My Name is Kate

Thinking all the things this week

I've been thinking about a lot of things this week. I've also spent more time on Twitter this week which really tends to fragment my thinking. So, it's a round-up-y kind of post today.

Animated GIFs are the future of communication.
I spent a lot of time on Gawker Media properties this week (Jezebel, Gawker, IO9) and over there, the lingua franca is definitely animated gifs. Comments on most articles are rife with them. And occasionally a post will be a "GIF Party". I also see them used a lot over at GoodReads on book reviews. This review of 50 Shades of Grey is probably one of the most famous.

Hilariously, I just tried several times to upload an animated GIF, but Typepad said they were all "invalid format". UGH. WTF, Typepad?!

 

Reading - why can't I just spend all my time doing it?
I am barely on track for my reading challenge this year. Recently, I met Jhenifer Pabillano, a social media professional here in Vancouver. I am in awe of how she has tracked her reading over the last 10 years as well as the volume of what she has read.

 

Speaking of reading, I wrote a review of something I read.

Star Trek FAQ 2.0 (Unofficial and Unauthorized): Everything Left to Know about the Next Generation, the Movies, and Beyond by Mark Clark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Recently Netflix Canada starting carrying the entire Star Trek TNG series and we've been binge watching the series. We're about 5 episodes from the 7th season and series finale. And I wish I would have had Mark Clark's Star Trek FAQ 2.0 (Unofficial and Unauthorized): Everything Left to Know about the Next Generation, the Movies, and Beyond when we started.

I was never really a fan of Star Trek the original series and not the movies either, until Generations (the crossover movie), so that definitely colours my review of this book. I skimmed the bits about the movies (and I felt there was a little too much Shatner bashing). BUT, overall, I really enjoyed this book and I am glad I have it as I finish my STTNG odyssey.

Read the rest of this review!

 

How do you tell a fellow marketer they are doing in wrong?
So, this is actually a real challenge I'm having. A marketing colleague of mine who is crazy smart and thoughtful and good at what he does is running a Facebook promotion which violates their guidelines. For the non-marketers in the crowd, according to Facebook Guidelines, you can't use "Likes" or "Shares" or "Comments" as entries into a contest. So, all those pages that we love that say "Like this for a chance to win" are actually violating Facebook's terms. To run a contest, you need to use a third-party app.

Well, he's running a "Like or Share for Entry" contest on Facebook. And I think I should probably mention it to him, because he does work for big brands. And while this is a small group for which he is running the contest and Facebook likely won't shut it down, I wouldn't want him to face that with a larger client. So, how to tell him without being a douche?

Oh, and I don't think I'm being a passive agressive jerk by posting about it here. I don't think he reads my blog :)

 

Google Reader - have you switched?
It's June 26. Google Reader shuts down in 5 days. I haven't switched. I'm thinking Feedly?! Lifehacker does a round-up.

 

Yay, US gays!

 

Father Tiger is awesome.

 

OMFG, Wendy Davis is really awesome!!

 

Stay Strong, Alberta!

How to help ...

• Volunteers register via yychelps.ca
• Donate via the Red Cross
• Donate to the Siksika First Nation
• HuffPo has a good, comprehensive list of other ways to help!
• Follow Calgary Mayor @Nenshi - if all politicians were like him, WOW.

Dear Wise Crowds: Please Help Me Choose a New Television

As some of you know, we moved recently.  An unfortunate causality of that move was our  39" Sony Bravia LCD. Poor Bravia :( it had served us well for three years with our only complaint that the colour definition in the blacks was pretty poor.

So, we need to get a new TV.

I checked out Sony first, just because we had experience with them.  I've found the Sony BRAVIA 55" 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV which seems pretty good though it isn't Internet-enabled, doesn't have a VGA-video input (for when I hook up the computer to live- stream TED each year) and the built in speakers are in the side rather than the bottom which makes me think the sound might be wonky.  And, I'm still a little worried about the contrast on the blacks.

Aside: all you audiophiles out there, I KNOW that I need to hook me up some surround sound in real speakers.  I'm not prepared to do that yet.  But rest assured, I will be.  Soon.  And I will take to my blog again for your advice.

Then, I asked Google what the "best LCD TV" was.  Google gave me several review sites, many of which suggested that Samsung is really kicking ass and taking names in this category.  Something like the Samsung 55" 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV.  This one is Wifi-enabled and has a VGA input, BUT I got a Samsung monitor last summer and while it was beautiful, it crapped out on me after 3 weeks and Samsung was less than helpful in trying to get it fixed. So I'm a little gun-shy about going with a Samsung.

Now, some of the sites said that I probably wanted to consider an LED rather than an LCD (and hopefully that will help with some of my contrast issues).  So again - both Sony and Samsung have LED TVs that get good reviews and essentially have similar features as above but with the slimmer and more energy efficient LEDs.

I'm also considering a Sharp Aquos - but that's mainly because Lt. Sulu told me to in the commercials.  And I don't know if I can resist Lt. Sulu.

