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Archive for February, 2009|Monthly archive page

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Follow me Birds!

In Ideas, People on February 28, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Source: New York Times

Source: New York Times

Birds following an Ultralight? This scene somehow made me think of Ace Ventura (classic Jim Carrey by the way) and all his wacky attempts to blend in among the animals.

The pilots of these ultralights never speak and are always dressed in their all white outfits when around the birds.

Its serious business though as these pilots and ultralights are reeducating these Whooping Cranes about the business of migrating south (to Texas!) for the winter. With their population dwindling, many young cranes are left without adult cranes to take them on their 1st Migration South.That’s where these pilots, silent and dressed in all white, in.

Wow.

Link: Operation Migration

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Biofuels “Could Be Sin”

In Ideas on February 24, 2009 at 10:30 pm

Of all the reasons not to use biofuel, and there are plenty (including the idea that it diverts grains that could feed deserving children), this one takes the cupcake (sorry, I had a craving today). 

Dubai-based news channel Al Arabiya reported last week that Sheikh Mohamed Al-Najimi, in a message targeted at young Muslims living abroad, warned that using Biofuels… could violate their religion’s prohibition on alcohol, and hence, be a sin.

The faithful that listen might even take the warning as doctrine with the Sheikh being a member of the Saudi Islamic Jurisprudence Academy.

What the?! 

What is more ridiculous is that this story was picked up by the Christian Science Monitor which reported it with tones that the Sheikh (and hence by association his brand of Islam) was against Biofuels (and hence renewable energy, and hence our efforts to ‘save the planet’).

It gets worse, an early comment on Al Arabiya’s article declared: “THE MORE STUPID THE PEOPLE BECOMES THE MORE THEY ARE AWAY FROM DEMOCRACY”

I initially wanted to pick this up as a Sustainability story for EvolvingChoice but just could not because of the way the story might be perceived. But hey, its still enough to make me go “Wow”.

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Metrosexual-O on Facebook

In Ideas on February 22, 2009 at 5:28 pm

metrosexualo
I never thought it would come to this, these days Facebook usually targets me (in Czech) asking if I want to learn English. Although they do also mention ‘cestiny pro cizinice’ which is ‘czech for foreigners’ but.. if I needed to learn Czech.. shouldn’t they be assuming… I don’t speak it at all..?

Anyway, today was different, there it was, an ad for “Metrosexualo.com”. Its official, I’ve been identified as a potential target. Do I need to change the lifestyle I’m posting up on FB?

Of course the term has crept into the vernacular but a .com ?! are you serious? I wonder if there’s a Homosexualo.com (I just checked, there isn’t, so… anyone want to sit on a domain?)

But what IS MetrosexualO.com? The site that has ‘unique & stylish clothing you won’t find anywhere’ ? Its website proclaims that ‘MetrosexualO’ is ‘Metrosexual’ in Spanish! (no way!) OK.. so its a latin american / spanish group? 

But wait.. the payment system points users to a “go.kr“ address, Korea? 

So.. its Asian / Latin but targeting consumers in the Czech Republic? Right.

But seriously guys, “HomosexualO.com” anyone? I’m tempted. Though I might start getting letters for insensitivity. What with MILK nominated for 8 awards at tonight’s Oscar’s.

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Meat Lollipop Saucisson

In Objects on February 18, 2009 at 10:15 pm

Saucisson
First ‘experienced’ during a Christmas dinner in Montelimar, Provence. I then quickly realised this was not only a dinner menu item but also a Handy Portable Snack.

Complete with a String, just in case you need to hook it onto anything while your hands are busy?, and sometimes a Free Knife in the plastic.

What is it? Its a Saucisson! Or a “Meat Lollipop” as my French buddy, Pierre Mourier, put it to us.

Try it, you’ll love it.

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Pepsi Emoticon!

