Posts Tagged ‘media’

All World

All World

How to label all the world countries and their Capitols as quickly as possible?

I have to write down and label all of the world's countries and capitols. The only method I know is to put it the country one by one on googlemaps and doing it that way. Do you know a faster way of doing this?

the cia world fact book is another good place... though wikipedia is fast too...

All the countries and capitols?? as recognised by whom? Remember that is subject to interpretation.

Moonlight Soundtrack 03 Fauxliage - All The World

Century Media

Century Media

Reinventing the Media Agency

I’ve done a lot of conceptual work lately about innovation and creative work processes within the media agency. It brings to mind a distinction Aristotle made which seems to be forgotten. He divided the world into two parts: the first in which things can't be other than they are and another in which things can be other that they are - a simple but very strong distinction. The first part is typified by the physical world where a rock is a rock and can't be anything else. In this world, Aristotle's analytics lay out a fabulous toolbox: rigorous, objective, quantitative analysis with a goal to establish and document the reality of the situation. This world is the most known, and most of marketing communication is created within this "unchangeable reality" where being consistent matters.

The other world, where things can be other than they are, is the world of people, of organizations and of cultures. For example, a bad communication strategy can be something else - a great communication strategy - if someone figures out how to turn it around. In this area, analytics are an inappropriate tool. Instead, Aristotle described the thinking tools: conversation, invention, and intention. Here our efforts aren't focused on the description of what is real but rather on the creation of something that does not currently exist, that must be first imagined.

Media agencies must operate within those distinctions. We need to deliver both hard and soft facts. We need to provide our clients with the rigorous and quantitative analysis; we can't run away from numbers. We still need to be a kind of accountant for our clients and describe reality by using hard facts, ROI, reach, awareness, etc. But we can't be stuck in that role. We need to evolve into a new type of media planner, into communication guides who take the clients, consumers and brands on a fascinating journey to the modern and fragmented world of plenty.

If media agencies want to keep up with the changes, embrace the media proliferation and get in touch with its most important client - human beings - we have to understand and operate in the second of the Aristotle worlds - the world where things can be changed via creativity and innovation. I know people are not so fond of change in general; we are afraid of losing control. For safety reasons we stick to routines. But if we media planners want to stay in the game, we don't need to get a fancy new title. In order to stay in the game, we have to develop new skills, be enthusiastic and curious. We must believe and dare to influence the world and make media plans and brands look different. Media agencies need to reinvent themselves to face the changing and challenging world. We need to reinvent the role of media planner so it operates between soft and hard facts and drives innovation.

The fact is that CMOs expect media agencies to move forward--not adapt to an upcoming future, but understand that future is now. New technologies are introduced nearly every day. This technology influences consumer behavior, shifts control to the consumer and creates personalized and customized media. Content, storage and interactivity are what matter. It requires us to be creativity and innovation driven, but none of this technology can replace common sense and a deep knowledge of media, consumers and most of all, knowledge about our clients’ business. A mix of innovative thinking, hard facts and KNOWLEDGE - the biggest assets of the 21st century - is a lethal weapon that takes us toward success and makes us different from the competition.

Some of you probably think this is obvious. Is it? I guess the reality can sometimes be different and bitter. Many of us have received those short briefs at least once: “We are going to run a TV campaign, as we have just produced a TV spot. How many GRPs can we get for $xxx?” And I guess many of us have tried to ‘copy & paste’ the media plans from the last year. Many clients and many planners favor a tested solution. After all, no one can be fired for using TV. Not yet. However, this attitude will not take us any further, will not allow us to become successful and achieve financial goals. We must forget about good old flowcharts and apply the “blank sheet” method, meaning starting from scratch with our media mix strategies.

“The innovator has as his enemies those who did well under the old conditions,” as Machiavelli said once.

Being different isn’t easy. Innovation is not easy. They are necessary.

 

 

SUICIDE SILENCE - Disengage - Performance Cut (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

All Around

All Around

How much would it cost to put brick all around my home?

I live in a vinyl sided home. I have decided that I want to put brick all around my home. I live in a 2700 sq foot home. I was wondering how much would it cost and would it possible to do such a thing. I have been reading about veneering. Is that better or cheaper?

One of the great myths in home ownership is remodeling. I was wondering today what would be the "drop dead" cost point on a renovation? I do not know; but, your plan sounds out of reason. You might consider the option of moving to a comparable dwelling or just stand pat with your vinyl. It will be a high percentage of the original costs of the structure. Having gone through three nightmare experiences with contractors, I just want to vote against your idea. Good luck if you forge ahead with your plan.

Flyleaf - All Around Me

All American

All American

Locally California Produced Wines Are Featured At Paul Martin's American Bistro© Restaurants

There's something that feels a little decadent about sitting down at the end of the day with a glass of lush cabernet – its rich, dark cherry color and flavors laced with spice. Or maybe the crisp, citrus chill of a Sauvignon Blanc is what soothes your soul and compliments your meal.  More and more of us are choosing wine to enhance the flavors of fine foods, or simply as an experience to be enjoyed with friends or while relaxing at the end of the day.  With the surge in popularity of California wines, a growing number of vineyards are giving us even more reasons to enjoy the fruits of their labor by joining the movement to commit to environmental stewardship and responsible farming methods.