So, Internet, what TV should I get? What I think my basic requirements are:

• Our living room can support up to 55" - so no bigger than that.
• We only have indirect light on the TV (no direct sunlight from the window), so I'm not too worried about glare.
• I need min 3 HDMI inputs and 2 Component Video inputs.  The VGA connector is nice to have, but not a deal breaker.
• Is Internet-enabled a deal-breaker?  I dunno.
• Don't tell me to get a 3D TV.  I can't afford one right now.
• It has to have a built-in speaker.
• I don't really want to spend more than 2K.

And hey, while I'm asking, where would you actually BUY said TV?  Especially if you're here in Vancouver?

Thanks for any thoughts/opinions/insights you have on this process.  I'd like to get it decided before the dreaded HST kicks in on July 1.

Oh .. and about that Vancouver moving company that broke our TV.  Yeah, we had the original packaging for our TV (I made Rose save it for three years - I felt a little smug).  The moving guys didn't want to use it - they said it was too complicated and they could just wrap it in a blanket and it would be fine.  They did.  It wasn't. We've filed a claim.  It's been over a month since we filed it and have subsequently followed up.  No response. Boo, Vega Line Movers! BOO!  I do not recommend them.

That's a lot of blue! Olympic Hodgepodge #1

So, if you live in Vancouver, you may have noticed that there is this sporting event in town that is closing roads, creating line-ups the like of which haven't been seen since Soviet Russia and bringing some of the best musical acts in Canada to town.

I have been meaning to write about a variety of Olympic-related topics, so here you go ... my first Olympic Hodgepodge!

Get in the Olympic Spirit

While I haven't been wearing red everyday, I have followed one of the suggestions in the Paint the Town Red guidebook: hang red and white xmas lights.  I've hung them on the balcony and they seem quite fetching. I do think the people across the street who have hung their multi-coloured xmas lights from December back up are kind of missing the point.  But I only mock them a little, because showing your spirit is a good thing, right?

But don't confine showing your spirit to your physical surroundings! You'll want to dress up your digital digs as well.  I made these patriotic avatars using Team Canada's "It Takes a Nation" app.  

 
 
 

Olympic Gear

Now, if you're looking to dress the part of Olympic fan/fanboy/nerd, you will definitely want to check out the Vancouver 2010 store.  Now, I'm not generally a proponent of rampant consumerism, but, two things here:  1) the Vancouver 2010 store is powered by the very awesome (and homegrown! Go, Vancouver!) e-commerce software and company Elastic Path; and 2) I really like the pins.  

You've probably heard about the 2 hour lines at the official HBC store - well shopping online eliminates those lines! And (AND) Elastic Path has partnered with VANOC to offer local residents free shipping and overnight delivery. Sweet! So if you need that cowbell for your day at the bobsleigh track or the big plush Mukuk for cuddling at home, you can get it delivered NEXT DAY!

When the good folks over at Elastic Path told me about their great shipping deal for Vancouverites (heck, actually all Lower Mainland folks), they also sent over a few sample items. No giant Mukmuk, but they did send pins!  And I want to give a couple away to YOU - whether you live in Vangroovy or not!  Details below. At the end. Keep reading ...

Thinking about the economy, black swans and becoming a belletrist

One of my must-read blogs these days is Boing Boing.  It's this perfect mix of quirk, geek and thought-provocation.  A recent post about an interview with Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of The Black Swan, is a case in point.  Cory Doctorow points us to an interview between Taleb and Bryan Appleyard that appeared in June 2008 in the Times Online.

Taleb is nothing if not provocative.  I saw him at TED last year.  His talk wasn't one of my favourite because I felt he didn't quite focus what he was trying to say.  He's definitely gotten better at making his point, especially for a lay audience (or maybe I've just gotten to a point where I can hear what he is trying to say).

TED hasn't posted his talk yet, but there is a great video of him on FORA.tv - giving an overview, at the Long Now Foundation, of the concept of the black swan and then being interviewed by Stewart Brand.  It's comprehensive and understandable and informative.  And now, almost a year later, provides an interesting lens onto our current economic climate. (Side note - that FORA.tv has it going on.  They provide a transcript that runs alongside the video - plus you can download it on its own.  And lots of great socializing tools.  Well done, FORA!)

Taleb's talk on FORA.tv is 90 minutes, so here is a 4 minute snippet which includes the definition of a black swan.

In the interview with Appleyard, Taleb gives his top 10 tips for living a life of dignity. As most good "top 10 lists" are, Taleb's is controversial - the comments are BoingBoing are definitely worth a scan.

Making Los Angeles seem like Winnipeg on The Office

I'm a big fan of the TV show, The Office (the American version, not the British one).  Apparently an upcoming episode has the main character, Michael Scott (played by Steve Carrell) headed to Winnipeg on a business trip.  The show's budget is pretty limited, so instead of shooting on location, they recreated Winnipeg in LA.  With a little help ...

The whole episode was shot in the Los Angeles area, with the aid of some background footage and a shipment of Canadiana from Destination Winnipeg.

