difference between anime and other imitation cartoons was this short flick: http://members.cox.net/penguinjoe/SCAD/presentation.swf

An interesting look at the lives of those who have an otaku for anime is a photo essay called "The Anime Within," by photographer Elena Dorfman.
http://www.motherjones.com/photos/the-anime-within/

If anyone who happens to stumble upon this posting knows the answers to any of these...I'd really appreciate any thoughts.

zeitgeist

New word: zeitgeist.
Meaning from the mind-set of a different time. Welcome back, to 1988. This song by The Prototypes was featured in an iPod Shuffle ad. Apple has the tendency to be linked to Zeitgeists as it's newest Apple iTouch ad featured CSS singing"Music is my Hot Hot Sex. " Entering the musical time machine, the CSS video is sure to send you back to 1986.

beyond vectors

In my Communications Strategy class we were assigned the study of a sub-culture of our choice. Upon exploring the world of Flash-fanatics, I have discovered that in thinking of Flash as a mere tool for programing, I have sold it short. Flash is not just a program, but an art form.

Here are the Flashforward winners of 2007:
http://www.flashforwardconference.com/winners

Radiohead fans, check this one out:
http://www.lowmorale.co.uk/creep/flash/creep_FLASH.asp

Poetry fans:
http://www.yhchang.com/DAKOTA.html

enjoy.

turkey sandwich

Many of my friends have resolved to quit smoking in 2008 and I'm glad to see it. Although some of them would disagree with this spot, saying that they can quit cold turkey, it is undeniably funny.

trendcharting

Google and trend watchers have shaken hands and created a trend watching Google tool. Ever wondered which country talks most about pudding? It's New Zealand! Who knew?!

masters of productivity

Southwest Airlines doesn't have a spokesman, nor do they have a mascot. What they have is a customer. Customer Nick Pudder has allegedly surpassed productivity records by flying Southwest. Thank you, Nick. Next time I feel the urge to flee from my desk and take refuge in front of my tv, I'll go to Southwest and hop a flight to Albuquerque.

http://www.bemoreproductive.com/
This site has tips for wasting time such as playing with your Crackberry.

In other airline advertising news...
Check out the stuff Wongdoody did for Horizon Air.
"The Slog" as it is called is a dusty stretch of road between Portland and Seattle and is claimed to be the longest journey known to western pioneers. Very funny stuff. I tip my cowgirl hat to y'all.
http://www.i-5slog.com/

the downfall of NYC

T-shirt designer and entrepreneur Daniel Casarella claims that the downfall of lower Manhattan into the slums of five points was the result of the city uprooting Collect Pond in the early 1800s. Whether or not this is true, it is undeniable that 28 year old Casarella has managed to use history to make history in the world of T-shirts. Each piece Casarella and his brother create uncovers a part of what makes NYC's history so rich.
Check 'em out:
http://www.barkingirons.com/6ward/

formerly known as...

a company that i will work for in the future will go through a name change. a partner will be bolstered into the rankings with the addition of his or her initial added to the stationary. and when the company must reprint the stationary and the pens because of this thousand dollar initiative, i will steal all the old stuff and keep it for my personal use. because even if i am making money at that point, i'll still be a cheap bastard.

so here's to following trends, accepting change and evolving as we must. here's to the brandcenter.

ad school plus soul

rick's a proud daddy.
http://adage.com/article?article_id=123007

just visiting

retracing your steps back to your old haunting grounds can leave you searching for something completely intangible. i am doing a bit of haunting in columbia, sc where i did my undergrad. as inevitable as death and taxes are, change plays it's part. buildings have been built, trees have been planted. i guess what really feels odd is my lack of purpose here. i don't have a schedule to work around; no classes or meetings or work. i feel as empty as my schedule.

teen driving revisited

i still drive more cautiously since working on Project Yellow Light in Katherine Wintsch's class. i was just watching the Jose Gonzalez video for 'Crosses,' and feel that it could be used in a safe-driving campaign. the video brings to life the beauty of the words in the song.