Paul Martin's American Bistros© in Roseville and El Segundo are known for the farm-fresh foods that are artfully prepared every day, but their commitment to the mantra of "Eat organic. Believe in sustainable. Buy Local" carries over to their wines and spirits as well.  "We stand behind the efforts of innovative local winemakers who embrace organic and sustainable farming practices and are producing exceptional wines." Said Founding Partner, Brian Bennett.  The Bistro's extensive wine list by the glass or bottle features over 80 carefully selected wines, most of which are locally produced by California wineries.  It also offers 50 wines by the glass, allowing guests to experience a variety of outstanding wines from local winemakers.

When perusing the "Enticing Reds" section of the Paul Martin's wine list, consider the 2005 Petite Syrah from Quixote Winery in Napa. This winery credits their organic farming practices and the "rich, living soil" on their 27-acre family vineyard with their continued harvests of luscious fruit.  They describe the Petite Syrah as "loaded with that fruit-salad mix of blueberries and dark berries mingling with black pepper and spice."

If a robust yet refined Cabernet is more your style, consider the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon from Kelly Fleming Wines.  The Calistoga vineyard's winemaker, Celia Welch, was named 2008 Winemaker of the Year by Food and Wine Magazine, and produces some of the most sought after wines in California.  Proprietor Kelly Fleming's extensive research has resulted in planting only a small percentage of the 300 acre property with organically grown vines, so that the environmental balance of the surrounding land is retained.  She has also introduced honey-bee hives to pollinate vineyard cover crops and promote native plant reseeding to further enhance the rich sustainability of the property.

Surely you can feel virtuous about drinking an organic wine, but is that where the pleasure ends?  The dedicated expertise of the Fleming Wine team has produced a Cabernet described by the winemaker as "showing dark cherry and spiced plum aromas most intensely, with undercurrents of cedar, bay, oak leaf…the aromas of the steep forested mountains which surround the vineyard.  On the palate, the wine is rich, soft, and lush, yet retains fresh fruit acidity and a sense of balance."

Fleming's 2008 Oakville Sauvignon Blanc is dry, with "bright, crisp acidity and yet a silky texture which demonstrates that light bodied wines can also display softness and elegance."  Clearly this new generation of winemakers has found a way to utilize the best of responsible farming practices without sacrificing even a hint of the wine lover's experience.

The All-American Rejects - It Ends Tonight

Parental Advisory

Parental Advisory

Why the Majority of Teens Are Obese and What Parents Can do About It

The percentage of people who have weight problems is continually increasing. Research showed that 70% of people worldwide are overweight. By overweight we mean that they weight more than the ideal weight (based on their gender and height). Unfortunately this situation does not exclude teenagers. Obesity is a common problem among teens as well.

Obesity creates a lot of problems to teenagers. The last years there was an increase in diabetes and in other related diseases due to teenagers being overweight. For overweight adults the correct approach to lose weight is to watch their diet and exercise. This is also true for overweight teens but the problem is that teens are more difficult to focus on their weight loss efforts. Weight loss for teens can only be done with the intervention of the parents. Parents can help their children lose weight.

Since the responsibility for teens to lose weight relies on the parents, they should make sure that they provide their children with meals that are healthy and can assist them to lose the unnecessary weight. They should not try to prohibit their children from eating certain type of foods because this will create the opposite effects. Instead they should try and teach their children the principles of a healthy diet and convince them that it is for their benefit to lose weight.

They should be careful though not to be very pressing and become obsessed about weight loss. The path to follow should not be too strict but advisory. Parents should not be obsessed and start counting calories, fats etc. If they do this they will eventually pass this obsession to their children and this will not do any good. Parents cannot follow their children all the time and watch what they eat or not. This is impossible so the only way to approach this is by educating them on health matters. The sooner parents start educating their children about healthy diets the better. It is believed that the reason teens are obese is because of their eating habits during childhood.

Another measure that the parents can use to help their children lose weight is to encourage them to exercise. Exercise is among the best healthier habits that a person can adopt. There are only benefits from exercise. Exercise does not mean that you children should join a gym. There are a lot of activities that can help teens lose weight. Encourage them to join a sport and be active. Turn off the TV and game consoles and help them appreciate the joy of physical exercise.

Besides the above methods that can help your children fight obesity you should not forget that the parents set the examples for their children. For instance if you eat unhealthy - junk food and once you go home you sit on the couch watching TV, then this is no good example for your children. To convince your children that they should change their lifestyle habits you have to do it first. Start a new life style with exercise and a healthy diet and this will not only help your children but it will do good for your health as well.

Prodig's weekly rant - The Parental Advisory sticker