The show's propmaster contacted the Winnipeg tourism promotion agency, which sent along airport baggage tags, shopping bags from The Bay, Old Dutch potato chips, Fort Garry brewing company paraphernalia and other distinctive items.

I guess this happens a lot for film and TV shoots. It's just never something I really thought about ... what a cool  gig "Hey, Sophia Coppola just called.  She wants to recreate Moose Jaw in Reno.  Send her some Moose Jaw artifacts!"

The website for The Office is pretty amazing - they have all kinds of fun, engrossing, related content to the show as well as full video episodes (thank you, NBC, for making them available to Canadians too!).  They also have a series of quite funny PSAs recorded by the cast.  See "Arctic Wolf" below (warning, you might have to watch an ad first) ...

The World is Full of Interesting Things

  private investigator 
  Originally uploaded by Least Wanted.

I came across this set on flickr called "Credentials" where Least Wanted has scanned old passports, ID cards, work permits, exam cards and other "official" docs (in several languages).  It's such an amazing collection - both historically as well as philosophically - to see how we try to regulate aspects of society.  I love this collection!

I found it via 16 Sparrows who has created a downloadable version of the PI card that I found via Design Freebies.

The Unknown Marketer Strikes .. for the first time?

OK, I'll bite.

I got the link to this in my email tonight.

I'm not 100% sure of the message (e.g. where the sarcasm ends and the actual point begins .. though a lot of points are started), BUT, I'm excited that we have our own Canadian contrarian out there!

I like how ACA members get a 10% discount :)

So, thoughts?

Oh, and confidential to unknownmarketer68 ... if you take your rants up a notch in coherence (b/c heaven knows there is a lot to rant about in our industry), I'll fly one on One Degree and see what kind of response we get.  I love a troublemaker.

At Webcom-Montreal today ..

Warning .. this post is a bit random and a bit musing-oriented:

Just finished speaking at Webcom-Montreal today (ahh, the seduction of Wifi; couldn't resist blogging).  I think it went well.  Topic was Second Life as a marketing platform (will post slides when I can).  Jane Dysart has a great summary of my talk on her blog.  Aside: this was the first time I'd ever exported my powerpoint to a movie that I could then have on my video ipod so I could rehearse on the plane.  Very cool.

The audience was full of SL skeptics - which I love!  As a told a number of people, I'm happy if your're a skeptic.  I'm a skeptic too (yes, I am a fan of SL and I think there is something *happening* there worth paying attention to - but I don't think it is for every brand), but I am concerned when skepticism is based on fear.  I hope I was able to dispel some of the fear around Second Life today.  There were a number of women in the audience today .. if any of you would like to join our "After a Fashion" group that I mentioned, shoot me an email.

Elizabeth Lane Lawley was the keynote - very much enjoyed her talk.  I didn't get to hear it all b/c I had to do tech set up for mine, but luckily, there are at least three bloggers writing on behalf of the conference and doing an amazing job.  Also, they are posting video snippets.  I recorded mine just after my talk.  I have to admit, I felt a bit like a hockey player ... you finish your talk, pack up your gear, get off the stage and are met by the camera guy who asks you a few questions. And then they get "broadcast" onto the web.  Awesome.

Here's my A HA moment out of that.  Anyone (business, government, marketer, employer) who hasn't been struck dumb by hard core fear and trembling at the instant publishing power of the people (and then figured out how to participate) is quite possibly beyond hope.  I said it recently at my Massive talk ... the cell phone is the most powerful publishing tool ever.  Emailing text, pics and video to your blog for instantaneous broadcast.  Phenomenal.

Patrick Lauzon just finished his talk.  Ma francais est tres bad.  Slides help, but I missed a lot of it.  He talked about online relationship building ... used an interesting quote from a Wired article

Serendipity is the hallmark of inefficient markets and the marketplace of love, like it or not, is becoming more efficient.

There is such a push to make the web experience more serendipitous (hmm .. a possible virtue of Second Life?)  Though in the marketplace of love this may indeed not be a good thing.  As Rose likes to say, "At least when you're using an online dating site, you all know why you're there."  So, clear intention.  But perhaps serendipitous results?

Moffit's up next ...

Photo Credit: Alone by Brenda Anderson

21st century socializing ...

The global internet.  Local villages.  The intersections of these two very differently-scaled neighbourhoods of mine.

I'm in Toronto right now.  Roro and I went to dinner at C'est What with Lex.  At the table next to us were Sean and Mark.  Introductions went like this ...

Mark, meet MyNameIsKate.  Kate, this is remarkk.

Lex, this is Craphammer.  Sean .. she's unsweetened.

Mark, this is Creampuff Revolution.

Damn, I wish I had my Moo cards.

I know, I left my Gaping Void cards at the hotel.

Actually, we need a better word for it than "introductions".  Because we all knew each other ... but not necessarily our embodied selves.  I haven't "embodied-tion" someone I only know as an avatar yet, but it is only a matter of time.

Photo Credit: Little People Village by NyTrate