In Ideas, Objects on February 15, 2009 at 12:29 pm

Pepsi Emoticon
Ever had that feeling your can of Soda was smiling at you? Well as it turns out, Pepsi has DESIGNED their Cans to Smile!

In a leaked design brief by the Arnell Group which also talks about the Pepsi Logo’s “Gravitational Fields” and compares it to the Golden Ratio and the Mona Lisa.

For the full brief of lunacy: Link Here

Katherine also mentions this in her Post: “Cola Wars of the Senses” @ BrandCurve

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Advertising in Church

In Objects, Places on February 10, 2009 at 9:27 am

Church Advertising

Now we all know that advertising is EVERYWHERE these days, every little object we own is branded in some way and every single bit of public space is slowly being taken over by messages urging you to buy this or do that.

But a Catherdrale? I can’t be the only one that thinks this is taking it a little too far.

Maybe St.Martin’s Catherdrale in Brastislava really did need those funds for restoration (where was the government?) but what kind of narcissistic brand would want to be ostentatiously put up in stained glass in a Church?!

Katherine also blogged this: Link Here

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Apple with Fortune Character

In Objects on February 9, 2009 at 7:49 am

Apple with Chinese CharacterDuring the Lunar New Year (which JUST passed), its Chinese culture to wish everyone you meet “Happiness & Fortune” or 恭喜发财 (Gong Xi Fa Cai). Now, its common to see these words emblazoned everywhere from mass media to cookie boxes but…

I saw it on an Apple. 

The Character 财 (Cai / Fortune) beaming at me from a Fruit Bowl.

As it turns out, this is what happens:

  1. Growers stick a bit of paper on the “Baby Apples”
  2. Sunlight does not hit the area covered (by paper) 
  3. Red ‘skin’ does not form in the area covered
  4. Apple grows up with a Giant 财 (Cai / Fortune) on it

On another Chinese Note, SONY seems to be losing market share there to SQNY: More at EvolvingChoice

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Butt in Bar Ceiling

In Objects, Places on February 5, 2009 at 7:14 pm

Butt in Bratislava Ceiling

We walked into a dimly lit bar in Bratislava, and didn’t even notice it was there till a couple drinks later!
Of all the things I would expect on a Ceiling, a Butt, not just any Butt mind you but a Green Devil’s Butt! (p.s. It was Miss. Ioana Craciun who was reaching for the Butt, not me. So to all those Green Devils, don’t worry, your butts are safe around me… but around Ioana..)

Was definitely something ‘Wow!’ worthy, but so was the love story of our 2 new friends.

1) They met in Spain, She’s Romanian and he’s Italian

2) She moves to Bratislava to take up a Job which she now hates (and pays horribly)

3) He moves to Bratislava to be a Chef

4) He’s a trained Dentist

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Mannequins: FAT & Monkey Headed

In Objects on February 3, 2009 at 11:50 pm

Paul Frank MannequinFat Mannequin

Two Mannequins that.. (you guessed it!) made me go Wow!

I mean really, walking into a store and having a boho dressed cartoon female monkey staring at you mouth wide open, who wouldn’t go Wow? (This was a Paul Frank Pop-Up Store in case you were wondering)

And the Plus Size Mannequin?! What the?! We weren’t even in America! I wonder if there’s a ‘Fat Mannequin Specialist‘ out there..

have you guys come across any weird and wonderful mannequins recently?

would love to hear about them.

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M&Ms + Your Face

In Ideas, Objects on February 3, 2009 at 12:05 pm

“Wow!” was literally my response when a friend mentioned all of us can get customised M&M candies with any message on them! And that’s been around since 2005!

In 2008, M&Ms took it one step further and made it possible for customers to order M&Ms with their Face on them! (well, any photo really)

They’ve been ridiculously popular at weddings & birthdays and with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I’m sure they’ll see a surge of orders!

I wonder if anyone out there ordered a whole bunch of Obama M&Ms for their Inauguration Bash.

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